Family Survey #2 Regarding Outdoor Experiences, Perception and

Attitudes
Tracy Doughtie
West Chester University
ECE 550: The Early Childhood Professional As Researcher
Directions: While responding to each question in this survey, please think about
you and your childs experiences over the past 6 weeks during this nature
immersion study. Please circle an answer for ALL the questions and answer as
honestly and completely as you can. Choose an answer that best represents your
current perception and/or attitude. Please do not consult with your childs other
parent or anyone else when completing this survey. It is important that you answer
the questions based on your experiences, perceptions and attitudes only. I want to
know what YOU think! Please complete and return this by Friday, November
11. Thank you!
There are many varying definitions of nature immersion in early childhood
education. However, the intent of this action research study is to
determine the extent to which a nature immersion program can be
implemented in a family child care setting. Therefore, the goal is to create
our own unique definition of nature immersion. For the purpose of this
survey, please use the following definition.

Nature immersion is defined as spending much of the day outdoors,

year round.
General Program:
1.1. How many days per week would you prefer your child to participate in a
nature immersion program?
_____ 1-2 days per week
_____ 3-4 days per week
_____ 5 days per week
_____ I would not want my child to participate in a nature immersion
program.
1.2. How many hours per day would you prefer your child to be outdoors for a
nature immersion program?
_____ 1 hour per day (this is the required amount to meet state regulation
requirements)
_____ 2-3 hours per day
_____ 3-5 hours per day
_____ 5+ hours per day
1.3.

At what age do you feel that a nature immersion program is appropriate?

_____ Starting at 6 weeks to 6 months
_____ Starting at 6 months to 12 months

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_____
_____
_____
_____
_____

Starting at age 1
Starting at age 2
Starting at age 3
Starting at age 4
Not appropriate for early years (birth-5 years of age)

1.4. In what settings would you like to see a nature immersion program for your
child?
_____ Current setting utilizing play area only
_____ Utilizing forest behind family childcare setting
_____ Field trips to a variety of outdoor, nature areas in the surrounding area
_____ All of these settings
_____ None of these settings
1.5. What is your preference for a student: teacher ratio in a nature immersion
program?
_____ 6:1 (current ratio)
_____ 10:1
_____ 12:2
_____ Other. Please describe.
_____________________________________________________
1.6. Nature immersion programs such as nature preschools and forest
kindergartens are offered in a multi-age classroom like that of a family
childcare setting. Would you prefer to continue with a multi-age classroom?
a. Yes or no (please circle one).
b. Please explain.
__________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Learning Program:
2.1. What do you feel should be the role of a teacher in an early learning
program? Please check all that apply.
_____ Caregiver
_____ Educator
_____ Facilitator
_____ Observer
_____ Researcher
_____ Role Model
_____ Other. Please describe.
_____________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
2.2. What qualifications do you think a teacher should have in an early learning
program? Please check all that apply.
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_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____

Early Child Education

Natural or Environmental Science Education
Teaching certification (preK-4)
Teaching certification (special education)
Positive reinforcement teaching style
Positive attitude toward fears, challenges and all weather conditions
Communication skills
Other. Please describe. ______________________________________________

2.4. Below is an abbreviated list of learning objectives from Teaching Strategies,

our online assessment tool. These are learning objects that are important in
preparing children for kindergarten. While all of these are extremely important
learning objectives, please rank each item as follows in regards to their
importance for kindergarten readiness:
4=Essential, 3=Important, 2=Mildly important, 1=Not important
Social-Emotional
_____ Manages feelings
_____ Follows limits and expectations
_____ Takes care of own needs appropriately
_____ Forms relationships with adults
_____ Interacts with peers
_____ Balances needs and right of self and others
_____ Solves social problems
Physical:
_____ Demonstrates traveling skills
_____ Demonstrates balancing skills
_____ Uses fingers and hands
_____ Uses writing and drawing tools
Language:
_____ Follows directions
_____ Uses an expanding expressive vocabulary
_____ Speaks clearly
_____ Engages in conversations
_____ Uses social rules of language
Cognitive:
_____ Attends and engages
_____ Persists
_____ Solves problems
_____ Shows curiosity and motivation
_____ Shows flexibility and inventiveness in thinking
_____ Recognizes and recalls
_____ Makes connections
_____ Uses classification skills
_____ Engages in sociodramatic play
Literacy:
_____ Identifies and names letters
_____ Uses letter-sound knowledges
_____ Uses and appreciates books
_____ Uses print concept
_____ Writes name
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Mathematics:
_____ Counts
_____ Quantifies
_____ Understands shapes
_____ Compares and measures
_____ Demonstrates knowledge of patterns
Science and Technology:
_____ Uses scientific inquiry skills
_____ Demonstrates knowledge of the characteristics of living things
_____ Demonstrates knowledge of physical properties of objects and
materials
_____ Demonstrates knowledge of the Earths environment
_____ Uses tools and other technology to perform tasks
Social Studies:
_____ Demonstrates knowledge about self
_____ Shows basic understanding of people and how they live
_____ Explores change related to familiar people or places
_____ Demonstrates simple geographic knowledge
The Arts:
_____ Explores the visual arts
_____ Explores musical concepts and expression
_____ Explores dance and movement concepts
_____ Explores drama through actions and language

