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• Outdoor Teachers Read Series

  • Start
    Monday, September 29, 2025
  •  
  • End
    Monday, December 08, 2025
  •  
  • Schedule
    4 sessions
  • Location
    Online!

  Register

  
  This four-part series features authors of Nature-Based Books to bring into your classroom! Each week meet a new author, experience their book read aloud, discuss themes and content, and hear how it can be used for activities within the classroom. Attend live and you will be apart of a drawing to win a free copy of the book featured that week! The book talks will meet on September 29th, October 27th, November 17th, and December 1st. Read on for detailed descriptions of each session! 

  A four (4) clock-hour certificate of completion will be issued at the conclusion of the course to any participants who attend all three sessions live. Check with your department of education to confirm if this course can be used toward continuing education hours in your state! 

  SESSION DESCRIPTIONS

  PAST SESSION: “I Love Nature School!” with Kyla Saphir

  Monday, September 29th from 7-8 PM (EST) [1hr]

  The shelves are full of "Back to School" books that take place in a traditional brick-and-mortar classroom, but what do you read to help transition your child into the new school year when their classroom is the great outdoors? Enter nature-educator and author, Kyla Saphir, with her book "I Love Nature School!" to provide a solution to this exact dilemma!

  Join us for this webinar in which you will enjoy an exclusive interview with the author about how her experience as a nature educator inspired the book, get practical advice for helping children navigate start of the school year jitters, hear a read-aloud of "I Love Nature School!", engage in an open Q&A, and even have the opportunity to win a free*, signed copy of "I Love Nature School" for your own home or classroom library!

  PAST SESSION: “Me and My Sit Spot” with Lauren MacLean

  Monday, October 27th from 7-8 PM (EST) [1hr]
  

  Join author and educator Lauren MacLean for an engaging online webinar: Me and My Sit Spot. In this author talk, Lauren will read her book and share the story behind it, highlighting the importance of Sit Spots in fostering self-regulation, inclusion, and social-emotional learning. She’ll offer practical strategies for introducing and scaffolding Sit Spots in the classroom, with a focus on comfort, respect, and accessibility for all learners. The session will also explore how to weave curriculum connections and nature journaling into outdoor routines, helping students build deeper relationships with nature and with themselves.

  PAST SESSION: "Seeing Ourselves in Nature" with Jessica Fong 

  Monday, November 17th from 7PM - 8PM (EST) [1hr]

  Participants will learn about the newly published book, Seeing Ourselves in Nature: Stories from Educators and Children of Indigenous, Black and Other People of the Global Majority. Three authors of the book will share their chapters. Participants will learn how to use the book for professional development for themselves or their teaching teams.

  In Seeing Ourselves in Nature, editor Jessica Fong asks how Black and Brown educators in the United States create space for predominantly Black and Brown children and families to reconnect to nature. Recognizing the scarcity of stories from people of the global majority in the predominately white literature surrounding nature education in the United States, Fong sought out thirteen other educators of color to share their rich and profound experiences with young children in nature. Sharing these stories is a first step in the long road to making nature education equitable for all children.

  Featuring chapters by:

  • Ashley Brailsford, Nashville, TN
  • Kameeka Shirley, Dade City, FL
  • Lotus Chaney, Atlanta, GA
  • Ron Grady, New Orleans, LA
  • Vanessa Miot, Atlanta, GA
  • Alicia Garcia, Hillsborough, FL
  • Pilar Carmina Gonzalez, Los Angeles, CA
  • Ranita Anderson Dawkins, Durham, NC
  • Courtney Newby, Seekonk, MA
  • Deja L. Jones, Newark, NJ
  • Suzette Salmon, Chicago, IL
  • Jasmin Field, Edgewood, MD
  • Jessica Fong, Chicago, IL
  • Flor Villanueva-Winter, Chicago, IL

  
  

  “Inside of Me” with Jen Comeau

  Monday, December 8th from 7-8 PM (EST) [1 hr]

  Jennifer Comeau leads an interactive presentation that highlights the awe, wonder, and mental health magic that happen on the inside when we go outside. Incorporating a shared song with the lyrics from "The Inside of ME" and story-reading, participants then learn how to use this book in the classroom, and ways to present the important concepts of Exploring and Watching (The Explorer, The Observer) -- how both are important when connecting with the rest of the natural world (we are nature too) and the character traits required for each.

