About us
Out to Play Children’s Programs are undeniably a community creation with the first steps taken by Lara Purvis, and so many hands pitching in since then.
Lara is a qualified teacher with a BA in Child Studies, a BEd in Primary Junior education, and an MA in Global Development. Lara completed her Forest and Nature School Practitioners certificate, and worked for the Child and Nature Alliance as an educator and writer. Lara was the Lead Educator at the Ottawa Forest and Nature School, before founding Out to Play Children’s Programs.
Lara believes in the magic of Story, power of play and the simplicity of connecting on the land together to support the mental health of children, families and communities.
Stay tuned to meet more of the team!
Help us broaden access to outdoor play!
Out to Play is a fledgling organization and we’ll need help finding our footing to be able to offer more subsidized spaces to more communities in 2023. Do you want to get involved?
Work with us! Out to Play hires educators from a variety of backgrounds including ECEs, Ontario College of Teachers, Forest and Nature School Practitioners and Outdoor Educators. Our team commits time to training, mentorship and reflection.
Volunteer! Out to Play welcomes volunteers supporting play on the land, as well in farm, garden and building projects. Help us build our playspaces or join a group out on the land. We’d love to have you.
Donate Supplies! Out to Play is grateful for donations of books and outdoor gear for children. Books can be purchased through Octopus Books. We welcome books that show a diversity of families and ways of being. We’d also gratefully accept your gently used rainpants, rain jackets, socks, base layers and mittens. Good outdoor gear is expensive and being able to offer a gear library is one way we can make outdoor play more accessible.
Partner with us! Out to Play welcomes partnerships with teachers, schools, childcare centres and community health centres to offer quality play-based programming to the children and families that you serve. We’d love to hear from you.
Got an idea that you don’t see here? Email us at info@outtoplay.ca
Organizations we stand alongside
Stay tuned. We’re connecting with the organizations we love and respect to ask their permission to share their logos and work with you here.
Resources for educators, parents and like-minded folks
A note about our photographs
We are grateful to Alana Winchester for the photos taken for our website, and to our educators who capture moments in play.