Date
Sessions of Interest for Early Childhood Educators
Note: This list isn't exhaustive and there are many other sessions of interest to early childhood environmental educators. We've simply tried to highlight those most relevant to early childhood through early elementary grades.
Tuesday, October 6
3:30–4:30 PM — Sights and Sounds: Examining Child-Environment Interactions Using Audio-Visual Methods (Location: Atrium Ballroom)
The LEAF initiative supports early childhood nature-based education. Presents a multi-method approach to audio-visual data collection and analysis of children-environment interactions during outdoor time at early childhood centers, outlining research protocols and methodological strengths and challenges.
3:30–4:30 PM — From Pages to Practice: Using Research to Guide Early Book Selection (Location: Atrium Ballroom)
This poster shares research examining how children’s picture books portray nature and how these portrayals can guide book selection in early childhood settings. Findings highlight patterns, gaps, and promising examples that help educators choose books that support environmental understanding, curiosity, and more authentic relationships with the natural world.
Wednesday, October 7
8:30–9:10 AM — Beyond the Benefits: How Nature Play Changes a Child's World (Location: Directors)
Environmental educators can often name the measurable benefits of outdoor learning easily, yet may struggle to describe the deeper changes they witness: a child beginning to perceive and participate in the world differently. Offers accessible phenomenological language for naming that formation and advocating for it alongside empirical evidence.
8:30–9:10 AM — Climate, Childhood, and Weathering: New Directions for Early Learning Research (Location: Atrium Ballroom)
As climate disruptions intensify, nature-based early learning programs face profound pedagogical and research challenges. This roundtable explores how educators, researchers, and children "weather together," discussing emerging methods, ethical considerations, and research gaps in climate-responsive, justice-oriented early childhood environmental education.
9:20–10:00 AM — Tools and Strategies for Advancing Outdoor and Nature-Based Policies (Location: Broadway III)
Explores Natural Start's National Recommendations for Licensing Outdoor and Nature-Based Childcare Programs. Covers how professionals and policymakers are collaborating across states to remove licensing barriers and ensure safe, equitable access to outdoor learning.
10:30–11:10 AM — More Than a Hike: Building Multigenerational Connections Through Nature (Location: Studio)
A Bright Spot highlighting how nature-based programs can engage multiple generations through creative, interest-driven offerings, demonstrating scalable strategies for building inclusive, community-centered programming.
10:30–11:10 AM — Whole-Family Environmental Education: Building Lifelong Connections to Nature (Location: Studio)
Imagine environmental education that engages entire families, not just students. This session explores Cal-Wood Education Center’s family camp model, demonstrating how inclusive, multi-generational experiences deepen nature connection, strengthen community, and foster lasting stewardship through a holistic approach that teaches outdoor skills and environmental literacy to diverse audiences.
2:15–2:55 PM — LEAF: Advancing Child Well-Being Through Nature-Rich Learning Environments (Location: Council)
The Learning Environments for All to Flourish (LEAF) Initiative promotes children's health, development, and learning through nature-rich environments by integrating design, professional learning, and community partnerships to expand nature access in early childhood centers.
4:00–4:40 PM — From Rescue to Read Aloud: Storytelling in Early Environmental Education (Location: Directors)
Explores how storytelling can deepen young children's connection to the natural world, using real wildlife rescue stories to connect empathy, environmental science, and early stewardship.
4:50–5:30 PM — SmartServe: Climate Action and Food Waste Reduction in Early Childcare (Location: Studio)
Climate action starts early. Discover how SmartServe helps early childcare centers reduce food waste, cut methane emissions, and build a sustainable food system one meal at a time. Learn research based strategies that empower young children, support families facing food insecurity, and turn everyday routines into powerful climate solutions.
4:50–5:30 PM — Time to “Let Me Play!” Children with Disabilities and Nature (Location: Studio)
This Summer the Seattle PlayGarden is celebrating 20 years of nature-play based programming for children with disabilities! This session is a joyful exploration of the importance of play for children with disabilities in developing their connection to nature. Come ready to learn through examples, stories, laughter and KIDS of course!
Climate action starts early. Discover how SmartServe helps early childcare centers reduce food waste, cut methane emissions, and build a sustainable food system one meal at a time. Learn research based strategies that empower young children, support families facing food insecurity, and turn everyday routines into powerful climate solutions.
Thursday, October 8
10:30–11:10 AM — Heat at Play: Thermal Portraits of Children's Everyday Environments (Location: Atrium Ballroom)
Uses high-resolution thermal imagery to reveal how materials, shade, and urban form shape everyday environments where children play, supporting equitable design and more comfortable, accessible outdoor spaces.
10:30–11:10 AM — Nature-Based Early Learning Advocacy for EE Leaders (Location: Broadway III)
Advocacy for nature-based early learning programs is on the rise across the U.S. Affiliate leaders and policy experts from the Natural Start Alliance discuss effective advocacy for early childhood EE.
3:05–3:45 PM — Cultivating Growth: Master Gardeners Volunteers and Head Start Garden Partnerships (Location: Atrium Ballroom)
Orange County Master Gardener Volunteers partner with Head Start to deliver standards-based garden education to preschoolers from low-income families, focused on physical activity and healthy eating — a decade-long collaboration reaching over 15,000 students.
3:05–3:45 PM — Educating Children in a Coal Mining Area About Climate Change (Location: Atrium Ballroom)
Adequate awareness and knowledge of pressing environmental issues, such as climate change, from early life are necessary to help individuals adopt a positive attitude towards the environment. This will definitely lead to the preservation and protection of the natural environment for the sake of future generations.
Friday, October 9
9:20–10:00 AM — Imagine If Implementation Matched Intention: Scaling Nature-Based Learning in Public Schools (Location: Park)
Imagine if nature-based learning were not a program, but a pathway embedded in public schools. This session presents a research-informed framework for implementation, including keystones for change, a continuum from outdoor learning to nature-led learning, and strategies that build teacher confidence while transforming school culture.