Training Requirements

Outdoor Nature-based (ONB) child care programs must follow licensing rules for training. Staff must complete trainings before caring for children (or within a set time after hire) and continue training each year.

Use this as a quick guide to training and ongoing (in-service) requirements for each role:

Other helpful resources:

Before or Soon After Hire:

  • Licensing Orientation (if applicable)
  • Outdoor Nature-Based Child Care Basics
  • First Aid/CPR
  • Wilderness First Aid (if applicable)
  • Blood Borne Pathogens
  • Food Handlers Permit (if applicable)

Each Year (In-Service Training):

  • 10-hour annual in-service training
  • Enhancing Quality of Early Learning (EQEL)
  • Leadership Practices

Before or Soon After Hire:

  • Licensing Orientation (if applicable)
  • Outdoor Nature-Based Child Care Basics
  • First Aid/CPR
  • Wilderness First Aid (if applicable)
  • Blood Borne Pathogens
  • Food Handlers Permit (if applicable)

Each Year (In-Service Training):

  • 10-hour annual in-service training
  • Leadership Practices

Before or Soon After Hire:

  • Licensing Orientation
  • Outdoor Nature-Based Child Care Basics
  • First Aid/CPR
  • Wilderness First Aid (if applicable)
  • Blood Borne Pathogens
  • Food Handlers Permit (if applicable)

Each Year (In-Service Training):

  • 10-hour annual in-service training
  • Leadership Practices

Before or Soon After Hire:

  • Outdoor Nature-Based Child Care Basics
  • First Aid/CPR
  • Wilderness First Aid (if applicable)
  • Blood Borne Pathogens
  • Food Handlers Permit (if applicable)

Each Year (In-Service Training):

  • 10-hour annual in-service training
  • Enhancing Quality of Early Learning (EQEL) (if applicable)

Before or Soon After Hire:

  • Outdoor Nature-Based Child Care Basics
  • First Aid/CPR
  • Wilderness First Aid (if applicable)
  • Blood Borne Pathogens
  • Food Handlers Permit (if applicable)

Each Year (In-Service Training):

  • 10-hour annual in-service training
  • Enhancing Quality of Early Learning (EQEL) (if applicable)

Before or Soon After Hire:

  • Outdoor Nature-Based Child Care Basics
  • Blood Borne Pathogens
  • Food Handlers Permit (if applicable)

Each Year (In-Service Training):

  • 10-hour annual in-service training

Before or Soon After Start:

  • Blood Borne Pathogens
  • Health and Safety Trainings – Recognizing and Reporting Abuse, Emergency Preparedness, Serving Children Experiencing Homelessness

Each Year (In-Service Training):

  • N/A