Wash. Admin. Code § 110-302-0005
The following definitions apply to this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
"Accessible to children" means items, areas, or materials of an outdoor nature-based program (ONB) that a child can reasonably reach, enter, use, or get to on their own.
"Accommodations" means ONB program curriculum and instruction, activities, spaces, and materials that have been adapted to help children and adults with special needs function within their surroundings.
"Active supervision" or "actively supervise" means a heightened standard of care beyond supervision. This standard requires an ONB provider to see and hear the children they are responsible for during higher risk activities. The ONB provider must be able to prevent or instantly respond to unsafe or harmful events.
"Agency" has the same meaning as described in RCW 43.216.010.
"Aide" is a person who offers support to the ONB program staff.
"Allergy" or "allergies" means an overreaction of the immune system to a substance that is harmless to most people. During an allergic reaction, the body's immune system treats the substance or "allergen" as an invader. The body overreacts by releasing chemicals that may cause symptoms ranging from mildly annoying to life threatening. Common allergens include certain foods such as milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, common tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soybeans, as well as pollen, mold, or medication.
"American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)" means the international standards organization that develops and publishes voluntary consensus technical standards for a wide range of materials, products, systems, and services.
"Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)" means the federal "equal opportunity" law protecting people with disabilities.
"Annual" or "annually" means an event that occurs each calendar year, not to exceed 365 days between occurrences.
"Applicant" means an individual who has made a formal request for a child care license, certification, exemption, or portable background check.
"Appropriate" when used to refer to child care or educational materials, means that the materials will interest and challenge children in terms of their ages and abilities.
"Appropriately" means correct or properly suited for a particular situation.
"Assistant director" is the person responsible for the overall management, including the facility and operation, of an ONB program that enrolls preschool-age and school-age children, or only preschool-age children.
"Assistant teacher" is a person whose work is to assist a lead teacher in providing instructional supports to children and implementing a developmentally appropriate ONB program. The assistant teacher must carry out assigned tasks under the supervision of a lead teacher, program supervisor, director, program director, assistant director, site director, or licensee.
"Bathroom" means a room containing a built-in, flush-type toilet.
"Benefit-risk assessment" means, for purposes of outdoor nature-based programs, a process used to identify and document hazards and risky play elements associated with childhood outdoor play and making plans to mitigate the risk of injury to children while maintaining developmental benefits for children. This process includes identifying the types of risk present in a location or activity, the likelihood and severity of potential injury, the potential benefits to children, methods of mitigating hazards, e.g., elimination, substitution, isolation, safeguards, and managing risk, e.g., heightened supervision, scaffolding, intervention, and identifying who is responsible for implementing the appropriate methods and when.
"Bias" means a tendency to believe that some people or ideas are better than others that usually results in treating some people unfairly.
"Biological needs" means, for purposes of outdoor nature-based programming, department approved toileting, handwashing, and transitional activities for children and providers.
"Body of water" or "bodies of water" is a natural area or human-made area or device that contains or holds a depth of more than four inches of water. Examples include swimming pools, ditches, canals, fish ponds, water retentions, excavations, quarries, streams, rivers, lakes, and ocean waters.
"Campfire" means an outdoor fire that is used for cooking, personal warmth, lighting, or ceremonial or esthetic purposes. For the purposes of this chapter, "campfire" does not include a fire within any building, mobile home, motor vehicle, or recreational vehicle.
"Campfire activities" means ONB program activities in which enrolled children have access to a campfire that may pose a risk of burns to children.
"Cannabis" also known as "marijuana" refers to all parts of the cannabis plant, whether growing or not, the seeds thereof, the resin or concentrate extracted from any part of the plant and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of the plant.
"Capacity" means the maximum number of children an ONB provider is authorized by the department to have in care at any given time. This includes any children on-site at the ONB program and any children in transit to or from the ONB program or other activities such as field trips while the children are signed in to the care of the ONB program.
"Certificate of exemption (COE)" means a form that is approved by the DOH and consistent with the requirements of WAC 246-105-050, or an immunization form produced by the state immunization information system.
"Certificate of immunization status (child)" means a form that is approved by the DOH and consistent with the requirements of WAC 246-105-050, or an immunization form produced by the state immunization information system.