  
  

  WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
  This course is ideal for anyone who facilitates nature-based education and outdoor learning, which may include: teachers and administrators in preschool, childcare, or elementary school settings; naturalists, environmental educators, or outdoor educators; wilderness survival enthusiasts; and parents.

  MEET YOUR PRESENTERS

  
  

  Author of "I Love Nature School!" Kyla Saphir

  Kyla Saphir is an avid nature lover, early childhood educator, yoga instructor, and postpartum doula. This is her second children’s book after On Brighter Days. She lives with her husband, daughter, and their crazy dog in Milwaukee, WI. When not busy writing children’s books, Kyla loves to travel the world with her family, ride her bike, and splash in Lake Michigan.

  
  

  
  

  Author of "Me and My Sit Spot" - Lauren MacLean

  Lauren MacLean is a primary teacher, author, and outdoor learning consultant. Her books—Me and My Sit Spot, Finding Common Ground, Risky Play Gone Away, and Sitting With Nature—celebrate curiosity, inclusion, and play in nature. She hosts the Teach Outdoors podcast, sharing practical tips and ideas to help educators take learning outside, build confidence, and inspire connection, wonder, and stewardship in children and adults.

  
  

  
  

  Project Lead for "Seeing Ourselves in Nature" - Jessica Fong

  Jessica began teaching in Guatemala in 2007 and later focused on nature-based learning and dual language education in Chicago to support underserved communities. She taught in Chicago Public Schools and earned fellowships to study how nature play impacts young children’s language development. Jessica serves on multiple boards, including the City of Chicago Native and Pollinator Garden Registry and NeighborSpace, and leads the McKinley Community Play Garden steering committee. She holds two master’s degrees and is pursuing a doctorate in Educational Sustainability at the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point.

  
  

  
  

  Author of "Inside of Me" - Jennifer Comeau

  Jennifer Comeau inspires humans to restore our sacred partnership with the rest of the natural world. Her Nautilus Gold-winning children’s book, “The Inside of ME” is a profound reminder of the magic that happens on the inside when we go outside. Her debut novel, A Moon in All Things, has been called “atmospheric and beguiling” by Kirkus Reviews, and her poems and essays are published in four anthologies. She has produced two albums of original music available on all streaming platforms. This former engineer now partners with OzGREEN, an award-winning non-profit bringing YOUth LEADing The World programs to Australia, Africa, and India. She resides in Kennebunkport, Maine, where she holds climate buoyancy workshops, hosts sacred circles, and runs a Wild Wonder Forest Bathing business.

  
  

  *If you are unable to make a session, don't worry! We will record each session to share with all registered individuals. 

  Show details
• Creating Your Forest or Nature School

  • Start
    Thursday, November 06, 2025
  •  
  • End
    Thursday, February 05, 2026
  •  
  • Schedule
    4 sessions
  • Location
    Online!

  Register

  
  If you are starting a new forest or nature-based program (including outdoor preschool, childcare and homeschool classes), this intensive 12-clock hour course can help you get started! We address a range of topics including:

  • Honing your vision, mission, and educational philosophy
  • Establishing program basics like daily rhythm, class sizes, schedules
  • Business planning/determining a business structure
  • Locations and partners 
  • Licensing considerations
  • How to set tuition, compensate staff, and create a program budget
  • Policies and practices for your parent handbook
  • Creating greater diversity, equity, and inclusion in your program
  • Safety and risk management, including liability insurance needs
  • Finding and hiring great staff
  • Marketing your program
  • Evaluation

  The format of this interactive course is a combination of facilitated discussion, small group work among participants, and asynchronous independent learning experiences. We provide many templates and resources to help you develop an authentic, placed-base approach to your program. As you might imagine, this is an intense course because we cover so much ground in a short span of time! Be sure to plan time between our sessions to reflect on what we discuss. Please note this is not a prerecorded, on-demand course. It is interactive so we can learn together! 

