In today's fast-paced world, where technology often dominates the landscape of childhood, there's a growing need to reconnect young learners with the wonders of the natural world. Enter Discovery Professional Learning's Nature-Based Educator Course, a transformative journey designed to empower educators with innovative approaches rooted in nature. With over 26 years of experience integrating nature-based education into licensed early learning programs, Discovery Professional Learning offers a comprehensive course that inspires and equips educators to revolutionize their teaching practices.
Unveiling the Pillars: A Blueprint for Transformation
In the dynamic landscape of early childhood education, where nurturing the next generation's holistic development is paramount, Discovery Professional Learning's Nature-Based Educator Course stands as a beacon of innovation and transformation. At its core lie four pillars—Vision & Values, Land-based Approaches, Risk and Resilience, and Play—that guide educators into empowered leaders of nature-based learning. These pillars are not just components of a curriculum; they are essential elements that underpin an individual's success as an educator and a steward of the natural world. In recognizing their significance, Discovery's course distinguishes itself by imparting knowledge and instilling a mindset that cultivates authenticity, fosters environmental responsibility, nurtures resilience, and celebrates the inherent joy of learning through play (All specifically tailored for licensed and regulated settings!). This holistic approach sets the course apart, offering each individual not just a set of skills but a transformative journey toward becoming a visionary leader in early childhood education.
- Vision & Values: At the heart of nature-based education lies a deep understanding of one's vision and values. Discovery's course doesn't just scratch the surface; it delves deep into exercises and reflective practices that help educators align their teaching philosophies with nature-based principles. Educators gain clarity and purpose by understanding and articulating their vision, laying the foundation for transformative learning experiences.
- Land-based Approaches: Central to nature-based education is the recognition of our interconnectedness with the natural world. This pillar invites Educators to explore and embrace environmental responsibility and sustainability principles. From studying local ecosystems to nurturing a reverence for nature, educators emerge equipped to infuse their programs with a profound sense of stewardship towards the Earth.
- Risk and Resilience: In today's risk-averse society, fostering a culture of resilience is paramount. Discovery's course empowers educators to navigate the delicate balance between safety and growth, equipping them with the skills to create environments where children can explore, experiment, and learn through calculated risks. By embracing resilience, educators cultivate a mindset that views challenges as opportunities for growth, nurturing confident and capable learners.
- Play: Play is the language of childhood, and the possibilities are endless in nature. Through this pillar, educators learn to harness the power of nature play, creating environments that stimulate imagination, curiosity, and creativity. From building forts to exploring natural materials, Discovery's course encourages educators to integrate playful learning seamlessly into their daily practice, fostering a lifelong love for learning in young children.
What can you do tomorrow?
These big ideas are wonderful to reflect on, but you may be wondering…what can I do now? If you’ve spent any time with us at all, you know that we care so much about concrete ways that we can take big ideas and make them relevant and realistic for early learning settings. So, if you are wondering, “Where can I begin?” Here are some ideas to try out tomorrow.
- Design Nature-Inspired Sensory Areas: Take inspiration from the natural world. What do you see, hear, and notice in the outdoor world that could influence your invitations, materials, and environment for children? Consider simple additions of natural tones and materials to your early learning setting. Encourage children to explore nature's textures, smells, and sounds through sensory play, fostering sensory development and sparking curiosity about the natural world.
- Consider a daily nature invitation: Integrate nature themes into all your daily routines. Use songs, rhymes, and stories that celebrate the seasons, weather, or animals. Incorporate props like puppets or felt boards to engage children in interactive storytelling about nature. This promotes language development and instills a sense of wonder and appreciation for the environment from an early age. Instead of walking out to the yard, encourage the children to move like an animal.
This is also one area where you can be very creative with your family engagement. Encourage the families and children to send in photos of their natural experiences. Ask them to send in a photo from a recent walk outdoors or a photo of them planting their garden. You could suggest they send in a special nature treasure that the children could explore and ponder at your next gathering time. - 3. Create Outdoor Learning Stations: Utilize outdoor spaces within your licensed setting to create nature-based learning stations tailored to young children. Set up areas for mud kitchens where children can engage in messy, hands-on play with natural materials like mud, sand, and water. Create sensory gardens with child-friendly plants for sensory exploration and gardening activities. Provide opportunities for gross motor play with natural obstacles like logs, stumps, or climbing structures, promoting physical development and risk-taking in a safe outdoor environment.
- Implement Nature-Based Art Activities: Incorporate nature into art activities to inspire creativity and self-expression. Offer opportunities for children to paint with natural materials like leaves, flowers, or twigs or use natural items as stamps or stencils. Encourage nature-inspired crafts such as leaf rubbings, seed mosaics, or pinecone bird feeders, allowing children to create art while connecting with the natural world around them.
- Research the topic of nature art and explore the wonders of how we can have beautiful, inviting, creative experiences that require no budget. The natural world has ALL that we need to provide unique art and creative experiences.
- Engage in Nature Walks and Outdoor Explorations: Take advantage of nearby outdoor spaces to facilitate nature walks and outdoor explorations with young children. Plan regular outings to local parks, nature trails, or community gardens, providing opportunities for hands-on exploration of plants, insects, and wildlife. Encourage children to use their senses to observe and interact with nature, guiding them in age-appropriate nature-based activities such as scavenger hunts, leaf collecting, or bird watching. These experiences promote physical activity and gross motor skills and foster a sense of wonder and connection with the natural world.
By incorporating these specific strategies into their practice, educators working with young children aged 0-6 in licensed settings can create enriching nature-based experiences that support children's holistic development and foster a lifelong love for nature. These six springboards will be wonderful places for you to begin. Remember, nature-based education is not about the location or access to acres of natural land. It can start with a single potted plant or a photo of a bird that a child brings in from home. 
Transforming Early Learning, One Educator at a Time
Discovery's Nature-Based Educator Course isn't just about teaching; it's about catalyzing a movement that transforms the early learning landscape. By empowering educators with the tools, knowledge, and inspiration to embrace nature-based education, together, we are paving the way for a future where every child has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive in harmony with the natural world. Stay tuned for more information on how you can begin this transformative journey and become a catalyst for change in the lives of young learners everywhere.