"Certification" means, as applied to the licensing process, department approval of a person, home, or facility that is exempt from licensing but requests evidence that the ONB program meets these foundational licensing standards.
"Child" means an individual who is younger than age 13, including any preschool-age child or school-age child as defined in this chapter.
"Child and adult care food program (CACFP)" means the food program established by Congress and funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
"Child abuse" or "neglect" means the physical abuse, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, abandonment, negligent treatment or maltreatment of a child by any person as defined in RCW 26.44.020.
"Child care" refers to supervision of children outside the child's home for periods of less than 24 hours a day.
"Child care basics (CCB)" means curriculum designed to meet the initial basic training requirement for early learning program staff working in licensed or certified programs in Washington state. It serves as a broad introduction for professionals who are pursuing a career in the early care and education field.
"Chromated copper arsenate (CCA)" is a wood preservative and insecticide that contains roughly 22 percent arsenic, a known carcinogen. The United States restricted the use of CCA on residential lumber in 2003, but it can still be found on older decks and playground equipment. Information about the health hazards of arsenic can be found on the DOH's website.
"Clean" or "cleaning" means to remove dirt and debris from a surface by scrubbing and washing with a detergent solution and rinsing with water. This process must be accomplished before sanitizing or disinfecting a surface.
"Confidential" means the protection of personal information, such as the child's records, from individuals who are not authorized to see or hear the information.
"Consistent care" means providing steady opportunities for children to build emotionally secure relationships by primarily interacting with a limited number of ONB program staff.
"Consumer product safety commission (CPSC)" means the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission.
"Contagious disease" means an illness caused by an infectious agent of public health concern which can be transmitted from one person, animal, or object to another person by direct or indirect means including transmission through an intermediate host or vector, food, water, or air. Contagious diseases pertinent to this chapter are described in WAC 246-110-010.
"Continuous" means without interruptions, gaps, or stopping.
"Core competencies" are standards required by the department that detail what an early learning or school-age provider needs to know and is able to do to provide quality care and education for children and their families.
"Cultural" or "culturally" means in a way that relates to the ideas, customs, and social behavior of different societies.
"Curriculum philosophy" means a written statement of principles developed by an ONB provider to form the basis of the learning ONB program activities, including age appropriate developmental learning objectives for children.
"Department" means the Washington state department of children, youth, and families (DCYF).
"Department of defense (DOD)" means the United States Department of Defense.
"Department of health (DOH)" means the Washington state department of health.
"Developmental screening" is the use of standardized tools to identify a child at risk of a developmental delay or disorder. (Source: American Academy of Pediatrics, Healthy Child Care America, 2009)
"Developmentally appropriate" means:
"Director" means the person responsible for the overall management, including the facility and operation, of an ONB program that enrolls preschool-age and school-age children, or only preschool-age children.
"Disability" or "disabilities" has the same meaning in this chapter as the meaning in RCW 49.60.040(7).
"Disaster" means a sudden event, accident, or natural catastrophe that causes great damage to property, serious bodily injury, or loss of life.
"Discipline" means a method used to redirect a child in order to achieve a desired behavior.
"Disinfect" means to eliminate virtually all germs from an inanimate surface by the process of cleaning and rinsing, followed by:
"Disinfectant" means a chemical or physical process that kills bacteria and viruses.
"Drinking water" or "potable water" means water that is suitable for drinking by the general public as determined by the DOH or a local health jurisdiction.
"Dual language learners" means children who are learning two or more languages at the same time. This term includes children who learn two or more languages from birth, and children who are still mastering their home language when they are introduced to and start learning a second language. (Source: The Washington State Early Learning and Development Guidelines, a resource published by the department, OSPI, and Thrive Washington for children birth through third grade that outlines what children know and are able to do at different stages of their development.)
"Early achievers" is a statewide system of high-quality early learning that connects families to early learning programs with the help of an easy to understand rating system and offers coaching, professional development, and resources for early learning providers to support each child's learning and development.
"Early childhood education (ECE) initial certificate" (12 quarter credits) is Washington's initial certificate in early childhood education and serves as the point of entry for a career in early learning and covers foundational content for early learning professionals.
