Bright Ideas - The Natural Start Blog

Bright Ideas

Advocating for Nature-Based Early Care and Education

April 26, 2019

What is advocacy? And what does it look like in action? These resources will help you to make the case for the importance of nature in young children’s care and education, and to expand access to high-quality programming for all children. Read More

Parents Guide to Nature-Based Early Learning

April 25, 2019

When adults model respect for nature, encourage a sense of wonder and curiosity, and allow time for outdoor play, young children begin to develop a relationship with the natural world that can last a lifetime. Read More

Nature-Based Early Learning in Public Schools

April 23, 2019

An increasing number of public schools are integrating nature and the outdoors into kindergarten and elementary classrooms. These resources provide an overview of nature-based learning in public schools, from research to real-world examples. Read More

Nature Preschools 101

April 22, 2019

What are the benefits of nature-based early learning? How do you define a nature preschool? Where are the nature preschools and forest kindergartens in the U.S. and around the world? We've gone back to the basics and compiled our best introductory resources on nature preschools. Read More

Hiring Nature Preschool Teachers: Insights from the Field

March 29, 2019

Early last fall, we published a Feature Story, “Finding Great Nature Preschool Teachers: What to Look For During the Interview,” and asked professionals in the field to share their expertise. This follow up article from Anna Dutke combines insights from four nature preschool directors on how they structure their hiring process in order to identify the best candidates. Read More

Advancing Equity in Early Childhood Education

March 20, 2019

Review NAEYC's draft recommendations for educators, administrators, teacher educators, and policymakers to promote equitable learning opportunities for all children. Read More

Webinar: Making the Case for Affirming Children's Voices in Early Childhood Nature-Based Initiatives

March 12, 2019

Young children have the right to a say in matters of relevance to them. Our collaborative webinar with the Children & Nature Network presents evidence and advice for affirming children's voices in research and practice. Read More

Webinar: Nature Days in K-3 Classrooms

November 30, 2018

What does nature-based learning look like in public K-3 classrooms across North America? Watch a recording of our webinar from December 12, 2018, to find out! Read More

Save the Date for Our 2019 Conference: July 31-August 3

October 1, 2018

Join us in Manchester, NH, for engaging presentations, experiential workshops, site tours, and professional networking with nature-based early childhood professionals from around the country and beyond. Read More

Early Childhood Environmental Education at 2018 NAAEE Conference

September 24, 2018

Are you planning to participate in the North American Association for Environmental Education's 47th Annual Conference (Oct 9-13, 2018)? Check out these sessions with a focus on the youngest audiences. Read More

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