Forum Scheduled for Saturday, April 18th at UWS
Contact: Lisa Mattsson, Center for Continuing Education, (715) 394-8033
Photo Source: http://county.milwaukee.gov/EarlyChildhoodNaturePlayspace
SUPERIOR, Wis. – Today’s children spend less time outdoors than any previous generation. Nature play gives children opportunities to take risks, explore, enhance motor skills and expand on developing cognitive, social and language skills.
The University of Wisconsin-Superior’s Center for Continuing Education will focus on these issues with Nature Play in Early Childhood. This seminar will take place Saturday, April 18, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at UW-Superior’s Swenson Hall, room 3002. This workshop can be taken noncredit or for academic credit.
Incorporating nature play can improve learning, enhance engagement and foster a sense of place with children. This seminar will give participants many accessible ideas and activities to integrate nature play, indoors and outdoors, in every season, which makes it ideal for Head Start, 4K, and K-2nd grade teachers, childcare providers or anyone who works with children.
This seminar will be conducted by Becky Gamache, who has worked in early childhood for 17 years. She has a master of arts degree in early childhood education and has taught infant, toddler and preschool groups as well as parent/family education. Gamache has filled a variety of roles within the School District of Superior and has been team-teaching in an inclusive preschool classroom for more than 12 years. She also enjoys teaching evening and online early childhood courses for UW-Superior.
Topics covered during the seminar will include reflecting on classroom/program environments and using existing outdoor elements to develop nature play experience; how to develop activities for children to engage in free play, exploration and activities that connect them to nature; how to foster connections to nature that will help children become stewards of the environment; and how to use natural “loose parts” to enhance imagination and creativity.
Pricing starts at $50 for noncredit and $272.31 for credit for Wisconsin residents. To register or for more information, call 715-394-8032 or visit uwsuper.edu/cee.
