Events Archive
Growing Up WILD: Exploring Nature with Young Children & PLT’s Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood
Gilmanton School, 1386 NH Route 140
Gilmanton Iron Works, NH
Growing Up WILD: Exploring Nature with Young Children and Project Learning Tree’s Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood, are supplementary educational programs for young learners designed to connect children ages 3 – 7 with nature and wildlife. Workshop participants will have an opportunity to sample activities from both programs that foster critical early childhood skill development and tap into children’s sense of wonder about nature and the wildlife around them. Prioritizing Play Conference
1401 W. Green St
Urbana, IL 61801
Play is a necessity for children and youth. Yet with each passing year, the time, space and freedom children have allocated to self- directed play is infringed upon. This May, those who work with children or are interested in play in their communities will gather to review why play is important, hear about the current movement towards prioritizing play and to learn about how the field of playwork is crucial in today's world.
Join us in Champaign-Urbana, IL for the Prioritizing Play Conference. Learn about our wonderful KeyNote Speakers: Prof. Peter Gray and Morgan Leichter-Saxby. Outdoor Spaces and Nature-based Programming in Public Gardens: Building the Evidence Base for Early STEM learning
The Morton Arboretum
Lisle, IL 60532
Join The Morton Arboretum and the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago at a summit for nature-based education practitioners, early childhood researchers, and evaluators to examine how outdoor spaces and nature play support young children’s science learning. Participants will share insights from our experience and our understanding of the scientific evidence about children’s learning outdoors. We will collaboratively identify research priorities and success factors for early childhood learning through nature-based education and shape a new collaborative network for outdoor learning research and practice. Inspiring Nature Play Conference
Chicago Botanic Garden
1000 Lake Cook Road
Glencoe, IL 60022
Join this annual professional development event geared toward enabling access to developmentally appropriate nature play experiences for early childhood (birth through age 8). Keynote David Sobel will focus on innovations in nature play for early childhood and early elementary age groups. Through interactive workshops, you will be inspired to push beyond your comfort zones to expand your concept of nature play and come away with hands-on ideas that can be immediately integrated into work with young children. Sessions will be led by a variety of early childhood and environmental experts. In Mud in Wyoming: Promising Practices in Nature–based Early Childhood Education
Teton Science School
Jackson, WY
Learn from cutting edge educators who are redefining what’s possible in early childhood education. The conference will feature morning and afternoon keynotes and two workshop time slots to actively engage in the nature programming of your choice. All events focus on the educational and health benefits of being in the natural world with children .Keynote Speakers: Dr. Deb Carter, Boise State University, Boise, ID and David Sobel, Senior Faculty, Antioch University New England, Keene, NH.
Kennebec Valley Community College SECOND Annual Early Childhood Symposia
Hinckley, ME
You do not want to miss out on this year's professional development event! Sessions on self-care and mindfulness have been added. Returning topics include: STEM, nature-based play, health and well-being. Thoughtful and inspiring presenters feature a new lens of perspective. Our wide range of topics will provide something for everyone! NatureStart™ National Leadership Program--Brookfield, IL
Brookfield Zoo
Brookfield, IL
NatureStart™ regional model for professional development program focusing on skill development for informal educators in zoos, aquariums, nature centers as they provide play-based nature education for children from birth to age 8 and their families in those institutions. NatureStart™ is based on principles and practices in use by the Chicago Zoological Society which are designed to develop competencies in eight core areas needed to develop a child-centered understanding of learning, play, and nature. These competencies form the foundation for developing nature-based play and learning programs and environments for young children and families in informal science settings. All three sessions on Jan.26, Feb.23, April 27, 2018 are required for completion. NatureStart™ National Leadership Program @ Bronx Zoo
Bronx, NY
NatureStart™ regional model for professional development program focusing on skill development for informal educators in zoos, aquariums, nature centers and early childhood educators as they provide nature play-based early learning opportunities for young children and their families in those institutions and programs.. NatureStart™ is based on principles and practices in use by the Chicago Zoological Society, which are designed to develop competencies in eight core areas needed to develop a child-centered understanding of learning, play, and nature. These competencies form the foundation for developing nature-based play and learning programs and environments for young children and families in informal science settings. All three sessions on Feb 2, Mar 16, Apr 27, 2018 are required for completion. Webinar: Tools and Tricks for Nature-Based Documentation and Assessment
You know that your students are learning in the great outdoors, but how do you go about documenting it? This is a big question that comes with many different answers! Join us in a round table webinar with experts across the country. Your hosts will share with you their favorite and most successful tools for nature-based documentation from modified Floorbooks, play profiles, blogs and more. Specific nature-based assessment tools from Fiddleheads Forest School and Schlitz Audubon Nature Preschool will be shared. Come ready to learn! This webinar is brought to you by the Natural Start Alliance and the Northern Illinois Nature Preschool Association.Cedarsong Way Teacher Training
Vashon Island, WA
