| Course Number: | EDX 5710 S21 |
| Instructor: | Abigail LaBounty, M.Ed. |
| Location: | Online |
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Dates and Times: |
Sep 29 - Nov 23, 2025. Video meetings on weeks 1, 4, 5, 6, and 7on Mondays from 2-3pm. The remainder of the course takes place in an online, independent format. |
| Credits: | 3 Graduate Credits |
| Tuition: | $1,195 |
Nature based education has a lot of momentum in today’s world. With a centuries long history and a convincing amount of research to back it, more and more educators are leaning into the idea that nature is to everyone’s benefit. But as popular as the practice is becoming, the bulk of research and application exists in the preschool realm. As an infant teacher in a nature based program, I have grappled first hand with how to get those babies out into the woods! The logistic hurdles are many, the licensing level rules are often against your Plan A, and pulling strategies from preschool classes can only go so far. In this course, we will study together how nature based education unfolds in different areas of the world, through all seasons, and in any weather. We will apply this learning to our own programs and create a curriculum portfolio that can be used for years to come. We will do so with our youngest learners in mind and work together to answer—how do we get those babies into the woods?
Audience: Infant/toddler educators, nature-based educators with an earned Bachelor's degree
Course Goals: The main aim of this course is to guide participants in the creation of several sets of goals: immediate and actionable short terms goals that nature-ize the work they're already doing, medium term goals that require some research/partnership/planning for the next cycle of seasons, and one long term vision goal of how they may be able to evolve into the nature-based educator of their dreams.
Course Objectives:
Instructor
Abigail LaBounty, M.Ed., has been in the field of Early Childhood Education formally for over 10 years and informally since her first job in high school. After graduating from UVM's Human Development and Family Studies Program, she chose to keep living and working in Vermont. She worked her way from Afterschool Assistant, to Associate Toddler Teacher, to Lead Teacher, through an M.Ed. at Champlain College, and has landed as Director of Professional Development at her current program. She fell in love with nature-based learning along the way and always feel most at home with young toddlers.
Week 1: Introductions and Overview week
Week 2: Nature-based ed globally
Week 3: Nature-based ed locally
Week 4: Autumn
Week 5: Winter
Week 6: Spring
Week 7: Summer
Week 8: Goal-setting
Costs for Required Resources, if any, are not included in the course tuition.
Required video: Larimore, R. (2021). Infants and toddlers need outdoor play too!. Samara Early Learning via Kaplan Facebook Page. https://www.samarael.com/freebies/infants-toddlers-need-outdoors
Required podcast (several episodes from one or the other):
Keeler, R. (2025). Play Nature Podcast. Rusty Keeler. https://rusty-keeler.mykajabi.com/podcasts/play-nature-podcast-2
Larimore, R. (2025). Mindful Turtle Podcast. Samara Early Learning. https://www.samarael.com/mindful-turtle
Keeler, R. (2016). Seasons of play: Natural environments of wonder. Gryphon House. https://rustykeeler.com/product/seasons-of-play/
Rivkin, M. & Schein, D. (2014). The great outdoors: Advocating for natural spaces for young children. NAEYC. https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/books/great-outdoors-revised-edition
Natural Start Alliance & NAAEE. (2019). Nature-based preschool professional practice guidebook: Teaching, environments, safety, administration. NAAEE. https://www.acornnaturalists.com/nature-based-preschool-professional-practice-guidebook1.html
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