Professional Development

Do you want professional training in nature-based early childhood education, early childhood environmental education, forest school teaching, or related disciplines? There are a variety of opportunities, from bachelors degrees to university certificate programs, certifications offered by organizations, and shorter-term workshops, institutes, and courses.

Do you have a training opportunity to share with the community? Use the link to the right to submit it!

 

Bachelors Degrees, University Certificates, and Certification Programs

 

Ongoing Workshops

 

Upcoming Workshops

2025

January

Braiding Sweetgrass for Educators

January 8, 2025 to January 29, 2025
Braiding Sweetgrass for Educators Course (4 x 60 min sessions) Join us for these four engaging and insightful online sessions which will unpack the essential elements of Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults. This will be facilitated by award-winning and best-selling Indigenous author, Monique Gray Smith, who adapted Robin Wall Kimmerer’s New York Times Best selling book, Braiding Sweetgrass for a new generation of readers. She is well known for her storytelling, spirit of generosity and focus on resilience. Monique will taking you on a learning journey, exploring the 6 sections of the book and the chapters within each of them, including key content for classroom and school use. Dates and Times: Wednesday, Jan 8, 15, 22, 29 –...

Exploring the Languages of Snow and Ice

January 11, 2025
1715 Charlton Street
West St Paul, MN 55118
 As winter transforms our landscape, secrets are revealed and the blank canvas of snow and ice lends itself to fantasy and imagination.​ We will explore the unique and wonderful possibilities of working with snow and ice. Learn practical tips on how to work with these materials alongside young learners and practice yourself! Event will be led by nature preschool teachers at Dodge Nature Preschool as part of the Reggio-Inspired Network of Minnesota's Saturday Gathering Series. A tour of Dodge Nature Preschool will follow the discussion.

March

Forest School Teacher Training with ETSU

March 24, 2025 to March 26, 2025
201 Methodist Camp Road
Jonesborough, TN 37659
 Third Annual Forest School Teacher Training | Forest School Teacher Institute in Partnership with The Department Of Early Childhood Education - East Tennessee University Join Dr. Jean Lomino, Founder and Director of Forest School Teacher Institute along with ETSU professors of Early Childhood Education, Dr. Jane Broderick and Dr. Pam Evanshen at The Camp at Buffalo Mountain for three days of sweet communion with like-minded people, learning together how to engage with children in a forest school. The Camp at Buffalo Mountain is tucked into a scenic valley in the Cherokee National Forest. You can explore miles of trails, a cascading mountain creek, and a reflecting pond set among the gifts of an Appalachian Spring. Participants will...