Rachel Larimore, Samara Early Learning’s Chief Visionary, will be presenting a free webinar hosted by Early Childhood Investigations Webinars and sponsored by Samara Early Learning (that’s us!).

Here is the webinar description:

It’s finally happening: Early education program leaders around the world are becoming more enthusiastic and enlightened about the benefits of nature-based programs. Many programs are beginning to jump in wholeheartedly but find shifting the culture of their organizations as well as the practice of individual teachers is incredibly challenging. After all, we’re leading humans! Some of the challenges that result are very individual responses to be outdoors—not enjoying the cold, preferring not to be dirty, etc. Additionally, there can be administrative challenges related to policies, procedures, funding, and licensing. There are also pedagogical leadership challenges in supporting teachers to intentionally integrate nature into the daily structure, physical environment, and teacher-led activities. Join experienced early childhood nature-based program leader and author, Rachel Larimore to learn to address these various challenges.

This webinar, designed to support program leaders and administrators, will share the core principles and benefits of a nature-based approach. With that common language as a starting point, Rachel will address the foundational administrative and pedagogical practices to successfully shift your team to a nature-based approach. Most importantly, Rachel will address an often-overlooked element of leading change—the human element, including how to best support staff and families in your evolving infusion of nature.

Though the webinar is free, registration is required. Register today!

Presented by Rachel Larimore, Ph.D., Chief Visionary, Samara Early Learning Moderated by Raven Griffin, Marketing Manager, Kaplan Early Learning Company

This FREE edWebinar will first explore the fundamental principles of the nature-based approach. Then, Dr. Rachel Larimore will provide five simple steps, aligned with these principles, to intentionally integrate the approach into teaching practice—no matter your current situation. Attendees will leave the session with tangible ideas that can be implemented the next day as well as some ideas that can be worked toward in the future.

This edWebinar, sponsored by Kaplan Early Learning Company, will be of interest to PreK-3 teachers and school and district leaders, as well as early childhood researchers and scholars. There will be time for questions at the end of the presentation.

Click here for more information or to register.

Rachel Larimore, Samara Early Learning’s Chief Visionary, will be presenting a free webinar hosted by Early Childhood Investigations Webinars and sponsored by Samara Early Learning (that’s us!).

Here is the webinar description:

Nature-based learning is growing in popularity, particularly in the time of COVID. Yes, there are many benefits to children and teachers alike by integrating nature into the preschool curriculum. Yet, many leaders find themselves facing challenges in supporting a shift to nature-based learning. These challenges are sometimes administrative related to policies, funding, and licensing. There are also pedagogical leadership challenges in supporting teachers and families through a cultural shift to embrace a nature-based approach more fully. Sometimes, for example, teachers don’t like the idea of being outside in the cold. Sometimes children don’t arrive with appropriate clothing. And sometimes parents don’t understand why the children are “just playing in the woods.”

This webinar will help early childhood administrators identify the principles fundamental to a nature-based approach and the benefits of such an approach. Using this overarching framework, Rachel will address the foundational administrative and pedagogical practices to successfully shift your team to a nature-based approach. In this session we’ll discuss how to:

• Write policies which align with licensing regulations and a nature-based approach

• Support teachers to shift their practice to include more nature

• Support families when integrating more nature-based activities into the curriculum

• Secure resources for safe and effective nature-based learning

Though the webinar is free, registration is required. Register today!

Our Chief Visionary, Rachel Larimore, will be presenting a FREE webinar through edWebinar and sponsored by Kaplan Early Learning Company.

Here is the webinar description:

“It seems everywhere you turn lately there is mention of getting kids outside in nature. This was true before the pandemic, but now even more so. The reality is there are many benefits to nature-based learning for children’s whole development—not just their physical well-being. There are also benefits for teachers! But for many, implementing a nature-based approach is easier said than done. There are many real and perceived challenges when implementing a nature-based early childhood education. Sometimes, for example, there are questions about when is too hot or cold to go outside. Sometimes children don’t arrive with appropriate clothing. And sometimes parents don’t understand why the children are “just playing in the woods.” There are solutions for overcoming these challenges and the effort is well worth it!

This edWebinar will help early childhood educators identify the principles fundamental to a nature-based approach and the benefits of such an approach. Then, using a continuum of nature-based early childhood education as the overarching framework, Rachel A. Larimore will address the unique challenges of integrating nature into the preschool classroom. She’ll discuss challenges and possible solutions related to:

• Adhering to licensing regulations while implementing a nature-based approach

• Adjusting program structure to integrate more outdoor time

• Preparing the physical environment (inside and outside)

• Making more intentional connections between outdoor and indoor learning

• Supporting families when integrating more nature-based activities into the curriculum

This edWebinar will be of interest to teachers, librarians, and school and district leaders of the preK through elementary levels. There will be time for questions at the end of the presentation.

