Events Archive

June 9, 2017 to June 10, 2017
Irvine Nature Center
Owings Mills, MD
Nature-based preschools are re-focusing the lens on early childhood education. Join us for the sixth annual conference to address the unique benefits and challenges of nature-based curriculum in early childhood programs. Attendees will participate in engaging workshops under the following strands: Nature Immersion and Wild Nature Play, Nature-based Learning in Urban Settings, and Best Practices and Curricula in Nature Preschools.
June 6, 2017
Go Fish Education Center
Perry, GA
This educator workshop includes Growing Up WILD: Exploring Nature with Young Children, an early childhood education activity guide that builds on children’s sense of wonder about nature and invites them to explore wildlife and the world around them. Through a wide range of activities and experiences, it provides a foundation for developing positive impressions about nature while also building lifelong social and cognitive skills.
June 3, 2017
Leila Day Nurseries
New Haven, CT
Join Antioch New England’s 2017 In Bloom in New Haven conference and learn from cutting edge educators who are redefining what’s possible in early childhood education. Keynotes are Ellen Doris, Faculty of Antioch University New England; Juliet Robertson, Director of Creative Star Learning in Scotland, speaking about “Dirty Teaching: A Beginner’s Guide to Learning Outdoors;” and Anne Stires, founder and director of Juniper Hill School in Alna, Maine, whose talk is titled, “Following Chipmunks and Feeding the Fire: How Nature-based Curriculum Unfolds.”
June 3, 2017
The Morton Arboretum
Thornhill Education Center
LISLE, IL
Join us at The Morton Arboretum on June 3rd, 2017, as we explore the many benefits of nature-based early childhood education. Learn from experts and peers in the field through sessions geared towards early childhood educators, students of early childhood education, and administrators. Discover how to incorporate nature into your educational practice and get tried-and-true ideas for encouraging nature play and outdoor learning.
June 2, 2017 to June 4, 2017
Bath, ME
Join this retreat in Bath, Maine to learn to foster the holistic development of children and the creation of a more just, sustainable, and peaceful society. Deep Teaching – Growing Peace works with educators providing information, inspiration, and support for integrating experiences relating to peace, nature, and spiritual development into educational curricula and practices.
June 2, 2017 to June 3, 2017
The Early Learning Institute is an annual event held each summer and began in 2015. The mission of the institute is to create an intimate, supportive, professional context for early childhood educators and natural leaders to collaborate and share nature-based practices and thinking. The aim is to connect, inspire, and encourage a variety of educators as they explore and cultivate pedagogy surrounding nature-based play and opportunities for young children, their families, and early childhood practitioners.
May 13, 2017
U of Earth Retreat Center
Graeagle, CA
Experience a profound sense of wholeness with nature and learn award-winning ways for sharing nature with others. You will learn The Sky and Earth Touched Me wellness exercises for personal renewal, rejuvenation, and communion with the Earth. And experience a vibrant sense of well-being and aliveness that will open your heart to all creation. In this workshop you will also discover • How to make outdoor learning fun, experiential, and memorable • Nature activities that make ecological concepts and attitude come alive • How to touch the heart as well as the mind • Flow Learning™—our outdoor teaching strategy—that gently, almost magically, guides you to uplifting nature experiences.*
May 11, 2017
Antioch University New England
Keene, NH
Join Antioch New England’s 2017 In Bloom in Keene conference and learn from cutting edge educators who are redefining what’s possible in early childhood education. Keynotes are Joan Almon, Alliance for Childhood, Annapolis, Maryland who will speak about “Crisis in the Kindergarten: An Urgent Need for Nature, Play, and Experiential Learning;” and Meghan Fitzgerald, Education Director of Tinkergarten, whose talk is titled: “Is Today a Tinkergarten Day?”
May 6, 2017
Kortright Centre for Conservation
Vaughan, OR, Canada,
Join us for a day in the forest celebrating play and nature. Our keynote speaker is Marlene Power, Executive Director, Child and Nature Alliance of Canada. Marlene will be focusing on Forest and Nature-based learning in Canada and part of the keynote will include an audiovisual component with a video of what Forest and Nature School looks like in practice. After the keynote we invite participants to observe an EarthPlay pop up adventure playground in action! In addition there will be stations set up throughout the forest to visit and to play facilitated by Forest and Nature-based educators.
May 5, 2017 to May 6, 2017
Adelaide, Australia,
This Global Conference in Adelaide, Australia will be an opportunity for members and those interested in joining the Association to bring together research, thoughts, and experiences through engaging keynotes and experiential workshops on Nature Pedagogy. Join Board Members, Claire Warden, Anders Farstad, Doug Fargher, and Wendy Lee with national colleagues for two days of inspiration.