  Upon registration, we will provide you with a complete list of materials needed for the course. Are you ready to take the leap?

  SCHEDULE
  Online meeting includes facilitated discussion and topics during four consecutive Thursdays from 7-9 p.m. (EST), followed by self-directed reading/planning for at least one (1) hour between class meetings. This means you will engage in 12 clock hours of training during the course.  A professional development certificate is included following successful course completion.

  WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
  This course is ideal for anyone establishing a nature-based program, which could be in the form of outdoor preschool, forest school, child care, home school, or afterschool model. Whether your program is in a rural or urban setting, we offer essential information so you can get right to it! Feel free to reach out to Monica with questions.

  MEET YOUR COURSE FACILITATOR!

  
  

  Monica Wiedel-Lubinski, Executive Director of ANBE

  Founder/cofounder of three nature preschool programs in Maryland and consultant to countless others starting forest and nature schools in the U.S. and abroad, Monica brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to help you jump-start your own nature-based program! She is the coauthor of award-winning Nature Play Workshop for Families (Quarto, 2020) and recently released Nature-Based Early Childhood Education (NAEYC, 2025). Monica earned a Bachelor’s degree in Art Educ. (K-12) and Master’s degree in Early Childhood Ed. from Towson University, Baltimore, MD and completed year-long graduate fellowship with UMBC/UMASS in 2024. Monica is deeply engaged in the Outdoor Preschool Licensing pilot, enacted in 2023 in Maryland as she advocates for more equitable access to nature-based education. She is a wife and mother of two and enjoys spending time in nature with her family. 
  

  Show details
• Nature-Based Teacher Certification: Level III

  • Start
    Monday, December 01, 2025
  •  
  • End
    Sunday, August 02, 2026
  • Schedule
    10 sessions
  • Location
    Monthly Online + In-person (July 31st - Aug. 2nd)

  Register

  

  If you've made it this far, congratulations for progressing to the capstone Level III Nature-Based Teacher Certification course! This registration is for a hybrid course with monthly online learning (December 2025 - June 2026) followed by a culminating long weekend of training and celebration (Friday July 31st to Sun., August 2nd, 2026).

  Our 36-hour capstone course combines deepening nature connection with a well-rounded approach to nature-based education, advocacy, and leadership. Offered as a hybrid course, the format includes online meetings with both live and self-directed time and field assignments that you will complete in your school or program setting. An in-person gathering is held to further learning, sharing, and celebration as a community.

  Time commitment for the capstone course is 36 clock hours, plus time required to complete field assignments. Prerequisites: Attendees must complete levels 1 & 2 prior to taking level 3; see web for complete description.

  Course Description:
  The capstone level of the certification combines deepening nature connection with a well-rounded approach to nature-based education, advocacy, and leadership. The hybrid course format includes online meetings with both live and self-directed time and a professional practicum that you will complete in your school or program setting. The in-person gathering includes further learning and sharing as a community. The time commitment for the capstone course is 36 clock hours, plus time required to complete the practicum.

  Topics of Study:

  Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in NBE: How can nature-based programs provide greater access to nature-based education? How can programs increase advocacy and inclusion efforts to support greater access to programs? Discover real life approaches to DEI and consider how to authentically work toward your own DEI policies and daily practices.

  Mentoring & Reflective Teaching Practices: We know that the most effective teachers reflect on children’s needs and development in highly individualized ways. Likewise, we will consider how to reflect on our own interactions with children, families, colleagues, and the natural world to maintain a positive growth mindset necessary to thrive as a nature-based teacher. We will also consider the role of utilizing (and being) mentors in our teaching journey.

  Financial Planning: Creating, or even just understanding, a program budget need not be complicated! Thoughtful budgets help ensure accessibility to your program with financial assistance and extra gear considerations, but that is only the start. Beyond basic supplies, family events, and guest presenters there are other considerations around liability insurance, gifts for teachers, and a contingency should you need to bring in support staff. These are the tip of the iceberg! Teacher pay is directly related to income and expenses, so this insight is useful whether you are currently a teacher or administrator. This session will examine items to consider in a program budget and get you thinking about how to help fundraise, advocate, and better support your program.  fair teacher pay

  Assessing Your Program: One of the best ways we can improve the quality of what we offer to our learning communities is to actively engage in program assessment. This session explores several approaches to program assessment and helps you hone in on the values and attributes you most want to evaluate as part of the process. 

