Outdoor Classroom Project

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  • THE OUTDOOR CLASSROOM PROJECT - FUNDED BY FIRST 5 LA

    • If you failed to receive a handout from the April 5, 2008 presentation at CAEYC, please email a request to cec@caltech.edu.
    • The next Outdoor Classroom Conference will be held Saturday, June 7, 2008. Persons interested in enrolling for the June, 7, 2008 conference are encouraged to register now, using the current registration form (linked below as Conference Brochure).

      If you have questions or reside outside Los Angeles County, please contact us via email at outdoor-classroom@caltech.edu or by phone at 626-296-1770.

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Keynote Address

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Background

Nearly 160,000 children in Los Angeles County are enrolled in child care centers, and most of these children spend the majority of their time confined inside classrooms. Many child care teachers and administrators, as well as parents, are unaware of the degree of positive impact that sophisticated outdoor play activity has on children�s development, including their health, self-concept, and future school success. Today, very young children are increasingly pressured to perform academically while they get much less time for outdoor play, spend more time sitting in front of TVs and computers, and eat an ever-worsening diet. It is not surprising that the incidence of childhood obesity and diabetes has become epidemic and that millions of children nationwide are medicated daily to modify their behavior. More than any time before, children need the benefits of outdoor activity.

Project Funding, Operation and Philosophy

The Outdoor Classroom Project was funded in July of 2003 by a 5-year, $1,000,000 grant from First 5 LA, which disperses funds generated by California�s Proposition 10 tobacco tax to projects serving children ages 0 - 5 in Los Angeles County. The Project is conducted by the Child Educational Center (CEC), a nationally accredited program of early childhood education which, since 1979, has cultivated the concept and practice of the Outdoor Classroom. The philosophy of the Outdoor Classroom is that all children need and benefit from more time outdoors. This benefit affects development and learning. It is critical for physical health. Nearly every activity that can be done indoors can be done outdoors. Some activities can only occur outdoors. Other activities occur best outdoors. For children ages 0 to 5, development and learning outdoors is often easier and more beneficial than it is indoors. Full development and integration of outdoor and indoor programs creates the optimal learning and growing environment for young children.

Project Goal and Objectives

The Outdoor Classroom Project�s long-term outcome is to increase the quantity, quality, and benefit of outdoor experiences for children ages 0 to 5 in Los Angeles County child care centers. The project goal is accomplished by educating teachers, administrators, and parents from child care centers in every Service Planning Area in LA County on the value of outdoor environments and activities, and then assisting them in cultivating both at their individual sites. Achievement of the goal is further enhanced by increasing public awareness of the Project�s importance and building alliances with other similar initiatives.

Project Activities

Activities include refining the CEC program as a model for the �Outdoor Classroom�, holding semi-annual conferences for L.A. County child care providers, providing on-site consulting and training to over 120 centers county-wide, refining and strengthening the CEC observation and practicum program, and developing and disseminating information and data, including Project materials and evaluation results. Additional services are available on request.

Contact Information

To contact us, send an email to outdoor-classroom@caltech.edu or call us at 626-296-1770. We welcome your questions, comments and information regarding your activities.

Available Outdoor Classroom Project Activities and Services

Primary Activities: Semi-Annual Conferences and On-Site Consulting

The Next Regularly Scheduled Outdoor Classroom Conference Will Be Held Saturday, June 7, 2008

Information regarding participation in the semi-annual conferences is generally mailed out once per year to all licensed child care centers serving children 0 - 5 in Los Angeles County. Attendees to the conferences are eligible to apply for free on-site consulting.

Attending Conferences If You Are Not A Staff Member of Child Care Center

In addition to staff of licensed child care centers, a selected number of spaces are available to other interested members of the public. Please contact the Outdoor Classroom Project with an expression of interest.

Visiting the Child Educational Center Model Outdoor Classroom

Any member of the public interested in visiting and viewing the model outdoor classroom at the Child Educational Center in La Canada should call the Project at 626-296-1770 to set up an appointment.

Creating Additional Conferences and Seminars

Additional conferences, seminars or workshops on Outdoor Classroom topics can be provided by the Project. Contact Yvonne Lavenia via email at outdoor-classroom@caltech.edu for further information.

