Research affirms what many of us see firsthand: regular time in nature improves health and well-being, inspires collaboration and reduces stress, supports creativity and whole-child development, and creates feelings of empathy for nature. It’s why our mission is to help nature become an integral, joyful part of children’s daily learning.
Who we are
Nature Explore is a program of Dimensions Educational Research Foundation, a national nonprofit dedicated to inspiring joy and wonder in children, educators, and communities with a heart-centered approach to early education. Our research began in 1996 to study children’s visual spatial learning. This led to findings about the importance of children’s connections to nature. By 2007, the research expanded to study effective materials and spaces in outdoor classrooms. A unique research-based design consultation process emerged, and professional development provided support for outdoor learning environments.
Dimensions Educational Research Foundation’s Timeline of Growth throughout The Years
What began as a part-time preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds expanded to a full service program for children aged 6 weeks to 5 years. In the early 90’s, we began a Multicultural Education Initiative and a Scholarship Fund.
The teachers began researching children’s visual spatial learning, which drew attention to the importance of children’s connections with nature. A National Research Advisory Group was formed to move the work forward.
The nature research expanded to study effective materials and spaces in outdoor classrooms, leading to a unique research-based design consultation process and educator workshops to create and support outdoor learning environments.
Dimensions formed an administrative partnership with the World Forum Foundation, building a global community of early childhood professionals to share ideas and resources and co-founding the Nature Action Collaborative for Children.
Exchange Press, founded in 1978, became part of the Dimensions family, to continue promoting the global exchange of ideas among leaders in early childhood through its articles, books, and training resources.
Focused on sustaining our field, Dimensions continues to connect and partner with children, teachers, and organizations every day. We are thankful to be part of the growth of this amazing field.
Today, Nature Explore has helped thousands of programs connect children to nature, and our network has grown to over 600 Certified Nature Explore Classrooms across the globe.
Who we work with
Meaningful collaborations continue to guide the development and awareness of holistic, integrated natural outdoor classrooms where young children thrive. Nature Explore works with a variety of programs, with one thing in common: the desire to connect children and community to the wonders of nature.
We work collaboratively with …
- early childhood programs
- elementary schools
- large school districts
- Head Start and Early Head Start programs
- nature centers
- national forests
- parks and wildlife refuges
- zoos
- arboretums
- libraries
- faith-based programs
- children’s museums
- and more!
