• Safety and Healthy Risk-Taking in Nature-Based Education

    View a two-part session on safety and healthy risk-taking in nature-based programs, presented by Anne Stires and Amy Butler for the NatStart2020 Virtual Conference, now available for everyone to enjoy.

  • Photo by: Catherine Koons Hubbard

    Feature Story: Teaching in the Time of COVID

    Catherine Koons Hubbard, Nature Preschool Director at Schlitz Audubon Nature Center, shares lessons learned and unexpected positive outcomes of operating an outdoor education program during the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Photo by: Bend Forest School

    Member Spotlight: Bend Forest School

    Learn how Bend Forest School, a nature immersion early childhood program on 200 acres in Oregon, places emotional literacy at the center of its practices.

  • Put Your Program on the Map!

    Check out Natural Start's new searchable map and list to see schools and organizations that are part of the Alliance. Join today to put your program on the map!

  • Safety and Healthy Risk-Taking in Nature-Based Education
  • Feature Story: Teaching in the Time of COVID
  • Member Spotlight: Bend Forest School
  • Put Your Program on the Map!

Bright Ideas

NatStart Forum: Taking Preschool Outdoors

Join Natural Start on Tuesday, September 29 at 4 pm ET for a conversation about reopening nature preschools during the pandemic. Hear from several program directors who have transitioned their schools to be 100% outdoors this fall, followed by Q&A and discussion. Read More

Safety and Healthy Risk-Taking in Nature-Based Education

Enjoy a two-part session on safety and healthy risk-taking in nature-based programs, presented by Anne Stires and Amy Butler. The goal of these two sessions is to provide examples of the practices outlined in the Safety section of the Nature-Based Preschool Professional Practice Guidebook, which was written collaboratively by Anne, Amy, and Kit Harrington. Read More

Resources from the Community

Browse resources shared by organizations in the field of nature-based early learning and environmental education. Read More
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Feature Story

Teaching in the Time of COVID

Catherine Koons Hubbard, Nature Preschool Director at Schlitz Audubon Nature Center, reflects on the anxious months leading up to reopening summer programs and shares some lessons learned along with the unexpected positive outcomes of operating an outdoor education program during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read More
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Member Spotlight

Moms, Pops, & Tots

A popular early childhood program of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management's Campbell Creek Science Center in Anchorage, AK, was recently expanded with the help of a local preschool teacher. Read More
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