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

Tips For Gardening With Kids

Gardening with your children is a creative and fun way to encourage love of nature and healthy eating. There are some major benefits to involving your children in gardening, from improving life skills, teaching respect for living things and encouraging exploration, to enhancing fine motor skills and forming early responsibility.

Whatever your reasons, gardening is a super fun activity that you can enjoy in your own backyard or community garden!

Here are some great tips to help you get started:

Start Early. The toddler years are the perfect time to start building a garden. You can encourage your children to take part in gardening with simple tasks like watering the houseplants or outdoor garden. When you’re ready to start building an outdoor garden, begin planning early so you’re ready when the nice weather hits. Encourage your children to take part in the gardening process starting from the first time you plant the seeds.


Encourage Involvement. Keep your kids interested by involving them in the entire gardening process. Ask them questions while teaching what plants need to grow. Depending on your child’s age, you can also encourage your child to take the lead. Encourage them to choose where you plant the seeds and allow them to plant the seed on their own.

Encourage Exploration. Play-based learning is one of the most effective methods of teaching. You can support the exploration not only with the garden, but also by growing plants that attract wildlife. Plants that attract insects will also pollinate your flowers, helping you get a good crop of vegetables!

Take Pictures. Encourage your children to take pictures of the plants throughout each stage of growth. This will help keep your children involved in the process while you’re waiting for the plants to grow.

Choose Your Plants Carefully. Try to choose plants that don’t require a lot of work. Sunflowers, lettuce, radishes, potatoes and snow peas are among the best options for children. Aim for plants that grow quickly or easily.

Harvest Together. If you decide to build a vegetable garden, encourage your children to help you harvest the garden. This is the stage of growing that you’ve been waiting for, and involving your children may encourage them to eat more vegetables at your next meal.

Make it Fun! Let your kids explore and get messy in the garden. Exploration is nature is an exciting experience that can lead to many teachable moments that are fun for you and your children.


Make sure to wear hats and tons of sunscreen when you are spending time outdoors gardening. Enjoy your garden!

Interested in learning how we incorporate gardening in our child care program? Contact us today for more information!

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

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.

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