"Early childhood education and assistance program (ECEAP)" is a comprehensive preschool program that provides free services and support to eligible children and their families.
"Early childhood education (ECE) short certificate" is an ECE initial certificate plus eight quarter credits and is Washington's short certificate in early childhood education that offers areas of specialization, building on the state's initial certificate. Outdoor nature-based short certificate is an initial certificate plus eight quarter credits and is Washington's short certificate in outdoor nature-based education that offers areas of specialization, building on the state's initial certificate.
"Early childhood education (ECE) state certificate" is a short certificate plus 27 quarter credits and is Washington's state certificate in early childhood education that is the benchmark for Level 2 core competencies for early care and education professionals and prepares for the next step, an associate's degree in early childhood education.
"Early learning" has the same meaning as described in RCW 43.216.010.
"Electronic record" means a record generated, communicated, received, or stored by electronic means for use in an information system or for transmission from one information system to another.
"Electronic signature" means a signature in electronic form attached to or logically associated with an electronic record including, but not limited to, a digital signature. An electronic signature is a paperless way to sign a document using an electronic sound, symbol, or process, attached to or logically associated with a record, and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign the record.
"Electronic workforce registry" refers to the Washington state department of children, youth, and families' current database of professional records of individual ONB providers.
"Emergency preparedness" means a continuous cycle of planning, organizing, training, equipping, exercising, evaluating, and taking corrective action in an effort to ensure effective coordination in case of emergencies or during incident response.
"Emergent curriculum" means a teaching philosophy and a curriculum planning method designed to create meaningful learning experiences that focus on being responsive to child interests. This philosophy prioritizes active participation, relationship building, flexible and adaptable methods, inquiry, and play-based learning. The curriculum is child-initiated, collaborative and responsive to the child's needs, and teachers come prepared with information, offer resources to support child explorations, or both.
"Enforcement action" means the denial, suspension, revocation, modification, or nonrenewal of a license pursuant to RCW 43.216.325(1) or assessment of civil penalties or fines pursuant to RCW 43.216.325(3). An ONB provider may contest an enforcement action and seek an adjudicative proceeding pursuant to chapter 110-03 WAC.
"EPA" means the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
"Equivalent" or "equivalency" means, when referring to staff qualifications, an individual is allowed to meet the chapter 110-302 WAC requirements that are based on a department recognized alternative credential, or demonstration of competency, that indicates similar knowledge as the identified credential.
"Exempt" or "exemption" means, as applied to immunizations, a type of immunization status where a child has not been fully immunized against one or more vaccine preventable diseases required by chapter 246-105 WAC for full immunization due to medical, religious, philosophical or personal reasons. Under chapter 362, Laws of 2019, if a child plans on attending or is attending an outdoor nature-based program, a philosophical or personal objection may not be used to exempt a child from the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine.
"Expel" or "expulsion" means to end a child's enrollment in an ONB program. An ONB provider will end a child's enrollment if the ONB provider is unable to meet a child's needs due to the child's challenging behavior.
"Facility licensing compliance agreement (FLCA)" has the same meaning as in RCW 43.216.395(2)(a).
"Food and Drug Administration (FDA)" means the United States Food and Drug Administration.
"Food worker card" means a food and beverage service worker's permit as required under chapter 69.06 RCW.
"Good repair" means about 80 percent of materials and components are unbroken, have all their pieces, and can be used by the children as intended by the manufacturer or builder.
"Hazard" means a source of harm that may or may not be obvious to the child. The source of harm is not obvious if the potential for injury is hidden or is greater than a child can manage to avoid given the individual circumstances and characteristics of the child.
"Health care provider" means a person who is licensed, certified, registered, or otherwise authorized by the laws of the state of Washington to provide health care in the ordinary course of business or practice of a profession.
"Immunization" means the process of administering a vaccine to make that person immune or resistant to an infectious disease.
"Inaccessible to children" means a method to prevent a child from reaching, entering, using, or getting to items, areas, or materials of an ONB program.
"Inactive" means, when used by the department to indicate a licensing status, an ONB provider who has informed the department of their intent to temporarily cease caring for children and close their ONB program in a manner that departs from the ONB program's regular schedule.
