{"id":244,"date":"2025-03-17T00:19:05","date_gmt":"2025-03-17T00:19:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.oelabc.com\/?page_id=244"},"modified":"2026-03-31T02:42:18","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T02:42:18","slug":"resources","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.oelabc.com\/index.php\/resources\/","title":{"rendered":"Resources"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Outdoor & Forest School Resources<\/h2>\n

This page is a collection of key resources for educators and organizations working in outdoor, nature-based, and land-based learning in British Columbia. It includes policy documents, Indigenous learning resources, risk-benefit tools, licensing information, and practical guidance for operating outdoor programs.<\/p>\n

Outdoor education in BC sits at the intersection of education, licensing, land stewardship, Indigenous knowledge, risk-benefit practice, and community care<\/strong>. The resources below are intended to support educators in building safe, meaningful, and responsible outdoor programs.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

Foundational Frameworks & Pedagogy<\/h2><\/div>
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BC Early Learning Framework<\/strong>
\nhttps:\/\/www2.gov.bc.ca\/assets\/gov\/education\/early-learning\/teach\/earlylearning\/early_learning_framework.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

Learning in the Primary Years (BC Ministry of Education)<\/strong>
\nhttps:\/\/www2.gov.bc.ca\/assets\/gov\/education\/early-learning\/teach\/resources\/learning-in-the-primary-years.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

Forest and Nature School in Canada Guide<\/strong>
\nhttps:\/\/childnature.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/FSC-Guide-1.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

Outdoor ECE Framework (Outdoor Play Canada)<\/strong>
\nhttps:\/\/www.outdoorplaycanada.ca\/outdoor-ece-framework\/<\/a><\/p>\n

These documents form the pedagogical foundation for outdoor early learning and forest school programs in British Columbia and Canada.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

Indigenous & Land-Based Learning<\/h2><\/div>
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First Peoples Principles of Learning (FNESC)<\/strong>
\nhttps:\/\/www.fnesc.ca\/first-peoples-principles-of-learning\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Indigenous Early Learning & Child Care Framework<\/strong>
\nhttps:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/employment-social-development\/programs\/indigenous-early-learning\/2018-framework.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Land-Based Learning in the Early Years (Outdoor Play Canada)<\/strong>
\nhttps:\/\/www.outdoorplaycanada.ca\/portfolio_page\/learning-from-indigenous-perspectives-land-based-learning-in-the-early-years\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Strong Nations Indigenous Books & Learning Resources (BC)<\/strong>
\nhttps:\/\/www.strongnations.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n

These resources support educators in respectfully incorporating Indigenous perspectives, land-based learning, and First Peoples Principles into their programs.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

Licensing, Policy & Regulations (BC)<\/h2><\/div>
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Child Care Licensing Regulation (BC)<\/strong>
\nhttps:\/\/www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca\/civix\/document\/id\/complete\/statreg\/332_2007<\/a><\/p>\n

Community Care and Assisted Living Act (BC)<\/strong>
\nhttps:\/\/www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca\/civix\/document\/id\/complete\/statreg\/02075_01<\/a><\/p>\n

ChildCareBC Design Guidelines<\/strong>
\nhttps:\/\/www2.gov.bc.ca\/assets\/gov\/family-and-social-supports\/child-care\/info-partners-prov\/childcarebc_design_guidelines.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

Outdoor & Land-Based Learning Policy Brief (Outdoor Play Canada \/ Lawson Foundation)<\/strong>
\nhttps:\/\/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\/<\/a><\/p>\n

These documents help educators understand how outdoor programs fit within licensing and regulatory frameworks in British Columbia.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

Risky Play, Risk-Benefit & Safety<\/h2><\/div>
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Risk-Benefit Assessment Toolkit (Outdoor Play Canada)<\/strong>
\nhttps:\/\/www.outdoorplaycanada.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Risk-Benefit-Assessment-Toolkit.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

UBC Outdoor Play & Risk Research<\/strong>
\nhttps:\/\/earlylearning.ubc.ca\/resources\/topic\/outdoor-play\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Position Statement on Active Outdoor Play (Canada)<\/strong>
\nhttps:\/\/www.outdoorplaycanada.ca\/position-statement-on-active-outdoor-play\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Risk-benefit assessment is a key part of forest school and outdoor education. These resources help educators balance safety with healthy risk and child development.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

Professional Practice<\/h2><\/div>
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ECEBC Code of Ethics<\/strong>
\nhttps:\/\/www.ecebc.ca\/resources-merchandise\/code-of-ethics<\/a><\/p>\n

BC Curriculum<\/strong>
\nhttps:\/\/curriculum.gov.bc.ca\/<\/a><\/p>\n

These documents support professional and ethical practice for educators working with children in BC.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

Practical Outdoor Learning Resources & Activity Ideas<\/h2><\/div>
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These websites have lesson ideas, tool use guidance, seasonal activity ideas, and outdoor curriculum support:<\/p>\n

Outdoor Play Canada<\/strong>
\nhttps:\/\/www.outdoorplaycanada.ca\/<\/a><\/p>\n

The Outdoor Learning Store<\/strong>
\nhttps:\/\/outdoorlearningstore.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Child & Nature Alliance of Canada<\/strong>
\nhttps:\/\/childnature.ca\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Project Learning Tree Canada<\/strong>
\nhttps:\/\/pltcanada.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Take Me Outside<\/strong>
\nhttps:\/\/takemeoutside.ca\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Nature Play BC<\/strong>
\nhttps:\/\/www.natureplaybc.ca\/<\/p>\n

These websites are excellent sources for:<\/p>\n