Outdoor Nature-Based Providers

Outdoor Nature-Based child care gives young children the chance to learn and grow through outdoor, hands-on experiences. These programs provide safe, supportive spaces where children can explore, move, and connect with nature every day.

To keep these programs safe and high quality, DCYF licenses, or certifies them, to meet the important health and safety standards, helping children build curiosity, resilience, and a lifelong love of learning.

Meeting Staff Qualifications

As an outdoor nature-based (ONB) child care provider, the staff qualification requirements need to be met for your job role. These requirements are outlined in WAC 110-302, which sets the Foundational Quality Standards for Outdoor Nature-Based Child Care.

Check the information below to learn about role-specific qualifications. Refer to the General Staff Qualifications chart for Outdoor Nature-Based programs for a quick summary of staff qualifications for ONB child care providers.

Director, Assistant Director, Program Supervisor

  • Background Check
  • Tuberculosis (TB) Test
  • Licensing Orientation (if applicable)
  • Minimum Age: 18
  • Hiring Education Requirement: (Only one person in one of these roles must meet the requirement upon hire)
    • 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