Member Spotlight

Natural Beginnings Early Childhood program has grown exponentially since its inception nearly three years ago. While yet a relatively new nature-based educational program, Natural Beginnings is making its mark on the profession and in Northern Illinois.

Dr. Deborah Schein is an expert in children's spiritual development, and she believes that it can be nurtured through experiences in and with nature.

Honey Hilliard is the author and illustrator of the book Looking for Butterflies, a color-along poetic narrative celebrating nature, art, and perseverance.

Kindergarten students at Newington Elementary wanted to green their school, and they literally took matters into their own hands. The students worked together with their teacher to turn a bare, muddy patch of ground in front of their school into a welcoming garden.

'Kids Afield' is a collaborative project developed by three teachers at an N-12 Independent School that uses technology (specifically kid-cameras) as a focus tool to connect K-1 students to nature. Started in September of 2012, in its second year we hope our model can be exported to other schools and groups working with young children in natural environments.

Chippewa Nature Center’s (CNC) Nature Preschool in Midland, Michigan is a high-quality early childhood program for 3- and 4-year olds that teaches children literacy, math, science, and social-emotional skills in the context of nature. The children regularly hike to wooded areas, ponds, fields, and the Homestead Farm.

The Karen Slattery Educational Research Center for Child Development is a lab school for children from birth to 5 years of age, located at Florida Atlantic University. Environmental education is integrated throughout the curriculum with all age groups—infants to preschoolers.

One of the best things my parents did for me as a child was not allow me to watch television. My siblings and I spent all of our spare time outside, playing in the yard, the street or at the park. We would stay out until the sun went down. I now teach early childhood, and my love for being outside has translated to the way I teach.

Taking to heart Rachel Carson's The Sense of Wonder, the teachers of Live & Learn journey daily with children to enjoy and explore the pleasures of walking in a puddle or stream, digging for salamanders, and learning to appreciate what nature has to teach, and why this matters.