Healthy Environments for Learning Day (HELD) is an annual national campaign by the Canadian Partnership for Children’s Health and Environment (CPCHE) that aims to raise awareness of and encourage action to prevent environmental health risks to children in early learning child care settings and schools. HELD 2026 will focus on outdoor learning settings, weaving together the benefits of outdoor learning and play with issues related to the design of outdoor settings themselves, including toxics and plastics and climate risks and resiliency. Stay tuned for more details on HELD 2026 and how you can get involved!
Children are healthier, more active, learn better, improved social interactions and better mental health when they have ample time in natural outdoor settings.
Extreme heat poses significant health risks, especially for young children, who are particularly vulnerable to heat-related illnesses.
Indoor air quality plays a critical role in shaping children’s respiratory health, immune function, and cognitive development.
Learn more about why it is time to shift to electric school buses and how to help support this growing movement.
Learn more about creating healthy and sustainable child care environments both indoors and out.
Five ways students, schools and child care programs can help Canada reach net-zero carbon emissions.
When it comes to diesel emissions and children’s health. Does your school get an “A” for action?
Learn more about Radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas that comes from rock and soil.
Watch the event recordings for Session 1: Weighing the Options: Artificial vs. Natural Surfacing in Children’s Outdoor Learning and Play Settings
and Session 2: Inspiring Stories of Action: Creating Healthy and Natural Outdoor Learning and Play Settings
Extreme heat events are becoming more frequent and intense, putting children’s health at risk. These short videos outline simple measures child care professionals can take to keep indoor and outdoor spaces cool when temperatures rise.
Where do children encounter artificial turf and other synthetic surfaces? The use of synthetic surfacing has increased globally in recent years and is becoming more common across a range of settings, including in Canada; however, recent national data on trends in Canada remain limited.1–4 The terms “artificial” and “synthetic” are
Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about extreme heat, wildfire smoke and other climate-related indoor air quality concerns in schools and child care settings that can affect children’s health. Learn more about the health risks and practical measures to improve air quality in learning settings.
Everyday actions — ranging from choosing safer cleaning products and toys to introducing a fragrance-free policy or composting program — can help a child care program create healthier indoor and outdoor spaces for children and staff, while contributing to environmental sustainability and action on climate change.