  Spirituality and Human-Nature Connection: One of the reasons families value a nature-based education is because wonder, awe, and curiosity are central to this approach to learning. Together we examine how these attributes support spirituality and help instill a deeper sense of connectedness to the natural world.  

  Naturalist Knowledge: Nature’s wonders are intricate and complex - we can spend a lifetime discovering them! Integral to our work as nature-based teachers, we will continue to explore the land, building on our naturalist knowledge of local habitats, wildlife, and possible risks to mitigate during outdoor learning. For our in-person gathering, we will incorporate hands-on earth skills as we continue to develop personal nature connection in community as a cohort of teachers.

  Show details
• Winter Solstice Outdoor Teacher Retreat

  • When
    Saturday, December 06, 2025
  •  
    8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
  • Location
    Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, MD

  Register

  
  

  Winter is on the way - how will you celebrate the season? Join us for a special retreat that focuses on ways to explore nature in winter. This retreat 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. 

  
  

  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. 

  
  

  **Approved for 6 MSDE Clock Hours!**

  Certificate will be awarded upon completion of content assessment. 

  
  

  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 children in programs that prioritize nature-based experiences. 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

  
  

  Winter Forest Bathing

  with Dhruv Veda of Forest Harmony

  Intentionally spending mindful time in nature can help heal relationships with ourselves, our community, and our more-than-human world. Dhruv Veda will lead participants in a forest bathing walk to connect to the restorative effects of nature, supporting mental clarity, emotional resilience, and overall well-being.

  
  

  The Solstice Spark: A Teacher's Guide to Winter Fire-Craft

  with Joshuah Emery of Roots and Wings

  Gather around the fire as we kindle our curiosity and learn to build a warm, crackling flame, even in the heart of winter. This hands-on workshop is designed to build your confidence in safely and joyfully bringing the gift of fire to your students. We'll explore the woods for "5-star" tinder, practice ancient, reliable ways to build a fire on snow or frozen ground and master a child-centered framework for safety and respect. You're invited to spark new ideas and gain the skills to make fire a powerful tool for warmth, community, and connection in your winter programs.

  
  

  Astronomy for Young Children 

  with Spencer Kessinger of Robinson Nature Center

  Gaze up at the Planetarium for an “out of this world” experience! Participants will discover stargazing activities and other unearthly ways to teach children about the science of planets, constellations, phases of the moon and other otherworldly delights.

  
  

  Candle Dipping

  with Julie Biedrzycki of Ancestral Knowledge

  Making candles from scratch is a time tested and fascinating process that requires patience, focus, and care. Participants will create hand-dipped wax candles to take home with them, and learn how to conduct the same activity in a fun and safe fashion with small children!

  
  

  Winter Woodland Tea Time

  with Julie Biedrzycki and Monica Wiedel-Lubinski

  Cozy up by the fire, share your favorite wild tea recipes, and connect with other nature-based educators to close out the day! In keeping with Solstice traditions, we’ll wild-craft our own Yule Log to take home and celebrate the return of the light.

  
  

  
  

  Meet Your Presenters!

  
  

  
  

  Dhruv Veda - Founder and Forest Bathing Guide at Forest Harmony

  Dhruv Veda is the founder of Forest Harmony, a youth-led initiative promoting mental well-being through nature-based programs such as forest bathing, birding walks, and community workshops. Inspired by scientific research on nature’s impact on stress and anxiety, he has led events across Maryland for veterans, seniors, and underserved populations. His work has earned recognition from the Maryland Senate, Ben Carson Foundation, Congressional Medal and partnerships with organizations like the American Legion, the VFW and the Howard County Conservancy. Dhruv has also presented his efforts at seminars at Howard County 50+ centers, blending research with community service. He hopes to continue expanding Forest Harmony as a bridge between science, service, and healing.

