The OLE! Austin area coalition, under the leadership of Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, will help expand the number of outdoor learning environments at childcare centers and raise awareness of the positive benefits that nature has on young children. OLE! Austin is pleased to announce the local demonstration site will be Austin Community College Children’s Lab School (ACC). Additional, OLE! Austin sites will be established at Child Inc's childcare centers.

In addition to a commitment to serving as an OLE! demonstration site for other childcare centers, the coalition supports training landscape professionals to transfer OLE! best practices and provides training for childcare providers to feel confident in the outdoor spaces. Find out how you can be an OLE! trained designer.

Designers trained in the Natural Learning Initiative (NLI) Guidelines on Natural Play and Learning.

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center,

Michelle Bertelsen, mbertelsen@wildflower.org

Our partnerships continue to grow as the project grows. If you would like to get involved or find out more please contact Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center email education@wildflower.org

Useful links specific to this project:

• https://www.wildflower.org/our-work/ecological-design
• http://www.austincc.edu/childdev/labschool/
• http://www.unitedwayaustin.org/09/2017/outdoor-learning-environments-the-importance-of-play/