Obtaining On-Site Consulting Without Attending the Conference

Specialized on-site consulting and staff development services can be provided on request to programs that have not participated in the regularly-scheduled conferences. Contact Yvonne Lavenia via email at outdoor-classroom@caltech.edu for further information.

Prev. Image Next Image
Keynote Address

Click image(s) to enlarge

Related Files

Background

Nearly 160,000 children in Los Angeles County are enrolled in child care centers, and most of these children spend the majority of their time confined inside classrooms. Many child care teachers and administrators, as well as parents, are unaware of the degree of positive impact that sophisticated outdoor play activity has on children�s development, including their health, self-concept, and future school success. Today, very young children are increasingly pressured to perform academically while they get much less time for outdoor play, spend more time sitting in front of TVs and computers, and eat an ever-worsening diet. It is not surprising that the incidence of childhood obesity and diabetes has become epidemic and that millions of children nationwide are medicated daily to modify their behavior. More than any time before, children need the benefits of outdoor activity.

Project Funding, Operation and Philosophy

The Outdoor Classroom Project was funded in July of 2003 by a 5-year, $1,000,000 grant from First 5 LA, which disperses funds generated by California�s Proposition 10 tobacco tax to projects serving children ages 0 - 5 in Los Angeles County. The Project is conducted by the Child Educational Center (CEC), a nationally accredited program of early childhood education which, since 1979, has cultivated the concept and practice of the Outdoor Classroom. The philosophy of the Outdoor Classroom is that all children need and benefit from more time outdoors. This benefit affects development and learning. It is critical for physical health. Nearly every activity that can be done indoors can be done outdoors. Some activities can only occur outdoors. Other activities occur best outdoors. For children ages 0 to 5, development and learning outdoors is often easier and more beneficial than it is indoors. Full development and integration of outdoor and indoor programs creates the optimal learning and growing environment for young children.

Project Goal and Objectives

The Outdoor Classroom Project�s long-term outcome is to increase the quantity, quality, and benefit of outdoor experiences for children ages 0 to 5 in Los Angeles County child care centers. The project goal is accomplished by educating teachers, administrators, and parents from child care centers in every Service Planning Area in LA County on the value of outdoor environments and activities, and then assisting them in cultivating both at their individual sites. Achievement of the goal is further enhanced by increasing public awareness of the Project�s importance and building alliances with other similar initiatives.

Project Activities

Activities include refining the CEC program as a model for the �Outdoor Classroom�, holding semi-annual conferences for L.A. County child care providers, providing on-site consulting and training to over 120 centers county-wide, refining and strengthening the CEC observation and practicum program, and developing and disseminating information and data, including Project materials and evaluation results. Additional services are available on request.

Contact Information

To contact us, send an email to outdoor-classroom@caltech.edu or call us at 626-296-1770. We welcome your questions, comments and information regarding your activities.

Available Outdoor Classroom Project Activities and Services

Primary Activities: Semi-Annual Conferences and On-Site Consulting

The Next Regularly Scheduled Outdoor Classroom Conference Will Be Held Saturday, June 7, 2008

Information regarding participation in the semi-annual conferences is generally mailed out once per year to all licensed child care centers serving children 0 - 5 in Los Angeles County. Attendees to the conferences are eligible to apply for free on-site consulting.

Attending Conferences If You Are Not A Staff Member of Child Care Center

In addition to staff of licensed child care centers, a selected number of spaces are available to other interested members of the public. Please contact the Outdoor Classroom Project with an expression of interest.

Visiting the Child Educational Center Model Outdoor Classroom

Any member of the public interested in visiting and viewing the model outdoor classroom at the Child Educational Center in La Canada should call the Project at 626-296-1770 to set up an appointment.

Creating Additional Conferences and Seminars

Additional conferences, seminars or workshops on Outdoor Classroom topics can be provided by the Project. Contact Yvonne Lavenia via email at outdoor-classroom@caltech.edu for further information.

Obtaining On-Site Consulting Without Attending the Conference

Specialized on-site consulting and staff development services can be provided on request to programs that have not participated in the regularly-scheduled conferences. Contact Yvonne Lavenia via email at outdoor-classroom@caltech.edu for further information.