Outdoor Nature-Based Providers

Outdoor Nature-Based child care gives young children daily chances to learn outside. Children explore, play, and connect with nature in safe and supportive spaces. 

DCYF licenses these programs. This helps make sure they meet health and safety rules and provide high quality care. These programs help children build curiosity, confidence, and a love of learning.

Meeting Staff Qualifications

Staff must meet certain requirements based on their role. These rules are outlined in WAC 110-302, which sets quality standards for Outdoor Nature-Based Child Care. Below is a simple overview by role. 

Review the General Staff Qualifications chart for Outdoor Nature-Based programs for a summary of staff qualifications for ONB child care providers.

Director, Assistant Director, Program Supervisor

  • Background Check
  • Tuberculosis (TB) Test
  • Licensing Orientation (if needed)
  • Must be at least 18
  • Hiring Education Requirement: (At least one person in a leadership role must have)
    • 30 hours or 3 credits of nature-based education training
    • 10 ECE credits (12 or less children)
    • 25 ECE credits (13-24 children)
    • 45 ECE credits (25+ children)
  • Outdoor Nature-Based Child Care Basics
  • Basic/Standard First Aid
  • CPR
  • Wilderness First Aid/CPR (if applicable)
  • Blood Borne Pathogens
  • Food Handler Permit (if applicable)
  • Electronic Attendance Training (if applicable)
  • Subsidy Billing (if applicable)
  • 10-Hour Annual In-Service Training
  • Enhancing Quality of Early Learning (EQEL year 1 and 2)
  • Leadership Practices
  • Full Education:
    • WA ECE State Certificate (47 credits) or equivalent
  • Timeline Allowed from Date of Hire or Promotion: 5 years

Lead Teacher

  • Background Check
  • Tuberculosis (TB) Test
  • Minimum Age: 18
  • Hiring Education Requirement:
    • 10 hours or one credit of nature-based education training
    • High School Diploma or equivalent
  • Outdoor Nature-Based Child Care Basics
  • Basic/Standard First Aid
  • CPR
  • Wilderness First Aid/CPR
  • Blood Borne Pathogens
  • Food Handler Permit (if applicable)
  • 10-Hour Annual In-Service Training
  • Enhancing Quality of Early Learning (EQEL year 1 and 2)
  • Full Education:
    • WA ECE Initial Certificate (12 credits)
    • WA ECE Short Certificate (20 credits)
    • Or equivalent
  • Time Allowed from Date of Hire or Promotion
    • Initial Certificate - 5 years
    • Short Certificate - 2 years from completing Initial Certificate

Assistant Teacher

  • Background Check
  • Tuberculosis (TB) Test
  • Minimum Age: 18
  • Hiring Education Requirement:
    • High School Diploma or equivalent
  • Outdoor Nature-Based Child Care Basics
  • Basic/Standard First Aid
  • CPR
  • Blood Borne Pathogens
  • Food Handler Permit (if applicable)
  • 10-Hour Annual In-Service Training
  • Enhancing Quality of Early Learning (EQEL year 1 and 2)
  • Full Education:
    • WA State ECE Initial Certificate (12 credits) or equivalent
  • Timeline from Date of Hire or Promotion: 5 years

Aide

  • Background Check
  • Tuberculosis (TB) Test
  • Minimum Age: 14
  • Hiring Education Requirement:
    • High School Diploma
    • Enrolled
    • Or equivalent
  • Outdoor Nature-Based Child Care Basics
  • Basic/Standard First Aid
  • CPR
  • Wilderness First Aid/CPR (if applicable)
  • Blood Borne Pathogens
  • Food Handler Permit (if applicable)
  • 10-Hour Annual In-Service Training
  • Not required

Volunteer (Ongoing)

For information about ongoing vs occasional volunteer, see the Volunteering in an Early Learning Facility guide.

