Canadian Centre for Outdoor Play

Meet the Canadian Centre for Outdoor Play (CCOP) Champions who are helping to shape healthier childhoods by creating meaningful opportunities for children to play, learn, explore, and connect outdoors.

Why our Champions are important:
➡️ Outdoor play champions help turn evidence into action in everyday settings
➡️ They create environments that support children’s physical, emotional, social, and cognitive well-being
➡️ They foster deeper connections between children, communities, and the natural world
➡️ They inspire others—building a growing national movement advancing outdoor play and learning across Canada

Recognizing champions isn’t just about celebrating individual leadership. It’s about strengthening a community of practice, sharing innovation, and accelerating change for future generations. The CCOP Champions Program was created to build exactly that: a national network of educators and leaders advancing active engagement, holistic development, and meaningful connections through outdoor play.

Congratulations to this year’s Champions—and thank you for helping move the outdoor play movement forward. 💜

To view our full list of Champions, click here: ⬇

https://www.outdoorplaycanada.ca/ccop-champions/

Reminder: there’s still time to join us in celebrating three years of outdoor learning, exploration, and community. 🎉

The Forest Explorers and Canadian Centre for Outdoor Play Open House is coming up—and it’s an opportunity to experience firsthand how outdoor play and nature-based learning help children grow, connect, and thrive.

Whether you’re a parent, educator, community partner, or simply passionate about healthy childhoods, we’d love to welcome you. Come tour the space, meet the community, and celebrate the impact of three incredible years.

📅 June 6, 2026
⏰ 10:00 AM–4:00 PM
📍 415 Corkstown Rd, Ottawa, ON

Join us at Forest Explorers, home of the Canadian Centre for Outdoor Play, and see what’s possible when children are given the freedom to learn and play outdoors. 🌿

Register or learn more here:

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-canadian-centre-for-outdoor-play-ccop-open-house-tickets-1988641116111

On April 30th, educators from across Ottawa gathered at Forest Explorers for an in-person community of practice. Educators enjoyed an evening of connection, reflection, delicious food, and the warmth of a bonfire. The CCOP and SPROUT-able teams shared several exciting project updates, including the CCOP Champions Program.

The evening sparked rich conversations about successes in outdoor play throughout the year, with many educators sharing stories, moments of challenge, and shifts in thinking. These conversations highlighted the many meaningful efforts taking place across our communities to further children's access and opportunity for quality outdoor play experiences.

We would love to see you at our next gathering. Stay tuned for updates! 🤳

Two years of curiosity, connection, and outdoor adventure is worth celebrating. 🎉

Join us as we celebrate the 2-year anniversary of Forest Explorers — a licensed program of Andrew Fleck Children’s Services and home of the Canadian Centre for Outdoor Play.

Come explore the space, connect with the community, and experience the power of outdoor play firsthand. Whether you’re a family, educator, partner, or simply curious about nature-based learning, we’d love to see you there.

📍 415 Corkstown Rd, Ottawa, ON
📅 June 6, 2026
⏰ Open House: 10:00 AM–4:00 PM

We can't wait to celebrate two years of helping children learn, play, explore, and thrive outdoors. 🌿

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-canadian-centre-for-outdoor-play-ccop-open-house-tickets-1988641116111
___

Let's give a warm welcome to Darcie Clement, our new CCOP Fellow!

"Hello, my name is Darcie Clement, RECE, and I am this year's CCOP Fellow! As a new graduate from Algonquin College's Bachelor of Early Learning and Community Development (BELCD) program and previous SPROUT-able project assistant, I am so grateful to be working with Outdoor Play Canada again! I am extremely excited to work with our community of practice! Having the opportunity to be present for conversations with fellow educators and partners on the current state and future of outdoor play is very meaningful to me!

I look forward to the fulfilling work and meaningful connections this year will bring!"

___

Have you checked out our ECE Resource Library?

All items within this library are related to outdoor early childhood education, produced by those within the sector. This library is intended to be a living resource, where we plan to continually add items as we learn about them. We invite you to share new items with us to keep this library up to date and continue our effort to serve as a central portal of information on outdoor play and learning in Canada, avoid duplication of efforts, and help connect groups with similar interests.

Access the resource library here: 👇

https://www.outdoorplaycanada.ca/resources/?category=152



____

Avez-vous déjà consulté notre bibliothèque de ressources ?

