C&NN 2019 International Conference

Designed to inspire your head and engage your heart, this experiential workshop will share research evidence for the benefits of nature play for children in their schools and homes. Participants will also be offered tools to create opportunities for nature play in schools, communities, and families. Join us to live out the research findings and learn more ways to play in nature with children. We will present practical findings from PEER Associates’ literature review on the benefits of nature play and three case studies of public schools’ Forest Days, including clips from the new short film "The Best Day Ever: Forest Days in Vermont Kindergartens." Turning our attention from the evidence to the “how to," we’ll highlight strategies from a new handbook on designing outdoor days in public schools and learn and practice playful and nurturing activities to use with children and families.   Participants will be invited to engage in activities to promote playful and relationship-based connections to the natural world for typically developing children and for children struggling with emotional and behavioral challenges, with a special call to ensure that all children, schools, and communities have access to the benefits of nature play. This workshop will provide resources and activities to help promote healing and build relationships in children’s school and home lives through nurturing play with and in nature. Time for questions and sharing is planned and copies of PEER's lit review, case studies, and resource lists from the presenters will be available to workshop participants.