Research

• Grounds For Action: Promoting Physical Activity through School Ground Greening in Canada, by Anne C. Bell & Janet E. Dyment (2006)
  Grounds for Action presents the findings of a national survey that explored the relationship between green school grounds and physical activity at elementary schools across Canada. This is a timely investigation given the growing epidemic of overweight and obesity among Canadian children. Children spend on average about 25% of their school day outdoors on the school ground. This setting thus offers important opportunities for promoting physical activity and health.
  
  View Printable (PDF) version (3 MB)
• Gaining Ground: The Power and Potential of School Ground Greening in the Toronto District School Board, by Janet Dyment, Ph.D. (2005)
  Evergreen is thrilled to present a new, seminal study of greening initiatives in the fifth largest school board in North America. Gaining Ground identifies compelling benefits of hands-on outdoor learning on student engagement, achievement, behaviour, health, safety and environmental awareness. It argues forcefully for greater institutional support of green school grounds at both the school board and provincial level.
  
  View Printable (PDF) version (3.3 MB)
  Executive Summary (530 kB)
• Nature Nurtures: Investigating the Potential of School Grounds (2000)
  This report is a comprehensive review of the literature pertaining to school ground naturalization. It examines the work of some of the most advanced thinkers in the fields of child development, education and environmental psychology, and explores the web of benefits that results when a whole school community participates in creating more nurturing and diverse environments for learning. 34 pages. Hard copy: $15. Free download.
  
  Full Report (2.2 MB) Executive Summary (1.8 MB)

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Policy

• Shade for Kids: A Policy Primer for School Boards (2006)
  Want to convince your school board to take action and provide more shade for kids? This colourful, eight-page brochure presents the case and offers six strategies for creating a shade policy that goes beyond slathering on SPF30. Hard copy: $3. Free download.
  
  View Printable (PDF) version (6.2 MB)
• School Ground Greening: A policy and planning guidebook (2002)
  This resource provides practical guidelines to help school boards promote school ground greening through policies, programs and operating procedures. It also contains a description of project types, including education and environmental rationales, case studies, and recommended best practices. 64 pages. Hard copy: $15. Free download.
  
  View Printable (PDF) version (1.4 MB)

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