10 Ways Children Benefit From Nature-Based Learning

Nature-based learning and development is an incredible way for your child to explore and connect with the world. Child-directed, hands-on, play-based programs, like our very own Forest School, have the power to effectively teach children a variety of skills.



A growing body of research affirms that nature-based outdoor classrooms have been linked to positive learning and developmental outcomes including enhanced imaginative play, increased physical and mental well-being, and environmental stewardship.

Nature-based programs have endless advantages.  Students who have participated this type of program have shown:

• Improved sleep habits
• Greater sense of calm and focus
• Improved mood
• Improved health (through increased physical activity and improved nutrition)
• Growing creativity and problem solving skills
• Reduced stress
• Improved eyesight (direct link to reduced rates of near-sightedness)
• Increased concern for the environment
• Improved concentration
• Increased language and collaborative skills

The advantages are amazing! In fact, this particular case study highlights nine skills that are thoroughly supported in a nature-based, outdoor classroom style of education.

1. Creative Representation
2. Social
3. Intrapersonal
4. Kinesthetic
5. Visual Spatial
6. Math
7. Language/Literacy
8. Science
9. Construction/Engineering


When our young students participate in Forest School, they are doing much more than playing outside - they're confidently learning a diverse skill set ... in the funnest way possible!

“Forest School can often be described as a ‘magical’ thing to witness, as it’s often a microcosm of collaboration, communication, trust building, and a working model of consensus building.”

We are so excited to start another year of Forest School and can’t wait to start watching our explorers thrive in the natural classroom.

To view full studies and research findings, click here!

About Discovery Child Care
Barrie Based Discovery Child Care brings nature into the classroom and takes the classroom into nature, offering an environmentally aware foundation of early learning for children, from infants to school-age. We follow an Emergent Curriculum philosophy which means, your child will be provided with hands-on, play-based learning opportunities that will encourage active exploration, autonomy, choice, problem solving and plain old fun! Your child’s individual interests, abilities and needs will be considered when planning our indoor and outdoor programs. For more information, visit http://www.discoverychild.on.ca

Our First Weeks of Forest School At Discovery Child Care

Our forest explorers have had a busy few weeks since the opening of our brand new Discovery Forest School.

Our daily walkabouts through the forest have shown us everything from animal habitats and fallen trees, to muddy rainwater and changing leaves. The opportunities for learning have been endless!

Every day we begin with circle time to discuss safety, exploration and sing our good morning song.

"Good morning dear earth, good morning dear sun, good morning dear trees and the flowers everyone, good morning dear bees and the birds in the trees, good morning to you and good morning to me."

From there, we plan different activities and let imaginations run wild. Each of our lessons incorporate respect for nature and all things big or small. In September, we planned scavenger hunts, practiced rope tying, talked about animal homes, and explored weather changes in the forest.

Shapes and Colours Everywhere

The forest was the perfect backdrop for discovering shapes and colours. Flowers, rocks, bugs, caterpillars. Some many colours and shapes to discuss! And we also brought our big triangle bell and baked rectangle cupcakes.

Texture and Patterns

Squishy, hard, rough and smooth. The children explored difference textures during their walkabouts. Rain created the opportunity to splash and squish mud while discussing snow melts and streams. The children were also able to create works of art by rubbing crayons on paper over different textures found in the forest, like bark or moss. Each work of art had its own unique pattern.

Imagination Reigns

Giddy-up! Our rope tying activity turned into an imaginative game, where the children rode their "horses" around trees and over logs. We also practiced tying knots in ropes around trees, while some children created swings and hung tarps.

A New Perspective

Near or far. Up high or down low. The children noticed that fallen trees provide a home to lots of different types of bugs. And high up in the sky, we could see trees sway in the wind, even though we couldn't feel the wind down on the ground.   The children also played with magnifying glasses and kaleidoscopes to gain a new perspective in the forest.

Here are some of the books we read during our adventures:

The Giving Tree, Shel Silverstein
We’re Going on A Nature Hunt, Steve Metzger
Munch, Munch Crunch, Bugs for Lunch, Gwen Petreman
The Tree, Dana Lyons
A is for Autumn, Robert Maas
Under Ground, Denise Fleming

What a great start for our Forest Discovery School. We can’t wait to continue our journey in nature.

