Share, Learn, Listen, Lead

Early Childhood Nature Resources

Information

This group is a place for all of us who love nature and young children to share resources we have found to be helpful and inspiring. Please post stories, programs, workshop materials, handouts for parents, books, links, and photos.

Website: http://www.hookedonnature.org
Members: 99
Latest Activity: Apr 8

Words of Wisdom

Teaching children about the natural world
should be treated as one of the most
important events in their lives.
Thomas Berry, Dream of the Earth

If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense
of wonder, he needs the companionship
of at least one adult who can share it,
rediscovering with him the joy, excitement
and mystery of the world we live in.
Rachel Carson, A Sense of Wonder

Discussion Forum

Nature Preschools and Kindergartens 1 Reply

Nature Preschools and Kindergartens WorkshopJoin us for a great One-Day Intensive Workshop on Nature Preschools and Kindergartens. Claire Warden and I will be hosting this workshop on Nature…Continue

Started by Paul Roberts. Last reply by Juliet Robertson Jan 11.

Nature Preschools 22 Replies

We are just about to start our second year of our Little Sprouts nature based early learning center and I just wondered if any of you guys are doing this and if you have any BIG ideas for us to…Continue

Started by Debbie Greene. Last reply by Janine Carpenter May 5, 2012.

Join us for our International Green Schoolyard Conference: Sept. 16-18, 2011, San Francisco Bay Area

As many of you know, the green schoolyard movement is growing rapidly and flourishing around the world. Schools near and far are reimagining their grounds, replacing their extensive paved surfaces…Continue

Tags: environment, nature, conference, green, childhood

Started by Sharon Danks Jun 20, 2011.

Let's G.O.! Get Outside 1 Reply

Wanted to be sure you all know about Let’s G.O.! Get Outside. This is a youth-inspired, youth-led campaign unifying all of C&NN's initiatives and partners to Play, Serve and Celebrate together…Continue

Started by Avery Cleary. Last reply by Stephanie Rach-Wilson Mar 4, 2011.

View All

Comment Wall

Comment

You need to be a member of Early Childhood Nature Resources to add comments!

Comment by Christina (Tina) Person on February 21, 2011 at 4:41pm: Hi Juliet,

Scotish pre-school practitioners seem to be way ahead of us. But the school I work at is way before its time. It was built in 1973, its an earthen building on 16 achers of Forest Service land (It has dwindled and now its 8 achers). We are 3 miles outside of Aspen, we have a bus so we reduce our foot print, we are non profit. We play in the woods, at the river, on our roof we call it the observation deck, and we have a grow dome that we grow vegatables 7 months out of the year, We host workshops for our community and just built a compost bin out of recycled materials, we have composting worms and the list go's on. Our weather can be very severe, but we get out all the time no matter what in the winter the snow shoes are out all the time. I have a ton of pictures, and power points for presentations I've done. Our website needs updating but its www.wildwoodschool.org I've worked there for 20 years and would like to take it to the next level, I dream of going to Scottland!! Please let me know if you want any pictures or any details. Our enrollment is low because we have a preschool in town that is pushing academics, the parents don't any better, but we are sticking to our guns and will not compromise children in nature stand.

Thanks Tina

Comment by Patricia Rowe Gilkerson on February 21, 2011 at 4:36pm: It's called Cedarsong Nature School and founded by Erin Kenny. People is a celebrity gossip magazine, so I was surprised to see the article in it.

Pat

Comment by Rusty Keeler on February 21, 2011 at 3:54pm: Here's a WA state forest school - this might be the one Patricia was mentioning: http://www.cedarsongnatureschool.org/index.php?module=pagemaster&am...

also, they are doing lots of great things sustainability-wise in New Zealand and Australia...

Comment by Juliet Robertson on February 21, 2011 at 2:51pm: Hi Patricia

I don't know the People magazine! Do you know the name of the pre-school? I did chat to a person who ran one in Washington State who was very helpful about 18 months ago. The quote is quoted world-wide and seems to be attributed to different places, people and cultures!

Comment by Patricia Rowe Gilkerson on February 21, 2011 at 2:25pm: Do you read People magazine? There's a cool article this week about a preschool in Washington state that is totally outdoors every day! I don't want to take it that far, specially in Minnesota, but I love the concept! A quote: "There's no bad weather, just bad clothing".

Comment by Juliet Robertson on February 21, 2011 at 12:59pm: Hi Everyone

I'm going to be giving a presentation in a few weeks time about International Nature Play to an audience of pre-schooler practitioners. Is anyone out there doing something they think I should be telling Scottish pre-school staff?

I'd love to know about the good work going on around the world!

Thanks

Juliet

Comment by Christina (Tina) Person on February 21, 2011 at 12:43pm: Thanks Sarah,

I'll be looking for the book in April and will order The other right now.

Thanks Tina

Comment by Sarah Shealy on February 21, 2011 at 10:56am: Hi Patricia and Tina,

I'm glad the book sounds so perfect for your kids! It's such a lovely story. You should be able to find the book at your local bookstore, or you can order it from Amazon.com, Powells.com, etc. The Arbor Day Foundation has great resources on their website as well: http://www.arborday.org/shopping/sourcebook/.

Kathryn Gailbraith has another book coming in April that's a lyrical story about nature's ability to plant her own garden through seed migration. When that one is available, I'll be sure to post about it here!

All best,

Sarah

Comment by Patricia Rowe Gilkerson on February 19, 2011 at 11:25am: Thanks Sarah, I'm teaching a preschool class called Nature Nuts that will focus on trees for 4 weeks. It ends coincidentally, the Friday of Arbor Day, so we will have an Arbor Day party. I can't wait to check out the book and activities!

Comment by Christina (Tina) Person on February 19, 2011 at 9:38am: This looks like a great book with many components to it. Thanks, I'm always looking for age appropriate books! Where do I buy a copy? The website has all the great information, but no link to purchase it.

Thanks a million!

Tina