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2.5. Below is a cross walk between early learning standards, a conventional indoor
preschool and a nature immersion program.

Source: http://www.findusoutside.org/f.a.q.html
Considering this cross walk and the 64 learning objectives above. Please describe
how well you feel a nature immersion program will prepare your child for
kindergarten.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

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_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
2.6. What activities would you like to see your child engage in while in a nature immersion program?
Please check all that apply.
_____ Animal/Insect Identification (for education and safety purposes)
_____ Balancing
_____ Barefoot Activity
_____ Building
_____ Campfire
_____ Collecting
_____ Cooking
_____ Climbing
_____ Digging
_____ Garden
_____ Finding insects and other animals
_____ Forest Foraging
_____ Hikes/Exploration
_____ Imaginative Play
_____ Investigating
Meals: _____ Snacks
_____ Lunch
_____ Music and Movement
_____ Nap Time (when temperature is above 55 degrees)
_____ Nature Art
_____ Nature Journal
_____ Observing
_____ Plant Identification (for education and safety purposes)
_____ Quiet Time/Hide-outs
_____ Rolling on the Ground
_____ Running
_____ Story Telling
_____ Tool Use
_____ Throwing
_____ Water Play
_____ Wrestling
_____ Yoga
_____ Other. Please describe. ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
Weather:
3.1. The average temperature for the 6-week nature immersion period was 47
degrees and the children spend an average of 2 hours and 45 minutes outdoors
each morning. Would you like your child to continue spending this amount of time
outdoors each day, year round? Yes/No (Please circle one).
Please Explain.
________________________________________________________________________
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_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
3.2. Would you be willing to provide appropriate clothing for nature immersion on a
daily basis, year round for all types of weather? Yes/No (Please circle one).
a. Please explain and describe the level of difficulty, if any, in ensuring your
child was appropriately dressed for nature immersion experiences each
day.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
b. If a clothing fund or sponsorship were available to provide the children an
outdoor uniform, please describe how you would feel about this. These
would be specialized clothes that would belong to and stay at school but
would be utilized in certain weather conditions such as cold weather gear
(specific boots, mittens, pants and coat) and rain gear (specific rain boots,
pants and coat). _____________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
3.3. Please check weather that you would prefer your child to NOT to go outside in.
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____

Heat index above 90 degrees

Rain
Snow
Wind chill below 25 degrees
Other. Please describe. _____________________________________________________

Safety:
4.1. Would you want a nature immersion program to have an outdoor facility to provide shelter?
a. Yes/No (please circle one).
b. If yes, please check all of the features you would desire in an outdoor facility.
_____ Outdoor plumbing
_____ Source of power
_____ Electricity
_____ Gas (Natural, Propane)
_____ Generator
_____ Solar
_____ Wind
_____ Source of heat
_____ Conventional source of heat (electric space heater or propane heater)
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_____ Fire-related
_____ Wood Stove (indoor or outdoor)
_____ Outdoor fireplace
_____ Traditional camp fire pit (contained and with proper supervision)
_____ Other. Please describe. ______________________________________________
4.2. Describe safety concerns you have for your child while in a nature immersion
program.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
4.3. What safety rules to you feel are important in a nature immersion program?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Family Experiences and Influences:
5.1. Describe how, if at all, this six-week nature immersion program has changed
your familys time and experiences in outdoor
settings._______________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
____
General:
6.1. Overall, describe your perception and attitudes regarding this six-week nature
immersion program?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
6.2. Overall, describe your childs perception and attitudes toward this six-week
nature immersion study?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
6.3. Describe the extent to which you would like to see a nature immersion program
implemented in your childs family childcare setting?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
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_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

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6.4. Would you choose a nature immersion program over a traditional early learning
program? Please explain.
______________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
6.5. Describe the extent to which you would like to see a nature immersion program
continued kindergarten and beyond?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Additional Comments:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
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