I very much like how you asked your question, i.e.
how to incorporate and promote.
I have not yet read the book you mention, but can offer some additional resources. There are many resources available and many allies. Learning with nature nicely aligns with both Creative Curriculum and High Scope and can align with the various state early learning standards.
Lens on Outdoor Learning by Wendy Banning and Ginny Sullivan could be a great resource.
Almost anything (books or articles) by Ruth Wilson are great and could be helpful in both getting clear about why to incorporate learning with nature and how to, e.g.
Nature and Young Children, Encouraging Creative Play and Learning in Natural Environments.
One that you may not find in quick searches, but I consider valuable is
Young Children and the Environment, edited by Julie Davis and it will provide a comprehensive look at children and nature.
Eric Nelson's
Cultivating Outdoor Classrooms, while emphasizing the design and use of outdoor spaces could be very valuable, and Eric is now also working with Nature Explore. Nature Explore has great resources including books and videos, and they provide workshops and work with centers to develop natural learning supportive outdoor spaces. Nature Explore also does a Leadership Institute every year and it could be a great place to find like-minded colleagues and learning opportunities.
David Sobel has written many books and articles that you could find valuable, especially
Nature preschools and Forest Kindergartens that he edited.
Claire Warden/Mindstretchers, based in Scotland is a wonderful resource person and has many books, online learning sessions and frequently facilitates and presents in the U.S.
The Natural Start Alliance would be a good source of support and information.
Redleaf has a variety of excellent books to guide your work.
Community Connects articles from Community Playthings include many excellent and relatively short articles.
"Exchange" the early childhood leaders magazine, regularly has articles related to children learning with nature as well as a regular section sharing work being done globally, and Exchange Press has many good books.
NAEYC's "Young Children" has had increasingly more articles focusing on nature rich learning, but also articles that demonstrate integration/incorporation.
Many of the articles and books of Margie Carter and Deb Curtis demonstrate ways of incorporating nature learning.
Joseph Cornell's books provide valuable guidance for being in nature with children and a recent book, The Sky and Earth Touched Me, also offers suggested experiences to help you and your colleagues connect with nature.
There is much more, but these come to mind just now.
I wish you joyful learning on your journey.
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Gerry Slater, environmental designer-educator
Design4Kids & Wisconsin Nature Action Collaborative for Children
Milwaukee WI
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Original Message:
Sent: 06-18-2019 08:44 AM
From: Amanda Mazi
Subject: Ways to Successfully Incorporate and Promote Nature Based Education
I apologize if I am doing this incorrectly. I am still getting use to this site, and I am a new member. I wanted to open a discussion about how to successfully implement a nature based program with a connection to either Creative Curriculum or Highscope. Currently, I am using the book The Nature Connection by Clare Walker Leslie, and its wonderful!
However, I would love some more suggestions and resources to properly create a nature based education.
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Amanda Mazi
Director of Early Education
Kids Academy of Sheffield Lake
Berea OH
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