Neighbor News
Painted Oak Nature School Hosts Regional Teacher Training
Early childhood educators and administrators gather to discover ways young children can build skills and connect with the natural world.
Nature-lovin’ teachers gathered, despite the cold, to explore ways young children can connect with nature in all seasons. The Eastern Region Association of Forest and Nature Schools (ERAFANS) held New Jersey’s first Outdoor Teacher Retreat at the Painted Oak Nature School in Hopewell, NJ – a beautiful nature preschool tucked in the woods. The event provided hands-on, nature-based professional development for early childhood educators across the region.
The Outdoor Teacher Retreat was held on November 11. Presenters included Sabrina Norrie of Forest School for All; Mary Claire Sonneman of South Mountain Nature School; Jessica Clayton of Riverside Rhymes; and staff from A Child’s Place School. Nicole Landgo, director of The Painted Oak Nature School, presented ways that skill development unfolds through open-ended nature play and outdoor inquiry. A tour of Painted Oak Nature School modeled ways for educators to infuse nature-based approaches in the indoor learning environment as well as on school grounds.
Participants sang songs while huddled around a campfire at the close of the event. ERAFANS executive director Monica Wiedel-Lubinski, offered “Outdoor play is essential to healthy development. We are proud to support teachers as they embrace nature-based learning and take it outside.”.
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About the Eastern Region Association of Forest and Nature Schools (ERAFANS)
ERAFANS is a 501c3 non-profit organization that provides nature-based training to educators, childcare providers, and administrators so that they can facilitate outdoor learning for the children in their care. To learn more, please visit www.ERAFANS.org or contact Monica Wiedel-Lubinski at director@ERAFANS.org.