"Individual care plan" means a specific plan to meet the individual needs of a child with a food allergy, special dietary requirement due to a health condition, or other special needs or circumstances.
"In-service training" means professional development requirements for continuing education delivered or approved by the department to maintain staff standards and qualifications while employed as an ONB provider.
"Inspection report" has the same meaning as in RCW 43.216.010(17).
"Internal review process" has the same meaning as described in RCW 43.216.395.
"Lead teacher" means an ONB provider who works as the lead staff person in charge of a child or group of children and oversees or implements ONB activities or ONB programs.
"License" means a permit issued by the department legally authorizing an applicant to operate an outdoor nature-based program.
"Licensed space" means the indoor and outdoor space on the premises approved by the department for the purpose of providing an ONB licensed program.
"Licensee" means an individual or legal entity listed on a license issued by the department, authorized to provide child care or early learning services in an ONB program.
"Lockdown" means restricted to an interior room with few or no windows while the facility or building is secured from a threat, or other department approved lockdown plan.
"Locking mechanism" means a lock that requires a key, tumbler, dial, passcode, touchpad, or similar device or method to lock and unlock.
"Modification" means, when used in reference to an ONB provider's licensing status, an enforcement action by the department to change the conditions identified on a licensee's current license.
"Moisture-wicking" means a fabric that draws moisture away from the body, such as polyester or wool. Cotton is not a moisture-wicking fabric.
"Natural space" means land that is natural, semi-natural, or planted and includes plants, animals, and other features and products of the earth.
"Nonexpiring license" means a license that is issued pursuant to chapter 43.216 RCW to an ONB provider following the initial licensing period.
"Office of superintendent of public instruction (OSPI)" means the Washington state office of superintendent of public instruction.
"Operating hours" means the hours listed in an ONB program parent handbook when the ONB program is open and providing care and services to children.
"Outdoor nature-based (ONB) child care" or "outdoor nature-based (ONB) program" has the same meaning as described in RCW 43.216.010(1)(e).
"Outdoor nature-based child care basics" means a curriculum designed to meet the initial basic training requirement for outdoor nature-based program staff working in licensed or certified ONB programs in Washington state. It serves as a broad introduction for professionals who are pursuing a career in the outdoor nature-based child care and education field.
"Outdoor nature-based program (ONB)" means an ONB program that is authorized under RCW 43.216.742.
"Outdoor nature-based (ONB) program staff" or "staff" means all persons who work, substitute, or volunteer in an ONB program during hours when children are or may be present, excluding licensees. "Staff" include ONB child care directors, program directors, assistant directors, site directors, program supervisors, lead teachers, assistant teachers, aides, and volunteers.
"Outdoor nature-based child care (ONB) provider" or "provider" means an outdoor nature-based child care licensee or a designee who works in an ONB program during hours when children are or may be present. Designees include ONB child care directors, program directors, assistant directors, site directors, program supervisors, lead teachers, assistant teachers, aides, and volunteers.
"Outdoor nature-based tools" include, but are not limited to, peelers, whittling knives, small hammers, hand drills, pliers, child-sized saws, wrenches, and screwdrivers. Folding whittling knives must be equipped with a locking feature to keep knives open when in use. Motorized tools must be inaccessible to children.
"Parent" or "guardian" means birth parent, custodial parent, foster parent, legal guardian or those authorized by the parent or entity legally responsible for the welfare of the child.
"Permanently located outdoor classroom" means an outdoor area that is allocated to an ONB program for daily use, and the ONB provider or public park installs permanent or semi-permanent equipment for the ONB program's use, such as storage containers, portable chemical toilets, or child-sized furniture.
"Personal needs" means an ONB provider's toileting or medication needs that removes the ONB provider from the children. Personal needs do not include smoking or use of tobacco products, illegal drug use or misuse of prescription drugs, conducting business or related activities, sleeping or napping, screen time, or leaving children in unattended care.
"Pest" means an animal, plant, or insect that has a harmful effect on humans, food, or living conditions.
"Pesticide" refers to chemicals used to kill pests.
"Pet" means a domestic or tamed animal or bird kept for companionship or pleasure.
