Restorative Power of Nature

Incorporating nature-based activities, outdoor learning, and environmental education into the curriculum can enrich the educational experience and contribute to the overall development and well-being of students. It helps create a more holistic, engaging, and supportive learning environment that nurtures both academic achievement and personal growth.

During the course:

• Dive into Social-Emotional Learning through an outdoor environmental education lens
• Learn how to optimize our location for engaging in nature-based experiences 
• Explore how UDL framework supports the CASEL 5 competencies of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making
• Investigate learning experiences that nurture individual success and well-being, as well as interpersonal relationships and environmental connections 
• Collaborate with practitioners and create actionable next steps for application/facilitation of environmental education learning experiences grounded in UDL principles

Nature experiences can be a catalyst for improved physical and mental health, improved mood, and can even help reduce stress. Join us for an exciting exploration of the restorative benefits of nature, and learn how you can create these types of experiences for your students in your own places and spaces. We will explore ways to deepen connections to both nature and the self through learning and reflective activities. By applying Universal Design for Learning and the CASEL framework, participants learn how to design learning experiences that support student well-being, personal discovery, and an appreciation for the natural world.

Upon completion of the course you will be able to:

• Recognize and articulate the impacts of nature-based experiences
• Implement learning experiences that support student well-being, personal discovery, and an appreciation for the natural world.
• Design activities that support both Universal Design for Learning and CASEL Competencies
• Develop your own relationships with nature in ways that resonate with you personally; a means of helping you foster this in your students.

Registration TBD