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The Colorado Collective for Nature-Based Early Education (CCNBEE) presents Colorado's first comprehensive safety and operational analysis of outdoor nature-based (ONB) preschools, based on one full year of data from 20 programs across all regions and seasons. This analysis reveals exceptional safety performance and identifies critical regulatory misalignment that threaten program viability and family access to Universal Pre-K funding.

Published by Jenny Brundin from CPR on June 24. Colorado Collective for Nature-Based Early Education, which represents most of the state’s outdoor preschools, released an analysis of outdoor nature-based preschools in the state that it argues shows why the proposed rules are off-base. READ ARTICLE ON CPR HERE: https://www.cpr.org/2025/06/24/concerns-over-outdoor-nature-based-preschool-programs-law/

Colorado's outdoor nature-based (ONB) preschools demonstrate exceptional safety and reliability, according to the state's first comprehensive data analysis completed by The Colorado Collective for Nature-Based Early Education (CCNBEE). The group tracked 20 programs in all four seasons across all zones of CO (2023-2024) DATA SUMMARY HERE: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Olya89s-VCrMUJOxPnE2E4Z8qgj8AqPp/view?usp=drive_link

Outdoor preschools are popular in Colorado, but a lack of licensing has meant parents couldn’t take advantage of the state’s universal pre-K funds—until now. READ FULL ARTICLE HERE: https://www.5280.com/will-a-new-law-help-make-nature-preschools-more-affordable/

A number of studies have shown faster cognitive development in children attending outdoor preschools, better motor coordination and even boosted immune systems. Math and learning new vocabulary happen organically here. LISTEN AND READ HERE: https://www.cpr.org/2024/07/10/colorados-outdoor-preschools-trade-chalkboards-and-desks-for-crawdads-and-mud/

A new law opens up outdoor preschools to low income families in Colorado by allowing them to accept state child care subsidies. Advocates say learning outdoors has advantages over indoor classrooms. LISTEN HERE: https://www.npr.org/2024/07/09/nx-s1-5030239/colorado-is-the-2nd-state-to-approve-licenses-for-outdoor-preschools

Licenses for full-day outdoor programs will take until 2026, in part because rules will be customized based on each program’s geographic location and features. The outdoor preschool bill includes $260,000 for 2024-25 for new licensing specialists who will focus on full-day outdoor preschool programs. READ FULL ARTICLE HER: https://www.chalkbeat.org/colorado/2024/05/13/outdoor-preschool-license-bill-unlocks-public-money/

https://www.senatedems.co/newsroom/senate-passes-legislation-that-improves-access-to-outdoor-nature-based-preschools

https://www.senatedems.co/newsroom/marchman-to-champion-legislation-that-improves-outdoor-nature-based-preschools

Maryland is among the states moving to expand and diversify the naturalist approach to early education

https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2023/01/03/as-outdoor-preschools-gain-traction-states-work-to-unlock-funding

https://www.hcn.org/articles/education-the-benefits-of-outdoor-education-arent-accessible-to-all