Educator Workshops
We have created a collection of Ohio Approved trainings suitable for those who are new to the concept of working outdoors with children as well as those who have been in the field for several years and seek a deepening of their practice. These workshops can occur at your school's site and are also often held in partnership with Resource & Referral Agencies, Professional Organizations, Miami Valley Leave No Child Inside, and local Conferences. Please contact us at meredith@ohionaturallyeducation.com to find and schedule a training right for you and your staff.
OCCRRA AT-135063
Available in the Southwest Dayton region. ​
Cost range $200-800. Email us to ask about pricing specific to your center.​ meredith@ohionaturallyeducation.com
Garden with Preschoolers Through the Whole Year!
Schools often want to start a school garden, but how to get started? What do we do when something doesn't grow? Sun? Water? What can we do if we are only a 9 month school? Learning and Development standards aligned lessons will be shared including planting activities, planting schedules, and activities throughout 10 months out of the year. In this training we will assist staff with building a raised garden box for your school. Two options:
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Bring and install all components of a raised bed including equipment, soil, seeds, and plans. 2 hours of Ohio Approved training hours for members of your staff.
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Revitalize an existing bed at the center with 2 hours of Ohio Approved training hours for members of your staff.
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Seeds All Year
We have created a collection of Ohio Approved trainings suitable for those who are new to the concept of working outdoors with children as well as those who have been in the field for several years and seek a deepening of their practice. These workshops can occur at your school's site and are also often held in partnership with Resource & Referral Agencies, Professional Organizations, Miami Valley Leave No Child Inside, and local Conferences. Please contact us to find and schedule a training right for you and your staff.
OCCRRA AT-132741
2 hour Ohio Approved training hours. Available in August, September, and October. ​Email us to ask about pricing specific to your center.​ meredith@ohionaturallyeducation.com
Sticks & Stones
OCCRRA AT-132738
2 hour Ohio Approved training hours. ​Email us to ask about pricing specific to your center.​ meredith@ohionaturallyeducation.com
This FUN training will engage participants in discovering the developmental nature and value of playing with sticks and rocks as well as the ever present weapon and big body play that children engage in. We'll review NAEYC recommendations about active outdoor play and ways to say yes to these behaviors and items in a classroom setting. Teacher perspectives will be examined and we'll discuss how working outdoors with children and finding ways to be responsive to the natural behavior and pivot those to enhance learning. We will also equip participants with 'teacher tools,' prepare teachers to empower children with 'children's tools' and ways to pivot big interests in these areas. We'll brainstorm ways to use sticks and rocks for academic and cognitive purposes-as well as play!
Quick Start to Outdoor Learning
In this 1 hour Ohio Approved Training, we'll get you and your staff started working outside, no matter your environment. Many teachers want to include more nature in their classroom, but struggle with how to feel like they are accomplishing their developmental and learning goals when outdoors. This training will introduce 4 core routines that you can use in your classroom right away as containers to hold other activites and lessons. An experienced Nature Based Educator who has working in ODJFS and SUTQ programs utilizing these methods will help you embrace the outdoors-no need for a fancy nature playground or forest! This training pairs well with Sticks and Stones above to create practical and next day activities.
OCCRRA AT-133259
1 hour Ohio Approved training hours. ​Email us to ask about pricing specific to your center.​ meredith@ohionaturallyeducation.com
OCCRRA AT-137628
2 hour Ohio Approved training hours. ​Email us to ask about pricing specific to your center.​ meredith@ohionaturallyeducation.com
Going Outdoors to build
Executive FUNction
Participants will join in a playful and high energy workshop will examine building executive function skills in the outdoors. We will explore the importance of these skills, the connection to our senses, and key questions and tools for teachers to use to scaffold children to building these skills. Participants will learn about both broad practices in nature-based education as well as practical activities to bring to the classroom right away.
Exploring the Power in Learning Outdoors!
By exploring the power in learning outdoors, we will discover the rationale and research supporting creating nature connections and enhancing child development by moving outdoors as much as possible. Participants will establish their own connections and identify roadblocks with working with children outdoors.
OCCRRA A-137285
1 hour Ohio Approved training hours. ​Email us to ask about pricing specific to your center.​ meredith@ohionaturallyeducation.com
Teacher & Child Skills for Risks found Outdoors
When we work outdoors with natural materials either in the outdoor classroom or in natural areas, there will be opportunity for developmentally appropriate risks. This training will help participants see the link between both social emotional skills and executive function in these natural environments. We will learn how to anticipate and plan for engaging with natural materials and phenomenon.
OCCRRA AT-137340
1 hour Ohio Approved training hours. ​Email us to ask about pricing specific to your center.​ meredith@ohionaturallyeducation.com
Outdoor Classroom Landscape
Analysis & Design
Teachers, Family Providers, and Administrators will examine the current outdoor spaces at their center or home, analyze the positives for nature play, troubleshoot negative aspects to the current set up, and think creatively about additions. Practical and low cost solutions will be suggested and resources shared. This workshop pairs well with 'Optimizing Learning in Your Outdoor Playspace' and would be exceptional as a group training at your center where we could work together in real time.
OCCRRA AT-137827
1 hour Ohio Approved training hours. ​Email us to ask about pricing specific to your center.​ meredith@ohionaturallyeducation.com
OCCRRA AT-137830
1 hour Ohio Approved training hours. ​Email us to ask about pricing specific to your center.​ meredith@ohionaturallyeducation.com
Optimizing Learning in Your Outdoor Playspace
Discover amazing ways to take learning outside and to begin thinking of your playground as an Outdoor Classroom! An emphasis on play and loose parts will be enjoyed by participants while we discuss how working outdoors offers creative and beneficial ways to access mental health, cognitive, and social-emotional support. Practical ideas are shared in order to take action right away, while also planning long term on how to utilize the outdoor spaces more. This workshop pairs well with 'Outdoor Classroom Landscape Analysis & Design' and would be exceptional as a group training at your center where we could work together in real time.