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Grow Outdoors SC is a joint initiative of the the South Carolina Department of Social Services (SCDSS) Division of Early Care and Education and the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity Prevention, with the aim of transforming early childhood outdoor spaces into diverse, naturalized environments that spark play and learning.

Based on the Preventing Obesity by Design (POD) action-research health promotion strategy developed by the Natural Learning Initiative (NLI) at NC State University, Grow Outdoors SC addresses the obesity epidemic in young children attending child care by promoting physical activity, healthy eating, and learning through changes in the design and management of outdoor environments at child care programs.

Grow Outdoors SC partners with the National Wildlife Federation Early Childhood Health Outdoors (ECHO) initiative and NLI to plan, design, and incrementally develop naturalized outdoor play and learning environments at ABC Quality participating child care programs across the state.

Resources:

Grow Outdoors SC One-Pager

SCDSS Grow Outdoors SC Press Release

ABC25 Grow Outdoors SC Launch Media Coverage

This initiative is supported by the South Carolina Department of Social Services using federal funds from the Office of Child Care, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the SC Department of Public Health.