May 5, 2017
Yes, all the elements for meaningful learning are already right there in nature with no enhancement needed. But if you want to facilitate skill development in specific ways, then loose parts, tools and props can supplement outdoor learning experiences. This webinar explores a plethora of materials, tools and props with corresponding activities and processes that you will want to try!
May 4, 2017
You know that natural play spaces have significant benefits for young children. But how do you go about creating one? This is a quick and dirty intro to planning a natural play space, no matter your setting. We will walk through important design considerations, features, and ways to mobilize your learning community for support. Webinar Part 3 is on May 5.
May 3, 2017
Chicago Botanic Garden
Glencoe, IL
Join this professional development event featuring keynote speaker Chip Donohue, Ph.D., dean of Distance Learning and Continuing Education and Director of the Technology in Early Childhood Center at Erikson Institute. Come away with practical and effective ideas for incorporating nature play into your early childhood programs and curriculum.
April 29, 2017
Cincinnati Nature Center
Cincinnati, OH
Young Children in Nature, a Saturday conference at the Cincinnati Nature Center for early childhood teachers and administrators on April 29, 2017, features keynote speaker, Dr. Louise Chawla. Workshops will be taught by teachers and staff from the CNC Nature Preschool, the lab school at the University of Cincinnati's Arlitt Center for Education, Research, & Sustainability, and 4C for Children. The conference offers opportunities to connect with other early childhood education stakeholders and extend one's own professional learning. A concurrent research roundtable symposium will be facilitated by Dr. Chawla and Dr. Victoria Carr. It is sponsored by the Children, Youth & Environments Network which disseminates knowledge and stimulates discussion to support inclusive, sustainable, and healthy environments for children and youth everywhere (cyenetwork.org). For more information about the research roundtable symposium, please contact [email protected].
April 22, 2017
Eyes of the World Discovery Center
Kittery, ME 03904
Join Antioch New England’s 2017 In Bloom in Maine conference and learn from cutting edge educators who are redefining what’s possible in early childhood education. Keynotes are Amy Butler of North Branch Nature Center speaking about "A New Path in the Forest: Moving Beyond the Classroom for Exploration, Creativity and Growth"; and Rachel Larimore, founder of the Chippewa Nature Preschool in Midland, Michigan, whose talk is titled, "rom Preschool to Early Elementary: Learning from One Community’s Journey with Nature-based Education."
April 20, 2017
There is a rich history of natural play spaces the world over. This webinar offers a survey of natural play spaces with a deeper look at substantial skill development linked with outdoor play. Research from academic sources will be offered throughout. If you want to know more about the proven value of natural play spaces, or if you need more talking points for parents, fellow colleagues or grants, this is great place to begin. Webinars Part 2 and 3 are on May 4 & 5.
April 20, 2017
Tenafly Nature Center
Tenafly, NJ
Growing Up WILD is a program for exploring nature with children ages 3–7, and builds on children’s sense of wonder about nature and invites them to explore wildlife and the world around them. Participants will receive the Growing Up WILD activity guide that includes conservation activities, reading and math connections, music and art activities, and much more. Participants will also experience Project Learning Tree's Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood that is designed especially for educators and adults working with children ages 3-6. Activities highlight the importance of kinetic learning and differentiated instruction, including opportunities to incorporate music and movement.
April 18, 2017 to April 21, 2017
Vancouver,
Join us in in Vancouver, BC, Canada for inspiring keynotes, expertly-curated workshops, field trips, and action labs designed to support and advance the work you do to connect children, families and communities to nature. Look for a special room/hub for early childhood educators!
April 15, 2017
Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center--Visitors Center
Mansfield, GA
Join us in Mansfield, GA for a Growing Up WILD workshop from 9am to noon. You will learn to use and receive the Growing Up WILD: Exploring Nature with Young Children early childhood education activity guide that builds on children’s sense of wonder about nature and invites them to explore wildlife and the world around them. Through a wide range of activities and experiences, it provides a foundation for developing positive impressions about nature while also building lifelong social and cognitive skills.
April 14, 2017 to April 15, 2017
Teton Science School
Jackson, WY 83001
Children need time in nature! This Friday evening and Saturday workshop will provide teachers with the practical skills and the philosophical knowledge needed to connect children to the outdoors. Participants will learn how to prepare and plan for meaningful experiences in nature with young children, and how to bring the natural environment into the classroom and curriculum. Come play in the woods with us!