OLE! WEST TEXAS - Promoting Child Health and Education through the Built Environment: The Implementation of Outdoor Learning Environments (OLE!) in Lubbock

The Outdoor Learning Environment (OLE!) project is a statewide intervention for increasing childhood physical activity, increasing age-appropriate motor skills, and reducing risk of injury by improving childcare center outdoor environments. This project is an evidence-based childcare center design intervention that will provide Lubbock with resources to establish statewide technical assistance and local resource centers. The designers work with early childcare providers to create outdoor learning environments that meet best practice design indicators and encourage children to be active. The project engages partnership with state departments, Texas universities, state-wide professional organizations and local organizations to mobilize OLE! resources in Texas. Texas Tech University, Texas A&M University, University of Texas at Austin, North Carolina State University and Agrilife Extension Services are collaborating to implement the program. Texas Tech is represented on the state-wide leadership team by Dr. Charles Klein (Landscape Architecture) and Dr. Kristi Gaines (Department of Design).