Outdoor Learning Conference 2026

This informative and insightful session will introduce the Sending PReschoolers OUTside (SPROUT) Study, a three-year research initiative, part of the Canadian Centre for Outdoor Play (CCOP), that explores the health and well-being benefits of an outdoor-focused ECE program for children and their care providers in comparison to conventional ECE programs in Ottawa. This session will provide valuable insight into how parental beliefs, educator satisfaction, and competencies shape children’s access to outdoor play and learning. Through evidence-informed reflection and discussion, the session offers a nuanced perspective on educator well-being and its connection to program type and daily practice. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of the benefits and challenges of outdoor-focused early learning and play through the lens of both families and educators, while contributing to a broader dialogue that will help shape national research initiatives.