"Physical barrier" or "barrier" means a nonclimbable fence or wall that is at least five feet tall and has no openings greater than two inches, nor a gate or door that allows entry to and exit from a body of water. Any gate or opening, in addition to the requirements already listed, must have a locking mechanism, a self-closing or self-latching device, and a device used to open the locks which is inaccessible to children but readily available to staff.
"Physical boundary" or "boundary" means a way of marking the limits of an area consisting of, but not limited to, fences, barriers, ropes, large boulders or logs, or visual aids such as cones, tape, or ribbons.
"Physical restraint" means holding a child as gently as possible for the minimum amount of time necessary to control a situation where that child's safety or the safety of others is threatened.
"Poison" includes, but is not limited to, substances, chemicals, chemical compounds other than naturally occurring compounds such as water or salt, or similar items that, even in small quantities, are likely to cause injury or illness if it is swallowed or comes into contact with a child's skin, eyes, mouth, or mucus membranes.
"Premises" means the licensed and unlicensed space at the licensed address including, but not limited to, buildings, land, residences, and other real property.
"Preschool-age child" means a child 30 months through six years of age not attending kindergarten or elementary school.
"Preservice training" means professional development standards or requirements for ONB program staff prior to hiring or within a department specified time frame and delivered or approved by the department.
"Private septic system" means a septic system as defined in chapter 246-272A WAC that is not connected to a public sewer system or a large on-site sewage system as defined in chapter 246-272B WAC. A private septic system includes, but is not limited to, the septic system's drain field and tanks.
"Probationary license" has the same meaning as described in RCW 43.216.010(25).
"Professional development support plan" is a formal means by which an individual who is supervising staff sets out the goals, strategies, and outcomes of learning and training.
"Program director" means the person responsible for the overall management, including the facility and operations, of an ONB program that enrolls only school-age children. The program director is not responsible for being on-site at the ONB program, unless the program director is filling in for an on-site role.
"Program supervisor" means the person responsible for planning and supervising the learning and activity programming of the ONB program that enrolls preschool-age and school-age children, or only preschool-age children.
"RCW" means the Revised Code of Washington.
"Readily available" means able to be used or obtained quickly and easily.
"Revocation" or "revoke" when used in reference to an ONB provider's licensing status, means an enforcement action by the department to close an ONB program and permanently remove the license.
"Risk" means, with regard to "risky play," a situation that a child can recognize and evaluate challenges to decide on a course of action, although there may be a potential for injury.
"Risk management policy" means a written policy or plan to mitigate children's risk of injury associated with risky play or learning activities.
"Risky play" means physical activity and play that is challenging and involves a risk of physical injury. Risky play for ONB programs includes, but is not limited to, play involving heights, speed, dangerous tools, close proximity to dangerous elements, such as falling into something potentially hazardous, and risk of getting lost. Risky play is also known as "adventure play."
"Routine care" means typical or usual care provided to a child during the time the child is enrolled in the ONB program, such as feeding, diapering, toileting, napping, resting, playing, and learning.
"Safe route" means a way or course taken to get from a starting point to a destination that is protected from danger or risk.
"Safety plan" means a written plan to implement ONB program changes to bring an ONB program into compliance with this chapter and chapter 43.216 RCW. Safety plans are developed at meetings involving at least an ONB provider and a department licensor and supervisor. Safety plans detail changes the ONB provider needs to make to mitigate the risk of direct and indirect harm to children enrolled in the ONB program. ONB program changes must be agreed to in writing, and signed by all participants at the meeting. Safety plans expire 30 calendar days after being signed by all parties. Safety plans may only be extended for an additional 30 days and extensions may only be authorized by a department supervisor.
"Sanitize" means to reduce the number of microorganisms on a surface by the process of:
"School age child" has the same meaning as in RCW 43.216.010(27).
"Screen time" means watching, using, or playing television, computers, video games, video or DVD players, mobile communication devices, or other similar devices.
"Serious injury" means:
"Shelter in place" means staff and children staying at the licensed premises due to an external threat such as a storm, chemical or gas leak or explosion, or other event that prohibits the occupants from safely leaving the premises.
"Sign" means an individual formally placing their name or legal mark on a document by physical signature or electronic signature.