About Discovery Child Care
Barrie Based Discovery Child Care brings nature into the classroom and takes the classroom into nature, offering an environmentally aware foundation of early learning for children, from infants to school-age. We follow an Emergent Curriculum philosophy which means, your child will be provided with hands-on, play-based learning opportunities that will encourage active exploration, autonomy, choice, problem solving and plain old fun! Your child’s individual interests, abilities and needs will be considered when planning our indoor and outdoor programs. For more information, visit http://www.discoverychid.on.ca

Discovery Opens First Licensed Forest & Nature School in Simcoe

We're proud to announce a new Kindergarten program at Discovery Child Care. Starting in September 2014 we're opening a Forest & Nature School at our Harvie Road location.

What is a Forest & Nature School? 

Forest School [FS] is an educational approach that has existed worldwide since the late 1950s, with over ten thousand Forest School programs in the UK alone. In FS, children spend anywhere from a half day to a full day outdoors in various urban and near-urban parks, natural spaces adjacent to or on school grounds, or natural playgrounds and outdoor classrooms.   The activities that happen in FS also vary, depending on the season, climate, landscape, animals that have visited the night before, trees that have blown down in the wind, the kinds of provocations elicited by the educator.  Source: Forestschoolcanada.ca 

Discovery Child Care Centre offers an educational program as an alternative to the Ministry of Education Full Day Kindergarten Program.  As children are not required to attend school until grade one, children have the option to be enrolled full time in our Kindergarten program. 

Our curriculum is child-directed, hands-on, play based, emergent, and inquiry-based.  A growing body of research has emerged that affirms that children ages birth through eight years learn most effectively through this approach to education.

There are 4 teachers working in our Forest School program: Lisa Simmons RECE (full time), Michelle Hawksworth (full time) Karen Eilersen & Chelsa Osborne- both RECE & level 3 certified forest school practitioner (part time)

• 1/4 teacher child ratio while in the forest; 1/8 teacher child ratio while in the indoor/outdoor classroom
• Forest School Program  (9am-12pm daily) taught by Level 3 certified Forest School Practitioners
• We follow the Ontario Early Learning Framework, Continuum of Development so your child is well prepared for grade one. 
• Child directed, play-based, emergent & inquiry based learning environment
• Hot Lunch and snacks provided (full day program)
• Longer hours available 7am-6pm (no additional before and after school care required)
• Beautiful outdoor classroom (1.77 acres)
• Organic Gardening & Dinosaur School (Social Skills program), Book Backpack program (Literacy)

Visit our new website to learn more about this exciting program. www.forestschool.ca

Discovery Child Care offers interesting and educational before and after school programs. Call us for a tour. We'd love to meet with you and your child! 705-733-2052

Our "Kinder Garden" Grows Healthy Food!

One of the great things about having such a wonderful outdoor space at our child care centres is that we can garden with our kids!

Tending a garden from preparation in the spring to harvesting throughout the summer and fall is a fantastic learning opportunity for children and it is SO MUCH Fun!

The garden gives the kindergarten class a hands on chance to learn about vegetables, flowers, insects, soil and how to look after a garden.

This week we had a mini picnic enjoying our kale and lettuce straight from the garden (this has become a regular treat!) We also harvested lots of radishes which Alicia put in the potato salad that everyone enjoyed with lunch. We harvested lots of fennel, kale and herbs for today's soup. We spent some time watering and weeding too.

Our tomatoes, peppers, cucumber, beans, ground

cherries, pumpkins, squash, carrots, zucchini are growing like crazy and we will definitely be harvesting more next week. Please come and visit our garden with your child and have them show you around. The kindergarten class is very proud of their accomplishments!

Nature is a perfect classroom and we integrated it into our school programs as much as possible, through all four seasons. Find out more about our Nature Explore classrooms and contact us to arrange a tour at either our Harvie Road or Big Bay Point location. Discovery Child Care Centre is the first Certified Nature Explore Classroom in Canada!

Celebrate Earth Day 2014

Are you celebrating Earth Day today, April 22? It's estimated that over 1 billion people in 190 countries will mark the occasion with thoughtful action and initiatives such as community clean-up, seminars, games, and other awareness building activities.

