Algonquin College to partner with Outdoor Play Canada for four-year project
Posted on Tuesday, June 11th, 2024
Outdoor Play Canada, the Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group at the CHEO Research Institute, Andrew Fleck Children’s Services, Canadian Disability Participation Project and Algonquin College have recently been awarded $1.7 million for a four-year project to address challenges in the built and social environment for outdoor play and learning in natural spaces for young children living with disabilities.
Forest Explorers Outdoor Learning Centre
This project will build upon the important work of launching the Canadian Centre for Outdoor Play (CCOP), advance outdoor early childhood education in Canada, and improve quality participation in outdoor play and learning for children with disabilities. This project aims to ensure that the built and social environments of Andrew Fleck’s Forest Explorers outdoor-focused early childhood education program, which is the foundation of the CCOP, is equipped to support children living with disabilities. Additionally, the project aims to establish that the CCOP Outdoor Champions program includes (dis)ability-specific training, and that tools and strategies implemented are evaluated and ongoing gaps and barriers are addressed, thereby ensuring the CCOP becomes a true demonstration site for outdoor play and learning for all.
This significant announcement comes ahead of the inaugural International Day of Play on June 11.
Algonquin College has been a partner in the establishment of the Canadian Centre for Outdoor Play (CCOP) by collaborating with Outdoor Play Canada and its other partners on research, policy development, and educational initiatives aimed at promoting outdoor play for children’s health and wellbeing. Algonquin College faculty members have led various projects, provided professional learning opportunities such as Algonquin College’s new Play, Learn and Teach Outdoors in the Early Years certificate, and participated in knowledge translation efforts to support early childhood educators in their outdoor play practices across Canada. Notably, the involvement of the College’s professors highlights the institution’s commitment to advancing outdoor play education and research. Students from the Bachelor of Early Learning and Community Development (Honours) degree have completed practicums with the CCOP, and both of the CCOP Fellows have been graduates from this program.
“We are excited to continue our partnership with Outdoor Play Canada, CHEO and Andrew Fleck Children’s Services and to work with the Canadian Disability Partnership Project to support enriched built and social environments for outdoor play in natural spaces for young children of all abilities,” said Jane Trakalo, Dean, School of Wellness, Public Safety and Community Studies at Algonquin College. “This partnership allows for faculty from the Community Studies department to share their expertise and passion for the field while engaging in research.”
To learn more about this very exciting project, email info@outdoorplaycanada.ca.
This project has been funded through the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Healthy Canadians and Communities Fund.