September 2015

Welcome to September news from the Natural Start Alliance. If you have news you'd like to share with the early childhood environmental education community, let us know.

An Interview with Natural Start's Director

Natural Start's director, Christy Merrick, recently talked with Charles Yaple of the Coalition for Education in the Outdoors about everything from the risk of ticks to the challenges of motivating busy families to get outside. The interview appeared this month in the Coalition's Taproot journal. Read the interview.

In the News

Recent news from the Bright Ideas Blog and around the Web:

• New nature school for young kids set to open Sept. 8
• Natural Beginnings lead teacher presents at preschool conference
• Learning Comes Naturally at 'Forest School'
• Association of Zoos and Aquariums Awards 44 Nature Play Grants
• 20 Under 40: Preschool founder connects children with nature
• Kids Who Spend More Time Outside Have Lower Risk For Nearsightedness
• Lessons in the Wild: At the Cedarsong Nature School, the classroom is a forest
• Job Opportunity: Children and Nature Network
• Nature Nuts Seeks the Cure for “Nature Deficit Disorder”
• Tamarack's nature preschool expansion opens
• Classrooms replaced by the forest at a new preschool in Winnipeg

Member Spotlight

This month, meet Natasha Warner, owner and operator of Child's Play Family Childcare in Connecticut. Child's Play is home to "Child’s Play Nature Escape," which is a certified Nature Explore outdoor classroom designed to nurture not just children, but also adults. According to Natasha, "Memorable outdoor experiences were something that was lacking in my own childhood. So as an adult, I work to change my own experiences."  Read more. 

Save the Date! 2016 Nature-Based Preschool National Conference

Join us August 15-17 at Dodge Nature Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. The Twin Cities are an urban center that is teeming with nature-based learning. In addition to engaging sessions, speakers, and networking at Dodge Nature Center (home to their famed Nature Preschool), we'll also include opportunities to visit other area schools, including Tamarack Nature Center's nature preschool, and the farm-based Children's Country Day School. Learn more.