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 Flourish Nature School! 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 New Jersey 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

Breath Vitality

with Jen Lewin of Flourish Nature

Discover and share simple breath practices to support regulation, focus and connection in the classroom. This interactive workshop offers moments for reflection, discussion, and tools you can use with your students and beyond.

Foraging and Medicinal Wander

with Andrew Lovering of Wild Serenity Walks

To educate on and connect with the land of Flourish Nature School. Recognizing the edible and medicinal properties of the plants and mushrooms we observe while wandering the property.

An Artful Pause

with Bryanna Waldron of The Windy Forest

This workshop is an invitation to pause. Together we’ll gather what calls to us from the land and let it guide us into ephemeral works of wild art. In silence and in circle, we’ll create, reflect, and gently weave our small group pieces into one collective whole. Along the way, forms may quietly emerge such as spirals, fairy dwellings, or woodland creatures shaped by imagination and the materials at hand. This session offers teachers a chance to rest, reconnect with themselves, and carry home a renewed sense of calm and kinship with the land.

Wet Felting

with Melissa Sheppard of Starchild Nature School

**Description Coming Soon!

Meet Your Presenters!

Jen Lewin (she/her) - Director and Lead Teacher at Flourish Nature School

Jen is the visionary, director and lead teacher at Flourish Nature School. Her personal journey with breath led her to complete a 200-hour yoga teacher training designed for educators, with a social emotional learning facilitator certification. She is passionate about taking mindful moments throughout the day with children, and she can't wait to share her "why" with you!

Andrew Lovering (he/him) - Tour Guide and Owner of Wild Serenity Walks

Andrew Lovering is an outdoor educator and professional forager. After gaining a degree in Environmental Science and Geology from Kutztown University he taught outdoor education for summer camps and outdoor programs in NJ, CT, and CA before returning to NJ and eventually starting his own business, Wild Serenity Walks, taking people on educational mushroom hikes, plant hikes, night hikes, child friendly hikes and soon mindful walking events.

Bryanna Waldron (she/her) - Nature-Based Educator at The Windy Forest

Bryanna is a mother, artist, and naturalist who never turns down the chance to bake a sweet treat, climb a tree, or lay in a stream. She carries a playful spirit into all she does, moving through the world with curiosity and care. As a Level 3 Certified Nature-Based Educator through ANBE and a newly certified herbalist, she delights in guiding others to slow down, notice the smallest details, and find joy in kinship with the earth. Her workshops and gatherings often weave together art, story, and unstructured play, creating space for both silliness and reverence. A lifelong learner at heart, she remains in awe of the everyday magic that surrounds us.