About this Nature-Based Training

Join ERAFANS at Bost Nature Center for this 6-clock hour Outdoor Teacher Retreat! All workshops will be full of practical ideas and activities you can use right away. Presenters share insights and activities based on their work in nature preschools, forest kindergartens, or other nature-based programs. 

ERAFANS will provide a professional development certificate at the conclusion of the event. Please dress for the weather, as 100% of this training takes place outdoors, rain or shine. 

Note: We strive to make our training events zero waste, so please bring your canteen for drinks. Light breakfast and lunch are provided. 

Who Should Attend?

This training is ideal for educators, caregivers, and others working with young children ages 3-8 years old. Our participants work in all kinds of settings, from nature-based schools and forest kindergartens to public schools, traditional preschools, HeadStart programs, childcare centers, daycare, and more. 

Workshop Descriptions

This retreat is packed with topics you will love! You can look forward to engaging, immersive sessions on the topics you need to learn, play, and explore with children outside. 

Nature Connection Mentoring
Dan Gardoqui, Lead With Nature
Get fully immersed in the Nature Connection Mentoring ("NCM") approach!  We will go out in the field (in small groups) to experience a variety of core routines that make up the essence of NCM, which have proven to offer the most benefits for this age range. Afterwards, we will debrief about our experience as a large group, pulling out the why, and deepening the how of the various activities, illustrating how these routines fit together in our model. (Literature reference will be made to Coyote's Guide to Connecting with Nature by Jon Young, Ellen Haas, and Evan McGown.)

From the Garden to the Classroom
Rina Zamperion, Drumlin Farm Community School
Learn about the 3 C’s (classroom, cafeteria, and community) and how they fit into your program. We’ll explore gardening curricula, talk about ways to incorporate your community around food, and how to cook with young children. We’ll also focus on including preschool families’ cultures and heritages through food.

Guiding Behavior in All-Outdoor Settings
Sara Murray, Boston Outdoor Preschool Network
Guiding behavior in an all-outdoor environment can present unique challenges. Without walls – or sometimes even fences – behavior management strategies need to honor a child’s developing sense of independence and autonomy while keeping them safe. At Boston Outdoor Preschool Network (BOPN), many of our behavioral support strategies are grounded in the philosophy of Maria Montessori and her understanding of child development. This workshop will share our practices for maintaining high behavioral expectations while honoring and respecting the unique needs of a preschool-aged child in an outdoor setting.

Multidisciplinary Learning in Nature-Based Education
Mo Abdalah, The Nest at Wheeler School Farm
This workshop features an experiential learning opportunity where adults are put in place of a student. Through discussion and exploration, we will discover ways to explore all disciplines in the context of nature-based learning.

Have questions? Email us at programs@erafans.org. Please note that all participants are required to complete this waiver during registration. Our refund policies are found here as well.