At Discovery Child Care - we're very focused on inspiring our children to care about nature and to be curious and interested in the world around them.

Large environmental organizations are focused on creating and imagining green cities - and we are always evolving our green classroom through the nature explore program and our own ideas.

And now that the snow is gone and we are finally starting to see new life appearing in our gardens, I'm so excited to share the wonders of plants, insects, and animals with all our young explorers. Children respond with enthusiasm to an opening flower or seeing a seed they have planted shoot up and grow more every day.

So even though Earth Day can be a time to reflect on weighty issues of global warming and pollution - it is also a time to celebrate our beautiful planet and if you could see it again through the eyes of a child - it would look like a magical place indeed!

Happy Earth Day - Everyone!

Learn More About Green Cities


The Earth Day Website has some fun activities for kids!

• Take the Battery Quiz
• Explore Renewable Energy
• Get Inspired - Art in the Garden
• Online Eco-Games - Garbage Caper and the Great Frog Dilemma

Click here to visit the website and kids resource page.

Discovery Child Care offers interesting and educational before and after school programs. Call us for a tour. We'd love to meet with you and your child! 705-733-2052

Discovering Butterflies with Butterfly Kisses

The children at Discovery Childcare, Harvie Road - really enjoyed a visit with Heather Willet from Butterfly Kisses Educational Outreach, October 8th. Here are some pictures from the program which included capture and release tagging.

Butterfly Kisses bring children a unique experience with curriculum-linked programs exploring the wonder of butterflies.

Observing and caring for a butterfly, students learn far more than habitats and need for species. They gain a sense of responsibility and respect for life.




Discovery Child Care offers interesting and educational before and after school programs. Call us for a tour. We'd love to meet with you and your child! 705-733-2052

Learning in a Nature Explore Classroom

Here is the beautifully written introduction to a white paper, Young Children Learn Through Authentic Play in a Nature Explore Classroom. It contains the research into this subject by Dimensions Early Education Programs located in Lincoln, New England, USA. It is a fascinating, well documented study. At the bottom of the blog post is a link to the PDF.

"Once upon a time, in the not so distant past, many children left the adult world on a daily basis and entered an outdoor world filled with fantasy and improvisation. They played alone, in pairs, or in groups. Using sticks, branches, logs, sand, dirt, water and other natural materials they build forts, castles, houses, ships, rockets - some were large scale models while others were miniatures. As they ran, jumped, dug, climbed, threw, slid, twirled and whirled, their imaginations took them across the

prairie in covered wagons, up the tallest mountains, into outer space and high sea adventures. ..These children were immersed in authentic play, play that engaged them, mentally, physically, socially, and emotionally...

Extensive research has documented the powerful role of play in children's development and the importance of getting children outdoors. Yet, in today's culture both play and time in nature have become endangered species. Richard Louv's well known book, Last Child in the Woods describes the growing phenomenon he labeled 'nature deficit disorder.'"

source: Young Children Learn Through Authentic Play in a Nature Explore Classroom
whitepaper based on Research Conducted at Dimensions Early Education Programs Lincoln New England USA

At Discovery Child Care, in Barrie Ontario, we believe in the importance of connecting children with nature. Contact Us to find out more about our eco-friendly child care facility and our nature programs.

Earth Day at Discovery Child Care - Did You Know?

Parents Canada asks, "How will you celebrate Earth Day?" The way Jed Goldberg sees it, Earth Day (April 22) is partly a day for reflection. “This is the day to pause and consider what our

environmental issues are around the planet, but more importantly, what the solutions are,” says Jed, president of the Toronto-based Earth Day Canada organization.

Looking for some green solutions for your home or community to mark the day? “There are lots of ideas that can be done on Earth Day. It just takes a bit of creativity,” says Jed. “Maybe it’s time to plan a vegetable garden or a garden with native shrubs which use a lot less water,” he says. “As a community, you could set up an electronics recycling depot or help organize a free compost distribution.”

Earth Day is an important event to mark, but at Discovery Child Care, we celebrate Earth Day, every day, with our environmental initiatives. Here are some of things we do on a daily basis as part of our commitment to sustainable energy, recycling, and reducing our environmental footprint.