  
  

  
  

  Joshuah Emery - Community Ecology Institute, Roots & Wings Program Manager

  We are delighted to welcome Joshuah Emery, an educator who believes deeply in the power of hands-on, memorable learning. He is a U.S. Navy Veteran, former USFWS Ranger and has led local nature-based camps with organizations like Ancestral Knowledge, Appalachian Expeditions (APEX), Calleva, and Bretton Woods, and now serves as the Manager for Roots & Wing at the Community Ecology Institute. Joshuah holds a Master's in Experiential and Outdoor Education and loves to share his passion for fostering a deep, meaningful connection with the earth. He is excited to gather with our community and kindle this spark of curiosity with all of you.

  
  

  

  Julie Biedryzcki - Ancestral Knowledge

  Julie is a former teacher, currently raising and homeschooling her 4 young children. As a student of Environmental Science and Policy at the University of Maryland College Park, Julie ran educational support programs in local public elementary schools, which inspired her to stay involved with youth and her community ever since. In the education field for over 20 years, she has taught ages 3-adult in all variety of programs and venues, from public to private schools, from classrooms to National Parks.

  
  

  

  Spencer Kessinger - Early Childhood Program Coordinator at Robinson Nature Center

  Spencer was born and raised on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, where she spent her childhood playing outside and developed a passion for teaching in and about nature. This passion led Spencer to pursue a degree in Environmental Studies, with minors in Education and Biology, from St. Mary's College of Maryland. Spencer joined Robinson Nature Center in 2021, first working with the Early Childhood Programming as an educator, and now as the Program Coordinator. The Early Childhood Programming at Robinson Nature Center is dedicated to harness the inquiry, excitement and desire to learn, found during early childhood through engaging nature-based learning experiences, activities, and outdoor, emergent-based play.

  
  

  

  Monica Wiedel-Lubinski - ANBE Executive Director

  Monica has pursued her love of nature-based education for nearly three decades. She is the founding director of the Association for Nature-Based Education (ANBE), a nonprofit that offers professional development and community-based programs to cultivate equitable access to nature-based education. As founder/cofounder of three forest and nature preschools in Maryland, and a consultant to countless others, she is grateful to help people nurture relationships with the natural world as an essential aspect of how we approach education. As an author, she shares the benefits of nature-based learning through various publications including an award-winning book, Nature Play Workshop for Families: A Guide to 40+ Outdoor Learning Experiences in All Seasons, coauthored by Karen Madigan (Quarto Press, 2020). This fall, she published Nature-Based Early Childhood Education to provide evidence-based guidance to help educators make deeper connections with children and nature (NAEYC, 2025). As a advocate for outdoor preschool, she helped spearhead the house bill to establish an outdoor preschool licensing pilot in Maryland and is the co-chair the Advisory Stakeholders Group. She was also appointed to Governor Moore's Committee for Outdoor Learning Partnerships where she impacts policy on the state level. She also serves as a representative in the Superintendent's Stakeholders Committee for Baltimore County Public Schools where she lives. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Art Education and a master's degree in Early Childhood Education from Towson University. Monica recently completed a fellowship at UMBC in the Maryland Early Childhood Leadership Program (MECLP), in partnership with the Shriver Center at UMASS in 2024. She looks forward to years of advocacy to come, at the local, state, and national levels.

  Show details
• Welcoming Winter!

  • When
    Wednesday, December 10, 2025
  •  
    6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
  • Location
    Online!

  Register

  
  

  WEBINAR DESCRIPTION

  Celebrating the cycles of nature helps us synchronize ourselves with our nature neighborhoods. As we approach the longest nights of the year in the northern hemisphere, we'll pause to slow down and welcome Winter together. Join ANBE members and friends and embrace nature's annual invitation to turn inward, allowing ourselves to be guided by eco-connection mentors Honey Sweet Harmony through shared moments of quiet, rest, reflection, and regeneration during this online gathering.