  • Background Check
  • Tuberculosis (TB) Test
  • Minimum Age: 14
  • Hiring Education Requirement:
    • Not required
  • Blood Borne Pathogens
  • Food Handler Permit (if applicable)
  • Federal Health and Safety Trainings
    • Disaster and Emergency Preparedness
    • Families Experiencing Homelessness
    • Mandated Reporter-Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse
  • Not required
  • Full Education: Not required

Other Staff

“Other staff” includes roles that do not provide direct care to children or count in ratio.

  • Background Check (if applicable)
  • Food Handler Permit (if applicable)
  • Not required

Program Director

  • Background Check
  • Tuberculosis (TB) Test
  • Licensing Orientation (if applicable)
  • Minimum Age: 18
  • Hiring Education Requirement:
    • 30 hours or three credits of nature-based education training
    • 12 college credits
  • Outdoor Nature-Based Child Care Basics
  • Basic/Standard First Aid
  • Wilderness First Aid/CPR (if applicable)
  • Blood Borne Pathogens
  • Food Handler Permit (if applicable)
  • Electronic Attendance Training (if applicable)
  • 10-Hour Annual In-Service Training
  • Full Education:
    • 45 college credits in any 100-level, or above, college coursework or equivalent
  • Timeline from Date of Hire or Promotion: 5 years

Site Director

  • Background Check
  • Tuberculosis (TB) Test
  • Licensing Orientation (if applicable)
  • Minimum Age: 18
  • Hiring Education Requirement:
    • 30 hours or 3 credits of nature-based education training
    • 12 college credits
  • Outdoor Nature-Based Child Care Basics
  • Basic/Standard First Aid
  • CPR
  • Wilderness First Aid/CPR (if applicable)
  • Blood Borne Pathogens
  • Food Handler Permit (if applicable)
  • 10-Hour Annual In-Service Training
  • Full Education:
    • 30 college credits in any 100-level, or above, college coursework or equivalent
  • Timeline from Date of Hire or Promotion: 5 years

Lead Teacher

  • Background Check
  • Tuberculosis (TB) Test
  • Minimum Age: 18
  • Hiring Education Requirement:
    • 10 hours or one credit of nature-based education training
    • High School Diploma or equivalent
  • Outdoor Nature-Based Child Care Basics
  • Basic/Standard First Aid
  • CPR
  • Wilderness First Aid/CPR (if applicable)
  • Blood Borne Pathogens
  • Food Handler Permit (if applicable)
  • 10-Hour Annual In-Service Training
  • Full Education:
    • 12 college credits in any 100-level, or above, college coursework or equivalent
  • Timeline from Date of Hire or Promotion: 5 years

Assistant Teacher

  • Background Check
  • Tuberculosis (TB) Test
  • Minimum Age: 18
  • Hiring Education Requirement:
    • High School Diploma or equivalent
  • Outdoor Nature-Based Child Care Basics
  • Basic/Standard First Aid
  • CPR
  • Wilderness First Aid/CPR (if applicable)
  • Blood Borne Pathogens
  • Food Handler Permit (if applicable)
  • 10-Hour Annual In-Service Training
  • Full Education:
    • Not required.

Aide

  • Background Check
  • Tuberculosis (TB) Test
  • Minimum Age: 14
  • Hiring Education Requirement:
    • High School Diploma
    • Enrolled
    • Or equivalent
  • Outdoor Nature-Based Child Care Basics
  • Basic/Standard First Aid
  • CPR
  • Blood Borne Pathogens
  • Food Handler Permit (if applicable)
  • 10-Hour Annual In-Service Training
  • Not required.

Volunteer

  • Background Check
  • Tuberculosis (TB) Test
  • Minimum Age: 14
  • Hiring Education Requirement:
    • Not required
  • Blood Borne Pathogens
  • Federal Health and Safety Trainings
    • Disaster and Emergency Preparedness
    • Families Experiencing Homelessness
    • Mandated Reporter-Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse
  • Not required