• Both our locations are exclusively maintained by organic methods - no pesticides, herbicides, or insecticides used on the premises.

• We diligently use the blue box program and with over 200 families we only put out one trash can per week!

• We use rain barrels and compost too. Discovery Child Care was Ontario's first licensed child care centre Bullfrog Powered, using 100% green electricity!

• Our Harvie Road location has geothermal heating and cooling plus solar panels.

• We have a no idle zone policy at both sites!

• We want to lead by example, and our children are taught the three R's, reduce, recycle, and re-use.

To learn more about our eco-based Child Care programs please contact us at one of our centres in Barrie. Looking for some fun activities to share with your children? Visit EcoKids and you'll find some great ideas for games, crafts, and projects.

We Treasure Feedback From Our Families!

Here is a wonderful email I received from one of the families at our Harvie Road location. Thank you for taking the time to let us know how we're doing.
"Our two girls have taken advantage of the infant, toddler, preschool, kindergarten and school age programs at Discovery (Harvie Road). Discovery stands out above the rest because of the incredible outdoor play space, the quality of their meals and snacks, their efforts for continuous improvement, and their teaching staff. The outdoor play space is

complete with a three distinct play areas for different ages, gardens, sandboxes, a slide, a music area, a bike path, shade trees, a tennis court, and a skating rink in the winter. The meals and snacks are cooked from scratch on site by the same friendly face that we saw when we arrived for our first day seven years ago. Discovery has implemented several improvements over the last few years; a security system to restrict access to the centre to authorized parents, new "branding" of the centre with gorgeous painted murals, standard monthly update cards for parents including photos of their child's activities, the addition of an infant care room with cribs, eco-healthy child care designation, and more. The teaching staff is amazing - they work individually with each child to help them reach their potential, they communicate directly with parents by name, and they're FUN!
When any child encounters the possibility of a new environment, the concept can be daunting. We found that any demonstration of hesitation from our children was met with compassion and creativity on the part of the teachers at Discovery. Now it is not uncommon for either one of them to say, "Can't we just stay for a few more minutes?"
On a side note, I want to specifically recognize the efforts of a few teachers - 
Angela - I know she's not there anymore, but I have amazing memories of her gentle spirit with my one-year old. 
Jody - Jody has been creative and patient with A's little spirited self.
Alicia - On E's first day seven years ago, I was waiting out in the hall to hear how long she would keep crying. Alicia walked by, touched my shoulder, and said, "it gets easier". How did she know I was trying not to cry myself? Maybe I'm more transparent than I realize!
Chelsa - Chelsa always greets me by name when she sees me. No big deal for some, but a demonstration of relational strength to me.
Everyone else has been great, too - these few just stand out and I wanted to be sure that you know."

What toddlers learn from water play

It's no secret that toddlers love to play with water. Here's why the lessons learned are worth the mess.

Look at that busy little guy, pouring water from yogurt container to funnel to yogurt container... to floor. He's learning about cause and effect, about warm and cool, about floating and sinking. He's calming himself after a

hard day of being small in a big world. He's learning new words, and thinking about the wetness of the water and the bubbliness of the bubbles.

And you thought he was just flooding the bathroom?

What if there was a clean, creative, natural play material that was piped right into your house, 24 hours a day, every day? You guessed? It's water. Along with the wonderful bright (expensive) toys that Grandma buys, and the paints and play dough and other neat craft stuff you provide, don't forget about water. Pamela Taylor, early childhood development instructor at Grant MacEwan College in Edmonton, says, "Young children are drawn to water. They're curious about it. It's a universally appealing play material with unlimited possibilities."

What are some of the possibilities? What does a toddler get from playing with water, besides wet?

Read more..

// Originally published in Today's Parent May 2001

Excellent Teaching Guide is Available - The Guide is called "Into Nature: A Guide to Teaching in Nearby Nature"

I'd like to thank the Ontario’s Back to Nature Network for releasing this excellent guide - which we at Discovery Child Care fully endorse -  The Guide is called "Into Nature: A Guide to Teaching in Nearby Nature", a new guide for teachers from kindergarten through grade 8. You can download it here if you wish - http://www.back2nature.ca/resources-research/education

 

Into Nature has been created to enable teachers to use the outdoor learning space to teach all curriculum subjects.

