Spring has officially sprung: Some natural thoughts by Jesse Turner and Sarah Werner, NLI design associates

BY JESSE TURNER and SARAH WERNER, Natural Learning Initiative Follow on Twitter @naturalearningi or Like on Facebook. It’s been a weird winter, if you could even call it that. Raleigh has hardly seen a skiff of snow, wool coats remain closeted, and last week oak trees were already budding. It’s early March and the ornamental [...]

Moore and Cosco awarded inaugural NCCAN! Natural Initiatives Award

March 12, 2012 – BROWNS SUMMIT, NC – Professor of Landscape Architecture Robin Moore and Associate Research Professor Dr. Nilda Cosco were honored as the inaugural recipients of the NCCAN! Natural Initiatives Award during the 5th Annual North Carolina Children and Nature Coalition (NCCAN!) Conference. The Natural Initiatives Award named for the Natural Learning Initiative, [...]

NLI partners with the National Wildlife Federation on national guidelines for play and learning

By ELI VALSING, Natural Learning Initiative Natural Learning Initiative (NLI): Natural Play and Learning Area Guidelines Project The Natural Learning Initiative, in partnership with The National Wildlife Federation, began work towards developing national guidelines for play and learning areas in 2009. Children are faced with many options for staying indoors and few options for getting [...]

Innovators Academy Wins First Place in National Awards of Excellence Competition

Raleigh, NC (November 7, 2011) The Middle School Innovators Academy, a unique collaboration between the Department of Graphic and Industrial Design at NC State and the Innovation Design Lab at East Carolina University, won first place for Excellence in Talent Development in the University Economic Development Association’s 2011 Awards of Excellence national competition held in [...]

Natural Learning Design Institute hosts Design for Early Childhood: Health, Play and Learning

Registration is open for the 9th Annual Natural Learning Design Institute’s Design for Early Childhood: Healty, Play and Learn taking place on October 6-7, 2011 at the NC Botanical Garden in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The Design Institute, presented by the Natural Learning Initiative at the College of Design, is an interactive event that combines [...]

“Hey Bobby, Slow Down!” Helicopter Parents Can Impede Child’s Ability to Play

Parental safety concerns may prevent children from getting good exercise, according to a new North Carolina State University study that examined how families use neighborhood parks. Results from the study suggest that children who were monitored too closely by hovering “helicopter” parents were less likely to engage in higher levels of physical activity. “It’s a [...]

CAM (Contemporary Art Museum) announces summer studios for middle school and high school students

CAM Raleigh (Contemporary Art Museum) is pleased to announce the Summer Studios, week-long art and design workshops for middle and high school students. Registration for these programs will begin on Tuesday, March 15, and more information can be found online at cam.ncsu.edu. High school (rising 9th – 12th) studios offered include: Paper, Pixels and Picas: Graphic [...]

“Cellphone Diaries” project to be featured in video series

“Cellphone Diaries,” a film produced by NC State University College of Design Professor Kofi Boone, will premiere Dec. 2, 2010, as part of the Block2 Street Video Series in Raleigh, sponsored by the City of Raleigh Arts Commission. Boone’s film will air each day  in the window of the Urban Design Center at 133 Fayetteville [...]