Natural Play Environments

Nature play environments support nature play. These environments are outside, and most often use natural materials such as logs, rocks, trees, sand, water and gardens. Children who play in natural play environments will build an affinity for nature, which is a great first step in creating future generations of children who will become environmental stewards – we love what we know.

Additional information and resources may be found here:

Natural Learning Initiative at NC State University

www.naturalearning.org

The Natural Learning Initiative (NLI) was founded in 2000 with the purpose of promoting the importance of the natural environment in the daily experience of all children, through environmental design, action research, education and dissemination of information. It is a research and professional development unit at the College of Design, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.

Click here to learn more about natural play and learning places and training for the design of natural play environments/spaces:

• https://naturalearning.org/2017-early-childhood-design-institute-architecture-and-landscape-architecture-early-childhood
• https://naturalearning.org/nature-play-and-learning-places-creating-and-managing-places-where-children-engage-nature