NLI Newsletter – December 2021

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NLI NewsletterDecember 2021

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Creating environments for healthy human development and a healthy biosphere for generations to come.

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Natural Learning Initiative

December 2021

Outdoor play area with recycled tires, logs, and colorful structures, promoting nature-based learning and accessibility.

Wake County Site Visits

The Natural Learning Initiative has been visiting recent Shape NC and Infant-Toddler sites in Wake County to meet teachers, observe children, and enjoy OLE improvements. Conversations with center directors were as always informative, hearing how quality was upgraded using modest, inexpensive materials during COVID, and thoughts about impacts on children’s health and development. To learn more about NLI’s programs and center OLEs, please click here.

Outdoor play area with white picket fence, gazebo, and educational signs teaching garden skills.

Spring Early Childhood Outdoor Learning Environments certificate registration is now open!

Registration is open for the upcoming Spring section, February 14 – May 6, 2022. The self-paced online course consists of 8 modules and is worth 2.4 CEUs.

National Master Gardener Coordinators Presentation

Bria Sledge presented at the monthly National Extension Master Gardener Coordinators workshop on the Gardening Activity Guide: A resource to promote vegetable and fruit gardening with young children and other NLI resources. For more information about the Gardening Activity Guide or to download it, click here.

Gardening Activity Guide: Promotes vegetable and fruit gardening with young children, featuring children in hats engaging in outdoor play.

Children play in sand pit with rocks, trees, and cityscape in background, promoting outdoor learning and nature-based play.

Rash Field Park Opening

NLI design staff, Mary Archer and Brandon Dupree, had the pleasure of visiting Rash Field Park in Baltimore, MD. NLI partnered with Mahan Rykiel Associates and the Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore to create engaging, high quality play settings interlaced with native plantings and shade trees within a new urban park overlooking Baltimore Inner Harbor.

NLI through the years

Since 2000, the NLI mission has been driven by interdisciplinary, professional staff working with landscape architecture and PhD in Design students (50+ to date), who have contributed immeasurably to NLI’s efforts to create innovative places for children and families, conduct research, disseminate results, influence policy, and inspire practitioners.