Press Release: 10/21/2026
Healey-Driscoll Administration Highlights Outdoor Learning During STEM Week Visit to Framingham Preschool
FRAMINGHAM — In celebration of Massachusetts STEM Week, the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) visited Framingham Centre Nursery School today to highlight the role of outdoor play and nature-based learning in early childhood education. EEC was joined by State Representative Jack Lewis and Dennis Giombetti, District Director for Senate President Karen Spilka, education leaders, and community members to see firsthand how outdoor exploration helps young children build foundational science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) skills.
The visit also highlighted the administration's Outdoor Start initiative, a collaboration between EEC and the Massachusetts Office of Outdoor Recreation (MOOR) that encourages families, early educators, and child care programs to spend more time outdoors. Developed as part of Governor Healey's Inter-Agency Early Education and Child Care Task Force, Outdoor Start provides resources and information to help families and educators incorporate nature-based play and learning into children's daily experiences.
“STEM learning doesn't start in a classroom or with a textbook. It starts when young children ask questions, explore their surroundings, and discover how the world works,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Programs like Framingham Centre Nursery School show how outdoor play can spark curiosity and build the foundation for lifelong learning. Through Outdoor Start, we're helping more children and families experience the benefits of spending time outdoors while supporting the next generation of scientists, innovators, and problem-solvers.”
“Some of the most important learning experiences happen when children have the freedom to explore, experiment, and discover,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “This STEM Week, we're celebrating the educators who make these experiences possible and highlighting how our Outdoor Start initiative is helping more families and programs connect with nature.”
This year's Massachusetts STEM Week, taking place October 19–23, is centered on the theme “STEM Starts Now,” emphasizing that STEM learning begins at an early age and continues throughout life. The week kicked off yesterday at the Museum of Science in Boston, where state leaders joined preschool students for hands-on STEM activities. Outdoor learning provides another opportunity for young children to engage in foundational STEM concepts through everyday experiences, such as observing changes in nature, comparing shapes and sizes, experimenting with water and natural materials, and asking questions about the world around them.
Research shows that spending time outdoors supports children's physical and mental health, social-emotional development, confidence, and environmental awareness. Nature-based learning also encourages creativity, collaboration, problem-solving, and healthy risk-taking, helping children build important skills through hands-on experiences.
“STEM education begins long before children enter kindergarten,” said Secretary of Education Steve Zrike. “When young children explore the outdoors, they're learning to observe, ask questions, test ideas, and solve problems. These early experiences build the curiosity and critical thinking skills that lay the foundation for future learning. By connecting STEM Week with Outdoor Start, we're highlighting the important role early educators play in helping children discover the world around them.”
“Play is how young children learn, and outdoor environments provide ideal opportunities for exploration, creativity, and discovery,” said Early Education and Care Commissioner Amy Kershaw. “Whether children are collecting leaves, building with sticks, or investigating the natural world, they're developing important STEM skills alongside their social-emotional, physical, and cognitive development. We want every child to have opportunities to be curious, ask questions, explore new ideas, and build a strong foundation for learning and growth.”
Framingham Centre Nursery School is a nature-based early education program where children spend much of their day learning outdoors. The program incorporates outdoor classrooms, wooded areas, trails, and natural environments into daily learning experiences, giving children opportunities to explore, investigate, solve problems, and develop confidence through hands-on discovery.
"At FCNS, our nature curriculum is more than outdoor play,” said Framingham Centre Nursery School Director Carol Ann Ritter. “It is an intentional approach to learning that allows children to follow their curiosity, take appropriate risks, work together, and discover new ideas through hands-on experiences. The woods become our classroom, and every day brings a new opportunity to learn."
“One of the things I love about early childhood education is seeing how naturally children approach the world with curiosity,” said Representative Jack Patrick Lewis Chair, Joint Committee on Municipalities & Regional Government. “They ask questions, explore, and want to know how things work. Framingham Centre Nursery School is building on that curiosity by giving children the chance to learn through nature and hands-on experiences. STEM isn't just about preparing kids for future careers. It's about encouraging them to keep asking questions, trying new things, and figuring out how the world around them works. Those are skills that will serve them well throughout their lives.”
“Hands-on learning and outdoor enrichment are wonderful ways to spark young students’ curiosity about nature and science,” saidRepresentative Ken Gordon, House Chair of the Joint Committee on Education. “I’m pleased that EEC is highlighting the value of nature-based learning and outdoor play during this year’s STEM Week.”
“Massachusetts is a world leader in education because we invest in giving students the opportunity to explore a multitude of different subjects and career paths throughout their schooling and into adulthood,” said Senator Jason Lewis, Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Education. “STEM Week is a time for everyone to learn more about the world of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—whether you’re interested in a possible career or you just want to understand how your microwave works.”
The Outdoor Start initiative provides families, educators, and early education programs with resources to support outdoor play and nature-based learning, including information on the benefits of spending time outdoors, outdoor activities, nature-based programs and spaces across Massachusetts, educator tools and training opportunities, and funding resources to support outdoor learning environments.
The initiative is part of the Healey-Driscoll Administration's broader efforts to support children's healthy development, strengthen early education and care, and expand access to outdoor recreation and learning opportunities across Massachusetts.
Families and early educators can learn more about Outdoor Start and explore available resources at mass.gov/outdoor-start and more about STEM Week at Mass.gov/STEMWeek.