 

The guide is written by and for teachers with the goals of: 1) offering a fresh perspective on teaching; 2) providing learning approaches that strengthen the relationships teachers have with their students; and 3) communicating simple and practical ways to help teachers use outdoor learning spaces in creating rich opportunities for student learning.

 

Into Nature is packed with useful tools for teachers new to the experience of teaching outdoors in nature, but is also useful for those practiced in using the outdoor learning space.

Section One offers excellent information on why and how to teach in nature, including sample letters to communicate with Administrators and Parents, a materials list, and a readiness checklist that has room for post-lesson reflections and can be kept as a record of each experience.

Section Two, which forms most of the guide, contains a large variety of learning experiences. To start, “Nature 101” is a series of five phases that begins with a class-created nature contract, gradually moves the class outdoors, and culminates with an activity to create a designated outdoor learning space. A group of 50 “Nature2Go” activities are short, curriculum-connected “hits” of nature that can be completed in under 30 minutes each, or extended further if desired. Finally, the “Lessons” component offers five lessons for each division, primary, junior and intermediate.

Into Nature can be downloaded as a free pdf file on the Back to Nature Network website at http://www.back2nature.ca/resources-research/education. A French-language version will be available for download at the same location in January 2013.

Discovery Child Care - www.discoverychild.on.ca - Program Philosophy: Discovery Child Care brings nature into the classroom and takes the classroom into nature, offering an environmentally aware foundation of early learning for children, from infants to school-age. We follow an Emergent Curriculum philosophy which means: Your child will be provided with hands-on, play-based learning opportunities that will encourage active exploration, autonomy, choice, problem solving and plain old fun! Your child’s individual interests, abilities and needs will be considered when planning our indoor and outdoor programs.
 

Discovery Child Care - Commitment to the Environment

One of the things that sets us apart from other licensed child care programs is our ongoing commitment to the environment.

At Discovery Child Care Centre, we are committed to creating a healthy environment for the children in our care, their families, our staff, and our community.

Both properties are exclusively maintained by organic methods: no pesticides, herbicides, fungicides or insecticides are used on the premises.

• We diligently use the blue box recycling program, (over 200 families and we only put out one trash can per week per site!)
• Practice water conservation (including rain barrels)
• Daily use of green bins and we compost too
• We are Ontario’s first licensed child care centres that are Bullfrog Powered using 100% green renewable energy.
• We also use environmentally friendly cleaners/sanitizers at the centre.
• Discovery-Harvie Road has geothermal heating/cooling & Solar Panels being installed early 2013
• No Idle Zone policy at both sites
• Eco-Healthy certified - First licensed child care in Simcoe County and 2nd in Ontario! www.oeconline.org/our-work/kidshealth/ehcc

But we don’t stop there!

We bring our environmental philosophies right into the classrooms where the children learn using hands on experiences.

The children learn to practice the three R’s (Reduce, Re-use, Recycle), water conservation and composting in the child care setting.

They are also involved in hands-on learning opportunities that further re-enforce these habits. The children are actively involved in their own organic garden. They are taught alternative methods to using pesticides and insecticides, such as companion planting and the use of beneficial bugs! The children harvest what they have grown and use the ingredients for further learning opportunities, such as cooking.

Over the years the children have made jam, pickles, salsa and so much more.... YUM! At the end of the growing season, the children take a trip to the Barrie Community Food Bank and donate a portion of their harvest of fresh, organic produce.

Our school age programs participate yearly in Earth Day Canada’s Eco-Kids Challenge and The City of Barrie’s Spring into Clean event.

Discovery Child Care - Barrie - www.discoverychild.on.ca

Head Office: for general inquiries, availability, tours, fees etc

Phone: 705-733-2052
Email: Karen@discoverychild.on.ca

Centre information:

Harvie Road Location

Address: 101 Harvie Road, Barrie, ON L4N 9C9
Phone: 705-733-2052
Email: harvie@discoverychild.on.ca

Big Bay Point Location

Address: 377 Big Bay Point Road, Barrie, ON L4N 8A2
Phone: 705-792-1917
Email: bbp@discoverychild.on.ca