About the Early Childhood Outdoor Learning Network
The Early Childhood Outdoor Learning Network exists to promote and support outdoor learning for preschool children in Australia. We bring educators together to share our experience of outdoor teaching.
We share information - be it practical, pedagogical, philosophical or political. We promote the value of outdoor play for young children. Our earliest work to spread awareness of nature kindergarten was through Gatherings that provide opportunities for interested people to visit the sites where nature kindergarten is held and talk to staff. This program is ongoing. In April 2016 we hosted our first Conference on outdoor education for early childhood, and have run these annually since. In 2017 we partnered with the Kids in Nature network to map the spread of nature kindergarten and other similar opportunities for children to play in nature. Results from this formed the basis of our live map of nature kindergarten programs. In 2018, we responded to interest from the sector in having support to establish new nature kindergarten programs. From 2019, this training program was added to the School Readiness Funding menu, and is available to eligible services through that source. Other services can book directly with ECOLN. We are a volunteer organisation. We are practitioners sharing with other practitioners. At the moment, we are based in Victoria, however we are open to educators anywhere in Australia. The Early Childhood Outdoor Learning Network is free to join and shares knowledge freely. If you would like to join our mailing list, please sign up here. |