Tous les articles de cette bibliothèque sont liés à l'éducation à la petite enfance en plein air et ont été produits par des acteurs du secteur. Cette bibliothèque se veut une ressource vivante dans laquelle nous prévoyons contribuer en continu, au fur et à mesure que nous accédons à de nouvelles connaissances. Nous vous invitons à nous partager tous nouveaux éléments afin de conserver cette bibliothèque à jour et maintenir nos efforts pour servir de portail principal d'informations sur le jeu et l'apprentissage en plein air au Canada. Nous voulons aussi éviter de dédoubler les efforts et aider à mettre en relation les groupes ayant des intérêts similaires.

Accédez à la bibliothèque de ressources ici : 👇

https://www.outdoorplaycanada.ca/fr/resources/?category=152

Le Centre canadien pour le jeu en plein air (CCOP) et le Comité national sur la réglementation de l'éducation préscolaire en plein air et sur le terrain (le « Comité national »), un collectif au sein du CCOP, sont heureux d'approuver le document d'orientation publié en octobre 2025 par la Fondation Lawson, intitulé « Réglementer l'apprentissage en plein air et sur le terrain dans le cadre de l'éducation préscolaire et de la garde d'enfants ».

Compte tenu des nombreuses connaissances sur les bienfaits du jeu et de l'apprentissage en plein air pour la santé et le bien-être des enfants, nous encourageons vivement toutes les administrations provinciales et territoriales à revoir leurs cadres réglementaires en matière d'éducation et de garde des jeunes enfants (EGJE) et à créer une catégorie distincte pour les programmes en plein air et sur le terrain, afin de garantir un accès équitable et des programmes sûrs et de haute qualité.

Le document complet et notre modèle de lettre de soutien téléchargeable sont disponibles ici : 👇

À l'appui du document d'orientation de la Fondation Lawson : Réglementer l'apprentissage en plein air et sur le terrain dans le cadre de l'éducation préscolaire et de la garde d'enfants » Jouons dehors Canada En soutien à la note d'orientation de la Fondation Lawson : Réglementer l'apprentissage en plein air et sur le terrain dans le cadre de l'éducation et de la garde des jeunes enfants Le Centre canadien du jeu à l'extérieur CCOP) et le Panel national sur la réglementation de l'éducation présco...

The Canadian Centre for Outdoor Play (CCOP) and the National Panel on Regulating Outdoor and Land-Based Early Childhood Education (‘the National Panel’), a collective within the CCOP, are pleased to endorse the The Lawson Foundation's October 2025 Policy Brief, “Regulating Outdoor and Land-Based Learning as Early Learning and Child Care.”

Given the wealth of knowledge on the benefits of outdoor play and learning for children’s health and wellbeing, we strongly encourage all provincial and territorial jurisdictions to review their regulatory frameworks for Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) and to establish a distinct category for Outdoor and Land-Based Programs, ensuring equitable access and safe, high-quality programming.

The full brief and our downloadable support letter template can be found here: 👇

https://www.outdoorplaycanada.ca/2026/02/23/in-support-of-the-lawson-foundations-policy-brief-regulating-outdoor-and-land-based-learning-as-early-learning-and-child-care/

__

We’re excited to launch the CCOP Champions Program! 💜

This new initiative celebrates early childhood educators across Canada who are leading the way in outdoor and Land-based play and learning.

Rooted in the Outdoor Early Childhood Education Framework, the program recognizes educators whose work reflects Active Engagement, Holistic Development, and Meaningful Connections — and who champion inclusive, relational approaches to outdoor play.

✨ Nominations are now open (including self-nominations!)

Learn more at https://bit.ly/4agocXV

Notre équipe s'agrandit ! 🌿

Les jeux en plein air ont besoin de voix audacieuses, et nous avons besoin de la vôtre. Nous recrutons un membre à temps plein pour le Centre canadien pour les jeux en plein air (CCOP) pour un mandat d'un an afin de faire progresser la défense des intérêts et le leadership éclairé en matière de jeux en plein air pendant la petite enfance.

À ce poste, vous collaborerez avec un solide partenariat national comprenant HALO (Institut de recherche du CHEO), Andrew Fleck Children's Services, l'Algonquin College et Outdoor Play Canada afin de renforcer les capacités et l'influence dans l'ensemble du secteur.

Si vous êtes passionné par la petite enfance, la recherche et l'impact au niveau des systèmes, nous serions ravis de vous rencontrer.

Offre d'emploi : Centre canadien du jeu à l'extérieur » Jouons dehors Canada Jouons dehors Canada est à la recherche d'un(e) boursier(e) à temps plein du Centre canadien du jeu à l'extérieur (CCOP) pour un an, afin de renforcer les capacités et le leadership des parties prenantes du jeu en plein air. En tant que boursier du CCOP, votre rôle consistera à mener des init...