  With activities that help us feel Winter's energy - including songs particularly suited to multigenerational, community-style singing - participants will draw inspiration from this gathering to design activities for your own household, community, and educational programs.

  These seasonal gatherings are highly experiential. In order to create a more conducive environment for deep sharing and interactive participation, this event will not be recorded. Please plan to join us live. 

  Practicing diversity, equity, and inclusion, these online gatherings are designed for maximal accessibility. If you need to eat, drink, move/stretch physically, take a break from looking at the digital screen and just listen, have a youngster of your household present with you, or other forms of flexibility that will make live attendance possible, please know those are supported. Reach out to programs@anbe.org if you have any questions.

  To prepare for participation you are invited to bring the following: a candle & matches; a journal/notebook/sketchbook & pencils (regular and colored);

  a ‘nature ally or allies’ that feel/s right to you personally for this winter celebration - eg. stone, leaf, stick, bone, nut, moss, bark, berries, etc.

  • To find your nature ally/allies, you might try a practice of asking ‘do you want to come to the fall gathering? Listen for a yes/no. Then offer a little gratitude to the source of your nature ally - words, a song, a pinch of cornmeal…whatever feels right.  This process can be modeled for those you teach/mentor, too.

  A bundle of gifts to inspire your own Wintry activities will be emailed to all who register. 

  A certificate of completion will be provided upon request to those who attend the complete event live.

  While there is no charge to attend, donations for this event help ANBE continue to offer high quality, accessible programs for everyone. 

  
  

  WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

  This online gathering is designed for everyone who guides nature-based education and outdoor learning, which may include: teachers, administrators and board members of schools and childcare providers; parents, grandparents, aunties, uncles, Big Sisters/Brothers/Siblings; naturalists; environmental educators; outdoor educators; wilderness survival enthusiasts; ancestral skills & nature connection mentors; community story, song, and movement/dance leaders; permaculturists, and more!

  
  

  MEET YOUR GUIDES

  
  

  Honey Sweet Harmony is an interspecies creativity-catalyzing mentorship constellation. The human spokesperson McCadden collaborates with helpers of many species. Together kin* are committed to remembering regenerative cultural patterns, and have decades of experience with all ages from toddlers to seniors as deep nature connection mentors and ancestral skills facilitators specializing in stories, music, and movement, eco-spiritual healing arts, ceremony facilitation, and grief / peace tending. For 25 years kin have taught experiential enrichment programs in a diverse range of public and private schools, camps, community centers, spiritual-based and nature-based organizations. Kin have served as facilitators for ANBE webinars and in-person workshops, Village Talk (a weekly phone conference for adults committed to mentoring deep nature connection), Community Song Circles and Story Circles, Ancestor Suppers, solar and lunar phase ceremonies, and many more forms of multigenerational community events inspired by nature’s rhythms. Kin also offer private mentoring and eco-healing sessions for individuals, families, and organizations. You'll find seasonal Song Groves and activity ideas that kin have cultivated for ANBE in our Blog archives.

  (*these nature-kinship pronouns, ki/singular like s/he, kin/plural like they/them, come from Robin Wall Kimmerer, author of Braiding Sweetgrass, The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World, and Gathering Moss)

  [Need Graphic]

  WEBINAR DESCRIPTION

  Cool winds encourage the first leaves ready to drift down to earth, creature teachers start to gather in their tasty harvests to last through the cold season...

  Celebrating the cycles of nature helps us synchronize ourselves with our nature neighborhoods. Join eco-connection mentors Honey Sweet Harmony to honor the coming of Autumn! Participants will be guided through activities that help us feel Autumn's energy - including songs particularly suited to multigenerational, community-style singing. You can then draw inspiration from your participation in this gathering to design activities for your own household, community, and educational programs.

  These seasonal gatherings are highly experiential. With a focus on interactions among attendees, we will not be recording.  

  Practicing diversity, equity, and inclusion, these online gatherings are designed for maximal accessibility. If you need to eat, drink, move/stretch physically, take a break from looking at the digital screen and just listen, have a youngster of your household present with you, or other forms of flexibility that will make live attendance possible, please know those are supported. Reach out to programs@anbe.org if you have any questions.

