Summer Institute For Early Childhood and Elementary Educators
Teaching with Nature
August 11th - 14th, 2021 Alna, ME
Juniper Hill School for Place-Based Education in Alna, Maine, is offering a 4-day summer workshop called Teaching with Nature. The course is taught primarily by the school’s founder and director, Anne Stires; local naturalists and additional teachers are highlighted for key activities and concepts. The workshop will provide participants with a strong baseline from which to delve deeper into outdoor- and community-based schooling for early childhood and elementary students. Teaching with Nature is designed as a pre-cursor to Antioch University’s Nature-Based Early Childhood Certificate program.
Educators will be introduced to:
the core routines and daily/weekly rhythms which provide the structure for nature-based programming;
the best practices for risk management and the research that exemplifies the benefits of risk for overall health and development;
the how and why of integrated, emergent curriculum that is the backbone of children’s experience, including discussion of flow learning and the importance of observation;
enriching, creative ways to transition, move from place to place, gather, and introduce concepts with the four ancient routines integral to human happiness--story, laughter, song, and dance!
Participants will leave the course with:
the skills to implement a risk-based activity and the confidence to do so, as well as a healthy caution and desire to learn more about effective ways to do that;
the ability to incorporate integration, interdisciplinary practices, and cross-curricular studies into their teaching;
a collection of transition games, stories, songs, and movements, completed projects connected to their own programs, and many documents for reference;
a restored sense of their own commitment to nature-based teaching and cultivating a climate of deep awareness, happiness, and meaningful learning;
a multitude of ways to continue their own learning through Antioch University’s programs and their own consistent practice.
Program Logistics
The workshop begins at 9:00 on Wednesday, August 5th and concludes on Saturday, August 8th at 3:00pm.
Workshop will be held daily at Juniper Hill School located at 180 Golden Ridge Road Alna, ME 04535.
Participants are responsible for their own lodging, transportation, breakfast & dinner (lunch provided). Please click here to view local lodging suggestions.
Please bring the follow items daily to the workshop:
water bottle
travel mug
weather appropriate comfortable clothing and footwear
sun protection (hat, sunscreen, spf rated clothing)
sitting support if needed (camp chair, cushion, etc.)
Tuition: $1200
(additional $400 if receiving CEU credit at Antioch University)
Please contact astires@juniperhillschool.org with questions
Registration
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