Natural Start | In early childhood, learning comes naturally

Are We Heading Toward a Pre-K Pitfall?

Could efforts to expand Pre-K access include accountability measures that will set us back in connecting children to nature?
Five Ideas for Making the Most of Mud

Spring is mud season, and while most children heartily embrace it, parents and teachers can be wary of the mess or unsure of the benefits.
Photo by: Rona Richter

New Resource: School's Out DVD

See the trailer for a new DVD that tracks a year in the life of a forest kindergarten and looks into the important question of what it is that children need at that age.
Photo by Bob Bailie

Earn a Certificate in Nature-Based Early Childhood Education

Antioch University New England’s Department of Education will offer a certificate in nature preschool/forest kindergarten professional development.

Are We Heading Toward a Pre-K Pitfall?
Five Ideas for Making the Most of Mud
New Resource: School's Out DVD
Earn a Certificate in Nature-Based Early Childhood Education

Bright Ideas

The Nature Preschool at Irvine Nature Center

Rooted in Nature: Nature Preschool Conference Nourishes Teachers

The Nature Preschool Conference at Maryland's Irvine Nature Center will be held June 6-8, 2014 and offers an opportunity to recharge and network with other early childhood environmental education professionals. Read More

Five Ideas for Making the Most of Mud

Spring is mud season, and while most children heartily embrace it, parents and teachers can be wary of the mess or unsure of the benefits. Read More

Nature Preschool Educators: A Professional Conference Just for You!

Kalamazoo Nature Center is hosting a conference in August specifically designed for nature-based preschool staff and administrators. Read More

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Member Spotlight

Newington Elementary Kindergarten

Kindergarten students at Newington Elementary wanted to green their school, and they literally took matters into their own hands. The students worked together with their teacher to turn a bare, muddy patch of ground in front of their school into a welcoming garden. Read More

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Now on Pinterest

Visit Natural Start Alliance's profile on Pinterest.

View more crafts in Lil Peeps Projects

Upcoming Events

Nature Play and Exploration for Early Childhood Classrooms with Project Learning Tree

April 27, 2014

Learn how to integrate environmental education into your early childhood classroom on a daily basis using Project Learning Tree’s early childhood curriculum Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood Education. Discover how to provide environmental experiences for young children through literature, music, art and movement. Take ideas from the Mordecai Children’s Garden to learn simple inexpensive ideas for creating natural play and exploration spaces in your school yard.

Growing Up WILD workshop

May 15, 2014

Throughout the workshop, participants will go through various activities in the Growing Up WILD guide and will learn about ways to connect young children to nature. Upon completion of the workshop, participants will receive the Growing Up WILD curriculum book.

Nature Preschool Conference

June 6, 2014 to June 8, 2014

Nature-based preschools are re-focusing the lens on early childhood environmental education. Join us for the second annual conference to address the unique benefits and challenges of nature-based curriculum in early childhood programs. This conference is approved by MSDE’s Office of Childcare. You may earn up to 12 professional development training hours in Core of Knowledge (5 hours in Child Development; 6 hours in Curriculum; 1 hour in Health, Safety and Nutrition; and 1 hour in Community).

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