About this Nature-Based Training

As the leaves fall and the air turns crisp, we turn again to the natural world to learn, reflect, and be rejuvenated. Dive into the wonder of the shifting seasons through our Outdoor Teacher Retreat, hosted by Poconos Plateau! This special event brings together experts in the field of nature-based early learning to share ideas and practices with a variety of hands-on sessions to choose from. 

Pending Pennsylvania State Continuing Education clock hours. ANBE will provide a professional development certificate at the conclusion of the event. Please dress for the weather, as most of this training takes place outdoors, rain or shine. Coffee/tea with lite breakfast and lunch is included, but remember your canteen for drinks throughout the day. 

Note: We strive for zero waste during our events; please bring your canteen for drinks.

Who Should Attend?
This training is ideal for educators, caregivers, and others working with young children ages 2 to 8. Our participants work in all kinds of settings, from nature-based schools and forest kindergartens to public schools, traditional preschools, HeadStart programs, child care settings, and more.

Workshop Descriptions

This retreat is packed with topics you will love! You can look forward to engaging, immersive sessions on the topics you need to learn, play, and explore with children outside. This retreat will include the following workshops:

Edible and Medicinal Plant Walk
with Heather Houskeeper The Botanical Hiker

Discover the wild plants that inhabit our landscape. Learn how to identify, ethically harvest, and weave these plants into herbal teas, meals and home remedies. Many are easy to recognize, safe to work with, and inhabit your favorite trails, backyards, and even urban areas. Heather will share her tips and tricks from more than fifteen years of working with wild edible and medicinal plants. Our walk will be easy in nature with many stops to meet and discuss the plants.

Keeping Nature Connection Alive...in the Cold, Cold Winter
with Emily Woodmansee of Bluestone Village

The outdoor classroom can be fun, engaging, and full of learning all year round - even in the coldest months! Using the adaptable grey squirrel as our guide, we'll explore ways to be playful and safe outside in the winter. You'll leave this workshop with new games to play, activity and safety ideas to bring back to your classroom, and feeling invigorated to take on the cold!

Tracking and Shelter Building
with Carmen O'Shea
**Description coming soon!

Forest Bathing
with Grayson Barnes

While many of us might take a walk through the woods, we often do so with a goal in mind – to get to the top of the ridge, find a spot for a picnic, or maybe see some wildlife or seasonal color. Often this happens while we are strolling along, talking to our friends or chewing on a power bar. But have you ever walked into a forest to simply be PRESENT in that space in that moment? This session is designed to help you do just that. You will learn centering techniques, health benefits of spending time in the forest, how to incorporate the forest bathing experience into “big picture” life discussions, and useful pre- and post-activity journaling prompts. Afterwards, we will discuss ways to tailor these activities for groups of any age.   

LODGING OPTIONS

The following location is recommended for lodging should you be travelling from outside the area: 

Comfort Inn & Suites Mount Pocono,

3189 Rte. 940, Mt. Pocono, PA (25 minutes away)

Have questions? Email us at programs@anbe.org. Please note that all participants are required to complete this waiver during registration. Our refund policies are found here as well.