Working Outdoors With Young Children In Spring
co-hosted with NINPA
This 90 min. webinar was presented on March 4, 2021.
The seasons are changing — now what?!
We address staying active, dry and having fun in spring while making connections to developmental domains in nature-based education.This event was co-hosted with NINPA!
Meet the panelists:
Marilyn Brink
An early childhood educator/nature play advocate & passionate facilitator of nature-based early learning, Marilyn brings this expertise to her favorite audience, adult learners. Understanding the important role early childhood educators hold in the lives and learning of young children, Marilyn focuses on these educators as the gatekeepers to nature as an aspect of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion. Marilyn has helped Head Start programs re-imagine children’s access to nature indoors and out in urban settings and most recently led a professional development program for informal educators across the US and internationally who work with young children in zoos, aquariums, nature centers and other nature-based settings. Marilyn has an M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education and is adjunct faculty at Morton College in Illinois, teaching courses in the Nature Assistant Certificate program. Marilyn believes nature is a second language all young children can and should have the opportunity to learn.
Sheila Williams Ridge
is the Director of the Shirley G. Moore Lab School at the University of Minnesota. She has a bachelor’s degree in biology and master’s degree in education, as well as experience as a business manager and preschool teacher/naturalist. She teaches Nature-Based Learning in Early Childhood and Student Teaching in Early Childhood at the University of Minnesota and A Sense of Wonder: Nature Education in Early Childhood and Foundations in Environmental Education at Hamline University. Sheila is a facilitator for the NAEYC Young Children and Nature Interest Forum, a board member for the Minneapolis Nature Preschool, and a member of the Natural Start Alliance Council. She is co-author of the book, Nature-Based Learning for Young Children: Anytime, Anywhere, on Any Budget, published by Redleaf Press and is passionate about encouraging nature-based play and the lasting developmental benefits of a relationship between children and nature.
Harriet Hart
Harriet was raised by outdoor educators in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The nature preschool movement in Scotland and in the American Northeast inspired them to follow in their parents’ footsteps. They hold a Masters in Education with a certificate in nature-based early childhood education from Antioch University New England.
Harriet has worked in early childhood nature-based programs across three states, both in private and public school settings. In the past two years, Harriet has helped establish three outdoor preschool programs in the roles of director, lead teacher, consultant, and mentor.
Harriet is continually inspired by their students and the curiosity and fascination that they bring to a curriculum that they develop together. Harriet lives in Montpelier, VT with their family.
Emma Hallowell
has been a public school teacher for the past ten years. Four years ago she helped launch the nature-based, Pre-K classroom that serves 4 and 5-year olds at Guilford Central School in Southern Vermont. She holds a Masters of Science in Environmental Education from Antioch University New England, and she loves helping children connect with their natural environment.