  A bundle of gifts to inspire your own Autumnal activity designs will be emailed to all who register. 

  A certificate of completion will be provided upon request to those who attend the complete event live.

  While there is no charge to attend, donations for this event help ANBE continue to offer high quality, accessible programs for everyone. 

  Show details
• Monthly Member Connection Call - December

  • When
    Wednesday, December 10, 2025
  •  
    7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Location
    Online!

  Register

  
  

  EVENT DESCRIPTION

  Cozy up at home and connect online with other nature-based educators all over the world! Register today to let us know what's on your mind, then join us live to hear from your fellow teachers, homeschool parents, naturalists and more!

  
  

  This monthly 1-hour Zoom call is included with ANBE membership of all levels. The schedule for the session is as follows: 

  
  

  • Welcome! Opening with a beat of gratitude
  • Reflection/discussion questions on topics curated by our community
  • Break out rooms with time to discuss
  • Closing with a song you can use with your students!
  • Heads-up on upcoming ANBE events to best support your professional practices

  
  

  Settle in for a rejuvenating time to pause, reflect, connect, and be inspired. 

  
  

  **Discussion calls will not be recorded, live attendance is required for this interactive experience**

  
  

  MEET YOUR HOST!

  

  Kirsten Mize (she/her), ANBE Program Coordinator

  Goucher College graduate, Kirsten Mize, is delighted to serve the ANBE community as Program Coordinator, curating high-quality training for nature-based educators of all different walks. With a Masters in Education (Focus: At-Risk and Diverse Students) and a Bachelors in Music (Focus: Vocal Performance), Kirsten brings over a decade of diverse teaching experience and pedagogical knowledge to ANBE. She has always had a deep connection with nature and believes strongly in holistic teaching methods, the power of play, and cultivating wonder. When she is not at ANBE, Kirsten works as a voice actor independently from her home studio in Baltimore, Maryland and has lent her voice to musicals, operas, stage plays, podcasts, video games, and radio plays. She also works as a music teacher at The Music Space in Towson, Maryland running a program for infants to 5 year-olds and their caregivers called "Little Rockers". But probably her most important job is that of mother to one sweet little boy who has inherited his mother's love for music and the outdoors. 

  Show details
• Winter Nature-Based Teacher Certification (online)

  • Start
    Tuesday, January 13, 2026
  •  
    7:00 PM
  • End
    Thursday, February 19, 2026
  •  
    9:00 PM
  • Location
    Online!

  Register

  

  We are thrilled to offer our Nature-Based Teacher Certification as an online option! You will gain a deeper understanding of nature pedagogy and practices as you earn this introductory credential. To date, we have certified more than one thousand teachers from all 50 states and 25 countries, each gaining strategies and tools for unique nature-based settings. Now it's your turn!

  Our 36-hour course provides in-depth study of best practices in nature-based early childhood education to prepare you for meaningful outdoor learning experiences. We draw from experienced educators with diverse perspectives to help you hone your own approaches to nature-based ECE. Whether you are in a formal school or childcare setting or working in a nature or forest preschool, this course is designed to meet the needs of early childhood educators working in any setting. 
  
  SCHEDULE
  

  Tuesdays/Thursdays: Facilitated discussions on key topics
  Wednesdays: Cohort meetings and/or Guest Presenters

  Course meets live from 4PM - 6PM (PST)/ 6PM - 8PM (CST)/ 7PM - 9PM (EST) on Tuesdays and Thursdays with additional time built in for on-demand content. Wednesdays are reserved for guest presenters and group meeting support. There are a total of six consecutive weeks of online sessions with presenters and within small cohorts. Additional clock hours include a variety of presenters and one-on-one Mentor Meetings. Flexible, self-directed learning will take place centered on outdoor skills and experiences, which you must provide documentation of.  Upon registration, we will provide you with a complete list of materials needed for the course.

  We are delighted to share this course with our international friends and those who cannot travel for training at this time. Please take a look at this FAQ page and feel free to email programs@anbe.org with questions!

