The Kalamazoo Nature Center's Nature's Way Preschool is an award-winning nature preschool located on 30 wooded acres that serve as an extension of the classroom, allowing children to experience daily nature walks and natural playground spaces. Nature's Way Preschool is licensed by the state of Michigan. Find out more about it at its website or take this video tour of the preschool on the Natural Start website.
Nature's Way Preschool is located at 4442 Oakland Drive, in Kalamazoo, Michigan (Google Maps link)
You can register for the workshops at this link.
Natural Start Training Schedule
Early Childhood STEM: Using Nature to Drive Learning - Saturday, April 29, 2017
Nature is the perfect vehicle for engaging young learners in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Whether the outdoor space is structured or wild, nature provides a boundless source of dynamic materials with an infinite variety of applications encouraging exploration, problem-solving, and discovery. Over the course of this workshop, attendees will look at STEM learning in the context of early childhood development, gain a comprehensive understanding of the STEM framework (including its relationship to STEAM, which integrates the arts into the curriculum), obtain hands-on experience with a variety of curricula, and start developing a portfolio of ideas.
Trainers: Kit Harrington, Director, Fiddleheads Forest School in Seattle, Washington
Creating Outdoor Spaces That Encourage Exploration and Discovery - Friday, June 23, 2017
Outdoor play spaces are a critical component of any early childhood education program. In this interactive workshop, we’ll explore the benefits of natural playgrounds and learn about creating "special spaces" that challenge a child's physical, emotional, and cognitive growth. Working together, the group will plan elements for outdoor spaces that utilize loose parts and natural materials, and develop activity ideas and lessons to integrate all learning domains.
Trainer: Heather Parker Goetzinger, Early Childhood Education Director, Kalamazoo Nature Center in Kalamazoo, Michigan
You can register for the workshops at this link.