The Outdoor Learning Environment
The Outdoor Learning Environment
Designing Engaging, Regulating, and Play-Rich Outdoor Spaces in Early Childhood
Professional Development Course for Educators
Wednesday 30th September 2026
6:00pm - 8:00pm - Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania
6:00pm - 8:00pm - Western Australia
Thursday 1st October 2026
6:30pm - 8:30pm - Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania
6:00pm - 8:00pm - South Australia, Northern Territory
INDIVIDUAL - $129
TEAM - $599
Team is for an Individual Early Learning Team
What Educators Will Learn
Module Overview
Module 1: Reframing the Outdoor Environment
Module 2: Principles of Outdoor Design
Module 3: Zones of Outdoor Learning
Module 4: The Educator’s Role Outdoors
Module 5: Play, Engagement & Behaviour
Module 6: Bringing It All Together
Designing Engaging, Regulating, and Play-Rich Outdoor Spaces in Early Childhood
Professional Development Course for Educators
Wednesday 30th September 2026
6:00pm - 8:00pm - Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania
6:00pm - 8:00pm - Western Australia
Thursday 1st October 2026
6:30pm - 8:30pm - Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania
6:00pm - 8:00pm - South Australia, Northern Territory
INDIVIDUAL - $129
TEAM - $599
Team is for an Individual Early Learning Team
What Educators Will Learn
- Why outdoor environments are critical for regulation and learning
- How engagement reduces behavioural challenges
- What children actually need outdoors (beyond equipment lists)
- Designing flexible, play-rich outdoor learning spaces
- Balancing structure and open-ended play outdoors
- Creating provocations in natural environments
- Using nature as a co-regulator
- Supporting all developmental domains outdoors
- Making outdoor learning intentional, not incidental
Module Overview
Module 1: Reframing the Outdoor Environment
- Understanding the outdoor space as a core learning system
- Moving beyond “outside play” thinking
- The role of engagement in behaviour and regulation
- Introducing ecological thinking outdoors
Module 2: Principles of Outdoor Design
- What makes an outdoor environment truly engaging
- Balancing structure, flow, and flexibility
- Designing for curiosity, movement, and connection
- Creating intentional learning invitations
Module 3: Zones of Outdoor Learning
- Understanding key functional areas in outdoor environments
- How different zones support different types of development
- Designing for variety, depth, and accessibility
- Ensuring all children can engage meaningfully outdoors
Module 4: The Educator’s Role Outdoors
- Observation, presence, and responsiveness
- Extending play without interrupting flow
- Supporting regulation through relationships
- Risk, safety, and confident decision-making
Module 5: Play, Engagement & Behaviour
- The link between engagement and regulation
- Supporting sustained play experiences outdoors
- Understanding group dynamics in outdoor spaces
- Responding to behaviour through environment design
Module 6: Bringing It All Together
- Translating principles into daily practice
- Creating consistency across the outdoor environment
- Reflective practice and ongoing improvement
- Sustaining a living, evolving outdoor classroom
