Getting the word out to Early Childhood Educators

[Debbie Tashoff]

I am a member of NAEYC- National Association for the Education of Young Children.  This organization reaches out to ECC educators through out the country.  I am involved on a local level and I am wondering how we can connect c&nn with NAEYC. There is a national conference scheduled for Nov. of this year in Orlando, Fl. Is there a way to get some representatives to set up an information table to share all the great things that are happening and help get people on board with this great movement of getting kids outside?  Any thoughts?

[Starla Bailey]

The ECE community is involved in this movement in several ways.  One is through the Nature Action Collaborative for Children.  http://www.worldforumfoundation.org/wf/nacc/index.php  

The NAEYC Journal Young Children has been publishing articles for many years about the value and need for young children to spend time outdoors and learn about nature and the environment.  There are some terrific books written by Ruth Wilson about young children and nature as well.  I hope this gives you some leads to explore further :)

 

[Debbie Tashoff]

Thank you for your response.  I was thinking more in lines of talking face to face with educators at conferences...sharing experiences and books, articles etc.  I am often surprised at the number of teachers who are still hesitant about the outdoors and how to bring it in to the classroom and the endless possibities outside the classroom.  Except for Nature Explore I have yet to see advocates at these conferences.  Even when I review the keynote speakers and workshops there are very still very little, if any, regarding this topic.

 

[E skeaff]

You should also check outOutdoorBabyNetwork.com