The Cedarsong Way Residential Teacher Training Program is designed to prepare you to start your own forest kindergarten program or learn how to apply the foundational principles of The Cedarsong Way Forest Kindergarten model to any pre-existing program. You will learn in detail about the distinguishing features of The Cedarsong Way Forest Kindergarten model, including commitment to 100% nature immersion, authentic free play, unstructured flow learning, child-inspired emergent curriculum, inquiry-based teaching style and documentation of the learning. In Bloom in Maine: Promising Practices in Nature–based Early Childhood Education
Eyes of the World Discovery Center,
Kittery, ME
Learn from cutting edge educators who are redefining what’s possible in early childhood education. The conference will feature morning and afternoon keynotes and two workshop time slots to actively engage in the nature programming of your choice. All events focus on the educational and health benefits of being in the natural world with children .Keynote Speakers: Anne Stires, Founder, Lead Teacher, Juniper Hill School for Place-based Education, Alna Maine and Susan Dreyer Leon, Chair, Department of Education, Antioch University New England, Keene, NH Nature Preschool Conference at Irvine Nature Center
Irvine Nature Center
Owings Mills, MD
Join us for Irvine’s award-winning conference to address the unique benefits and challenges of nature-based curriculum in early childhood programs. Network with participants from across the country to share and grow the EECE movement! See where professional development intersects with teacher retreat during an inspiring weekend. Learning with Nature: An Early Childhood Educator Workshop
Drums, PA
If you're a fan of Project WET and Project Learning Tree, then you'll love this workshop offering both early childhood versions of these great curriculums. Participants will receive "Getting Little Feet Wet" and "Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood," which are best used with children in grades PreK-2. Outdoor Teacher Retreat
Frog Pond Early Learning Center
Alexandria, VA
This retreat explores how children develop a foundation of academic skills and values through playful nature-based learning. Presenters share insights and activities based on their work in nature preschools, forest kindergartens, or other nature-based preschool programs. This event is for educators, child care providers, and administrators who serve children ages 3-6 years old. Reaching Nature Connection Conference
Asheville, NC
Do you want to better understand the role of healthy play in a young child’s developing relationship to nature? Do you wish you could feel more calm and adept at handling children’s risky play? Join us in celebration of the genius of children’s natural play!
The Academy of Forest Kindergarten Teachers, School of Integrated Living, and local partners invite you to join in an exciting weekend of hands-on, research-based, and anecdotal learning. The weekend conference is hosted at Earthaven Ecovillage. As always, the conference will be infused with songs, games, stories, and deeper nature connection.
Reaching Nature Connection (RNC) is an annual, outdoor conference based on forest schools, wilderness awareness, and early childhood education. Participants will be linked to a diverse group of outdoor educators. This conference is designed for beginners and experienced educators alike, as well as therapists, administrators, homeschoolers, camp counselors, and parents.
Reaching Nature Connection offers an opportunity to set your watch aside and allow the leaders of the conference to hold time for you. The rhythm of each day is designed to move between active and contemplative learning, with a thematic thread running throughout. We will flow between lecture, discussion, and hands-on components.
CEUs are offered through Antioch University Santa Barbara. Project WILD & Growing Up WILD Workshop
Georgia Project WILD
Mansfield, GA
This workshop will explore both the Project WILD and Growing Up WILD curriculums. The Growing Up WILD Curriculum Guide contains 27 hands-on, multi-disciplinary and instructionally sound educational activities for 3-7 year olds. The Project WILD curriculums contains 154 hands-on, minds-on activities for grade K-12th. NatureStart™ Professional Development Course
Brookfield Zoo
Brookfield, IL
NatureStart™ is a professional development program focusing on skill development for informal educators in zoos, aquariums, nature centers as they provide play-based nature education for children from birth to age 8 and their families in those institutions. NatureStart™ is based on principles and practices in use by the Chicago Zoological Society which are designed to develop competencies in eight core areas needed to develop a child-centered understanding of learning, play, and nature. These competencies form the foundation for developing nature-based play and learning programs and environments for young children and families in informal science settings. US Play Coalition Conference
Clemson, NC
Nature Based & Outdoor Play – The faces of play are often wet, muddy, and sun-glistened from hours spent outdoors. Focus on play in nearby and far away nature–backyards, parks, creeks, lakes, trails, wetlands, and beyond. In Bloom in Asheville: Promising Practices in Nature–based Early Childhood Education
Rainbow Community School
Asheville, NC
Learn from cutting edge educators who are redefining what’s possible in early childhood education. The conference will feature morning and afternoon keynotes and two workshop time slots to actively engage in the nature programming of your choice. All events focus on the educational and health benefits of being in the natural world with children .Keynote Speakers: David Sobel, Senior Faculty,
Antioch University New England, Keene, NH and Rachel Larimore, Founder, Chippewa Nature Preschool, Midland, MI.
Entice Workshop: Introducing Early Childhood Students to the Nature of Spring
Illinois State Museum
Lewistown, IL
Join us to discover what nature can tell us in spring. We’ll take a hike to put our knowledge to work and will feature the Field Trip Pack from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). We’ll show you how to support the teaching of several of the Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards for Science and Next Generation Science Standards with your students. Targeted to educators of grades prekindergarten through two, you’ll take away numerous resources to use with young children when teaching about nature. Professional Development Hours are available. - ‹ previous
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