To register, visit the edWebinar site.

This webinar, presented by Rachel Larimore, is hosted by Early Childhood Investigations Webinars and sponsored by Community Playthings.

This webinar will help early childhood administrators identify the principles fundamental to a nature-based approach. Then, using a continuum of nature-based early childhood education as the overarching framework, Rachel will address the unique considerations for designing a nature-based classroom. We’ll discuss the spaces inside, outside, and beyond the fence. Additionally, we’ll discuss the other supporting spaces that help make for successful nature-based learning.

In this session we’ll discuss the theory and specific strategies related to:

• Preparing the indoor classroom

• Shifting the outdoor classroom to a more natural play area

• Utilizing spaces beyond the fence of the play area

• Considerations for supporting spaces (e.g., extra gear storage)

• Adhering to licensing regulations while implementing a nature-based approach

Click here to learn more or to register.

Our Chief Visionary, Rachel Larimore, will be presenting a FREE webinar through edWebinar and sponsored by Kaplan Early Learning Company.

Here is the webinar description:

“Nature-based education seems to be all the rage lately. This includes nature-based preschools, forest preschools, and nature-based elementary programs. While the number of immersive nature-based programs is increasing, there are thousands of more traditional programs that have the opportunity to meaningfully integrate nature into their early childhood program. This edWebinar will help early childhood providers, no matter their situation, consider the principles fundamental to a nature-based approach and integrate those principles into teaching practice.

This edWebinar will particularly focus on the teacher-child interactions that best support children learning with nature rather than simply learning in or about nature. This approach doesn’t happen overnight, but rather occurs through daily programmatic and teaching decisions. Rachel Larimore will provide concrete ways to integrate high-quality nature-based early childhood education practices into the classroom inside, outside, and beyond the fence of the play area. The edWebinar will include discussion around modeling and facilitating for children, questioning, when to use silence as a pedagogical tool, and how to support developmentally appropriate risky play. Attendees will leave this edWebinar with tangible ideas that can be implemented the next day as well as some ideas that can be worked toward in the future.

This edWebinar will be of benefit to preK through elementary school teachers, librarians, and school and district leaders. There will be time for questions at the end of the presentation.”

To register, visit the edWebinar site.

Rachel Larimore, Samara Early Learning’s Founder, will be presenting a free webinar hosted by Early Childhood Investigations Webinars and sponsored by Nature Explore.

Here is the webinar description:

“Get children outside more!” It seems a common phrase lately with a growing awareness for benefits of experiences with nature. Yet, the reality is it’s easier said than done. Yes, there are many benefits to children and teachers alike by integrating nature into the preschool curriculum. There are also opportunities for integrating nature in even more frequent and meaningful ways. For example, providing daily experiences in natural areas beyond the fenced play area. Yet there are also many administrative challenges when implementing a nature- based approach. Sometimes, for example, teachers don’t like the idea of being outside in the cold. Sometimes children don’t arrive with appropriate clothing. And sometimes parents don’t understand why the children are “just playing in the woods.”

This webinar will help early childhood administrators identify the principles fundamental to a nature-based approach and the benefits of such an approach. Then, using a continuum of nature-based early childhood education as the overarching framework, Rachel will address the unique challenges of integrating nature into the preschool classroom. In this session we’ll discuss challenges and possible solutions related to:

• Adhering to licensing regulations while implementing a nature-based approach

• Adjusting program structure to integrate more outdoor time

• Preparing the physical environment (inside and outside)

• Supporting teachers to shift their practice to include more nature

• Supporting families when integrating more nature-based activities into the curriculum

Though the webinar is free, registration is required. Register today!

I’ll be presenting a FREE webinar through edWebinar in honor of the release of my new book. Here are the details about this event:

“With a growing awareness for benefits of outdoor play, it seems everywhere one turns there is talk of children and nature. One particular approach that is receiving a lot of attention is nature-based or forest preschools. While the number of nature-based preschools is increasing, there are more young children needing experiences with nature than these programs can provide. At the same time, many early childhood educators who understand the value of outdoor experiences find themselves in a traditional setting unsure of how to meaningfully integrate nature into their programs.

This edWebinar will help early childhood providers, no matter their situation, consider the principles fundamental to a nature-based approach and integrate those principles into teaching practice. These high-quality nature-based early childhood education (NbECE) practices don’t happen overnight, but rather occur through daily programmatic and teaching decisions. Using a continuum of NbECE as the overarching framework, Rachel Larimore will provide concrete ways to better integrate nature into your program structure, physical environment (inside and outside), and teacher-child interactions.

Attendees will leave the edWebinar with tangible ideas that can be implemented the next day as well as some ideas can be worked toward into the future. This presentation will be of interest to preK-3 teachers, librarians, and school and district leaders. There will be time for Rachel to answer questions at the end of the edWebinar.”

To register, visit the edWebinar site.