  Show details
• Winter Nature-Based Teacher Certification: Level II (online)

  • Start
    Tuesday, January 20, 2026
  •  
    7:00 PM
  • End
    Thursday, February 26, 2026
  •  
    9:00 PM
  • Location
    Online!

  Register

  
  

  We are thrilled to offer our Nature-Based Teacher Certification - Level II as an online option! You will further your knowledge and application of nature pedagogy as you earn this intermediate credential, building off of skills and practices you learned in Level 1. (Note: You must successfully complete our Nature-Based Teacher Certification Level 1 before you can register for Level 2.)

  Our 36-hour course provides in-depth study of best practices in nature-based early childhood education to prepare you for meaningful outdoor learning experiences. We draw from experienced educators with diverse perspectives to help you hone your own approaches to nature-based early childhood education. Whether you are in a formal school or childcare setting or working in a nature or forest preschool, this course is designed to meet the needs of nature-based educators working in any setting. 
  
  SCHEDULE
  Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays: 4PM - 6PM (PST)/ 6PM - 8PM (CST)/ 7PM - 9PM (EST) 

  There are a total of six consecutive weeks of online sessions with a mixture of live lectures and skills workshops, full class discussion, guest presenters and small cohort meetings. 

  Flexible, self-directed learning will take place centered on outdoor skills and experiences, which you must provide documentation of. Upon registration, we will provide you with a complete list of materials needed for the course.

  We are delighted to share this course with our international friends and those who cannot travel for training at this time. Please take a look at this FAQ page and feel free to email programs@anbe.org with questions!

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• Night for Nature: An Evening In Bloom

  • When
    Friday, March 27, 2026
  •  
    6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
  • Location
    Boordy Vineyards, Hydes, MD

  Register

  
  
  Join us at Night For Nature: An Evening in Bloom. Held at local vintner Boordy Vineyards just outside Baltimore, MD, this festive evening includes live music, bespoke foraged fare, and opportunities for giving in support of nature-based education. 

  This is a dressy casual event. Bring a friend to celebrate and savor this springtime benefit for the Association for Nature-Based Education (ANBE). 

  Night for Nature highlights:

  • Delicious seasonal fare from Brookside Market
  • Selection of tasty Boordy wines
  • Foraged food and non-alcoholic drink tastings 
  • Live music by favorite local musicians
  • Mission moments with hands-on nature experiences
  • Interactive giving opportunities from our Giving Tree

  How does my ticket support ANBE's mission?
  

  • Supports nature-based professional development including free teacher training and networking opportunities, practical tools and resources, and scholarship aid. Our vital professional development allows teachers to share the benefits of nature-based education with thousands of children each year. Your support helps make training accessible to teachers across the nation and around the world.
    
    
  • Supports Notchcliff Nature Programs in the greater Baltimore region which provides immersive nature-based learning and play in partnership with a retirement community. Notchcliff is our 'lab forest school' serving children, families, and senior citizens, as well as teachers who visit for training. Your support helps provide financial aid to families in need and develop the outdoor classrooms, gardens, and nature play spaces at Notchcliff.
    
    
  • Funds Outdoor Learning Programs in Baltimore for nearly 175 K-1st graders at a Title 1 elementary school and Seedlings caregiver/child outdoor playgroups at local Judy Centers in underserved communities.
    
    
  • Supports advocacy efforts to increase access to nature-based education. ANBE is a leading advocate in Maryland providing resources and support to the Maryland State Department of Education (and participating providers) engaged in the Outdoor Preschool Licensing Pilot. We also offer leadership through the Outdoor Learning Partnership at the State level and through advocacy efforts with partners across the U.S.
    
    

  We are grateful to the following Sponsors:
  
  
  

  
  

  Charm City Run Foundation
  Sierra Club of Greater Baltimore
  Family Time Pediatrics
  Charm City Screen Print 

  We are grateful for these In Kind Donations:
  

  Baltimore Orioles
  Watermark (Baltimore Sunset Cruises)
  Folkmantis Puppets
  Oakiwear
  Patagonia Baltimore
  Union Craft Brewing
  Wie Chic Boutique

  We can't wait to see you at Night for Nature!

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