"Site director" means the person responsible for planning and implementing the services, under the oversight of the program director, of an ONB program that enrolls only school-age children. The site director is responsible for being on-site during the ONB program's operating hours and providing regular supervision of staff and volunteers.
"Sleeping equipment" means a bed, cot, mattress, or mat.
"Special needs" is a term used for children who require a higher level of care due to learning difficulties, physical or mental disability, or emotional and behavioral difficulties and who have one or more of the following documents that describes a child's condition: A health care provider's diagnosis, an individual educational plan (IEP), individual health plan (IHP), 504 plan, or an individualized family service plan (IFSP).
"Strengthening families program self-assessment" means a research informed approach to increase family strengths, enhance child development, and reduce the likelihood of child abuse and neglect. It is based on engaging families, ONB programs, and communities in building five protective factors:
"Supervise" or "supervision" means an ONB provider must:
See "active supervision" for a heightened standard of care.
"Suspend" means, for purposes of an ONB provider's licensing status, an enforcement action by the department to temporarily stop a license in order to protect the health, safety, or welfare of enrolled children or the public.
"Swimming pool" means a body of water that has a depth greater than two feet (24 inches).
"Technical assistance" means a service provided to an ONB provider by department staff or a contracted third party. The goal of technical assistance is to offer guidance, information, and resources to help an ONB provider fully comply with the licensing requirements described in this chapter and chapter 43.216 RCW.
"Transition" means the process or period of time to change from one activity, place, grade level, or sleeping arrangement to another.
"Unlicensed space" means the indoor and outdoor areas of the premises not approved by the department as licensed space that the ONB provider must make inaccessible to the children during ONB program hours.
"Unsupervised access" has the same meaning as WAC 110-06-0020.
"Usable space" means the areas that are available at all times for use by children in an ONB program and meets licensing requirements.
"USDA" means the United States Department of Agriculture.
"Vapor product" means any:
"Vapor product" does not include any drug, device, or combination product approved for sale by the FDA that is marketed and sold for such approved purpose.
"Variance" is an official approval by the department to allow an ONB program to achieve an outcome of a rule or rules in these standards in an alternative way than described due to the needs of a unique or specific ONB program approach or methodology. The department may grant a request for variance if the proposed alternative provides clear and convincing evidence that the health, welfare, and safety of all enrolled children will not be jeopardized. An ONB provider does not have the right to appeal the department's disapproval of request for variance under chapter 110-03 WAC. The ONB provider may challenge a variance disapproval on a department form.
"Volunteer" includes any person who provides labor or services to an ONB provider but is not compensated with employment pay or benefits. A volunteer must never have unsupervised access to a child unless the volunteer is the parent or guardian of that child or is an authorized person pursuant to WAC 110-302-0345.
"WAC" means the Washington Administrative Code.
"Wading pool" means a pool that has a water depth of less than two feet, or 24 inches.
"Waiver" is an official approval by the department allowing an ONB provider not to meet or satisfy a rule in this chapter due to specific needs of the ONB program or an enrolled child. The department may grant a request for waiver if the proposed waiver provides clear and convincing evidence that the health, welfare, and safety of all enrolled children is not jeopardized. An ONB provider does not have the right to appeal the department's disapproval of a waiver request under chapter 110-03 WAC. The ONB provider may challenge a waiver disapproval on a department form.
"Walk independently" means an individual is able to stand and move easily without the aid or assistance of holding onto an object, wall, equipment, or another individual.
"Water activities" means ONB program activities in which enrolled children swim or play in a body of water that poses a risk of drowning for children. Water activities do not include using sensory tables, or playing in temporary puddles at an ONB program, standing near, but not entering water, or belly exploration where hands are the only body part accessing water.
"Weapon" means an instrument or device of any kind that is used or designed to be used to inflict harm including, but not limited to, rifles, handguns, shotguns, antique firearms, knives, swords, bows and arrows, BB guns, pellet guns, air rifles, electronic or other stun devices, or fighting implements.
"Written food plan" is a document designed to give alternative food to a child in care because of a child's medical needs or special diet, or to accommodate a religious, cultural, or family preference. A parent or guardian and the ONB provider must sign a written food plan.
Wash. Admin. Code § 110-302-0005