Training Opportunities

Graduate Certificate in Nature-Based Education

This UMaine Farmington program is designed for educators working across all age levels interested in connecting their students with the natural world around them and developing hands-on learning experiences. This program is ideal for those just beginning to explore nature as a classroom as well as those who would like to incorporate more nature-based/outdoor learning into their existing programs. Also ideal for non-formal educators who connect students with the outdoors as well as early childhood educators who use or aspire to use a nature-based outdoor space.

This program focuses on the potential benefits for learners, the continuum of programming options, the educator’s role in facilitating learning, and high quality practices in an outdoor setting. Students will also dive into available resources for nature-based education and outdoor learning to make the most of their own unique locations.

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Topics of study:

• Creating and refining a nature-based curriculum

• Integrating nature into all subjects

• Designing outdoor spaces

• Managing risk

• Partnering with families and communities

Graduate Certificate:
STEAM for Early Childhood & Elementary Educators

A new UMaine Farmington graduate certificate will prepare educators to integrate Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) in their classrooms in order to nurture creativity and critical thinking skills in early and elementary learners.

Topics of study:

• The core concepts of STEAM disciplines and how to identify/expand them in your current practice

• Effective instructional strategies for integrating STEAM disciplines

• How to design, develop, and implement activities to support creative and innovative STEAM curriculum

• The impact of equity and access to STEAM curriculum and how to advocate for STEAM resources

Graduate Certificate:

Climate Education

A new UMaine Farmington graduate certificate will prepare educators to integrate topics around climate change and related issues into their teaching.

Topics of study:

• Creating and refining a nature-based curriculum

• Integration of critical climate study content into daily lessons and educational experiences

• Exploring leading theorists and theories that inform our understanding of climate change and the data that describes these theories in the world around us

• Defining high quality or best practices in climate education

• Locating and analyzing appropriate resources for climate education

Certificate in Nature-Based Early Childhood Education

The Nature-Based Early Childhood Education Certificate Program at Antioch University New England trains teachers, administrators, and founders of nature preschools and forest kindergartens.

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The forest kindergarten movement has been thriving in Europe for the last three decades and has recently taken root in the United States. Simultaneously, there has been a growing number of nature preschools in the United States. Both nature preschools and forest kindergartens have a uniquely different approach to curriculum than conventional indoor early childhood programs.

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The objective of the program is to make the courses as practical as possible. Therefore, the goal for each course will be to have each student generate a product that is tangibly useful in their work situation. This will include program brochures, policy development, business plans, curriculum documentation materials a la Reggio, grant proposals, and parent newsletters. Program faculty will provide assistance in content and tone so that founders of new programs can be supported in developing materials to launch their programs.