The Nature Preschool at the Irvine Nature Center provide hands-on opportunities for learning and skill development through nature-based inquiry, creative arts, and outdoor exploration to develop a lasting appreciation for the natural world. The preschool is licensed by the Maryland State Department of Education and accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Find out more about it at its website.
The Irvine Nature Center is located at 11201 Garrison Forest Road, Owings Mills, Maryland (25 minutes outside of Baltimore) (Google Maps link)
You can register for the workshops at this link.
Natural Start Training Schedule
Times for all workshops are 9:30am-5pm.
Early Childhood STEM: Using Nature to Drive Learning - Friday, April 14, 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
Documenting and Assessing Learning in the Outdoors - Friday, May 19, 2017
If you are tired of worksheets or simply don’t believe that they are the best way to document the skills of early learners, this workshop will provide you with practical, authentic alternatives that are particularly effective for documenting outdoor learning. Photographs, work samples, and anecdotes can capture many of a child’s experiences, and present a glimpse into his or her window of learning. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn to take photographs that tell a story, provide activities that highlight skills, and explore ways to easily gather anecdotes. You’ll work in a group to create your own model portfolio. Please bring a digital camera (or your phone) and a journal for taking notes.
Trainer: Paula Jackson, Lead Teacher, Early Childhood Environmental Education at Irvine Nature Center near Baltimore, Maryland
Creating Outdoor Spaces That Encourage Exploration and Discovery - Thursday, June 8, 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.