*CANCELED* Due to staffing, we are only running one date for this session - April 19th. We apologize for any inconvenience and hope to see you there! If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Kaitlyn Sproles at kwsproles@goshen.edu.

Regular time in a familiar outdoor place is a must in Nature-Based Education… but there is great value in visiting novel spots, too!  Whether you call them excursions, ‘the Beyond’, or something else, there are great benefits to venturing afield.   Unexpected discoveries, child-directed exploration and more can all result from carefully-facilitated excursions.  But how are these planned and implemented? 

See for yourself with this guided observation and professional development opportunity focusing on excursions.  This facilitated site visit not only includes live, in-person observation of children and teachers in our outdoor classroom, but includes accompanying learning experiences designed to create a memorable and impactful training for education practitioners.  

Please note: this program is designed in sequence after you’ve attended the introductory Nature PreK Observation and Professional Development program.  This introductory course includes a basic-level introduction of nature based education, content we will not cover in depth during the ‘excursions’ track program.

This is Part 3 of a New Series in the 2022-23 School Year

This three-session series is scaffolded to build your understanding of nature-based education with repeat visits to Merry Lea that focus on a different topic each time. 

1. Nature PreK Observation & Professional Development Introduction
See what a Nature Preschool looks like in action with this guided observation and professional development opportunity. Leave with tangible steps for your own classroom or learning setting.

When: October 10 or 27 | 11:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.

2. Risky Play
Common risks like using tools, balancing on logs or building campfires allow students to assess risk, build confidence, and develop socially and physically. Learn about appropriate risk, how to do a risk-benefit analysis and various facilitation tips.

When: January 24 or 30 | 11:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.

3. Excursions: Beyond the Classroom
Regular time in a familiar outdoor place is important, but visiting novel spots is valuable too! Unexpected discoveries, child-directed exploration and more can result from facilitated excursions. Learn and observe how these are planned and implemented.

When: April 19 or 27 | 11:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.