News
New Climate Impact Forum for Early Educators and Providers Working in Nature-Based and Outdoor Settings on Monday, August 10th

Image of a tree canopy with the hot sun shining through it

Date

Climate Impact Forum: August 10th, 12pm ET/ 9 am PT

An Open Discussion on Navigating Climate-Related Challenges in Nature-Based Early Learning Settings

Register at: https://bit.ly/NS-ClimateForum 

 

For nature-based preschools and childcare programs operating outdoors, summer increasingly means climate-related environmental challenges, from wildfires and tornadoes to extreme heat and flooding, impacting how programs approach nature-based curriculum and ensure young children's safety and well-being outdoors.

 

Yet, despite the frequency with which programs encounter climate impacts, few resources or frameworks exist that directly address the unique considerations for outdoor and nature-based practice, or the grief and uncertainty that can accompany working with young children outdoors through a time of climate crisis. As a result, many outdoor early learning providers must rapidly adapt policies, practices, and routines, often without external support.

 

To help meet this moment, Natural Start is hosting a Climate Impact Forum on Monday, August 10 at Noon ET/9 AM PT. Facilitated by Claire Underwood of the University of Minnesota Duluth, and Kit Harrington, Deputy Director of Early learning Policy for Natural Start, this open space-style discussion is designed to bring together early educators, administrators, and others working in outdoor and nature-based settings to promote the identification and development of climate-responsive practices and policy frameworks, and to support the field in processing the emotional complexity of this moment. Participants will learn about existing resources to support informed decision-making, and be encouraged to share challenges, resources, and ideas in the spirit of possibility and collective resilience.

 

Advance registration is required.

 

Questions? Contact [email protected].