NY S06550

Establishes outdoor, nature-based child care as programs that enroll preschool or school-age children, provide early learning services outdoors for at least 4 hours per day or 50% of program hours, and use a nature-based curriculum

Directs the Office of Children and Family Services to create regulations allowing outdoor child care programs to operate with adapted licensing requirements, including rules for inclement weather shelter, outdoor hazards, staff training in wilderness first aid and navigation, and injury reporting

Creates a pilot program with up to 10 outdoor, nature-based child care sites in the first year, prioritizing existing licensed camps, child care centers seeking to expand into nature-based learning, and areas with limited child care availability

Requires an advisory group of outdoor education practitioners to inform program implementation and review best practices, with a report on pilot program outcomes due within 2 years

Integrates outdoor, nature-based child care into existing child care regulatory framework, including licensing, registration, inspection, complaint investigation, and civil penalty provisions