Navigating Nature with Infant & Toddlers, LaBounty, Summer 2025

Course Number:	EDX 5710 S81
Instructor:	Abigail LaBounty, M.Ed.
Location:	Online
Dates and Times:	June 22 - Aug 16, 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

Course Description

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 & Objectives

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:

• Participants will engage in conversations around what it means to be or become nature based as infant and toddler educators
• Participants will research nature-based learning that exists both locally and globally
• Participants will evaluate their current environments and teaching practices that help and hinder the inclusion of nature into their student’s lives
• Participants will reflect on how to integrate developmentally appropriate nature-based teaching into their practices
• ‘Participants will plan for how to collaborate with other adults, including families, co-teachers, and administration, in order to achieve their goals
• Participants will research their state’s licensing guideline and consider how to maintain compliance while moving towards more nature-based learning

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.

Course Schedule

Week 1: Introductions and Overview week

Class time: 1 hour video meeting, Monday 2-3pm

Reading: Rivkin text, chapters 1-3 and several articles/videos

Assignments: Introductions discussion board (non-graded) due Friday, Journal 1 due Saturday, Project Proposal for week 3 visit due Saturday

Week 2: Nature-based ed globally

Class time: none required

Reading: several articles and chosen follow up from Rivkin text

Assignments: Discussion board due Friday, Journal 2 due Saturday

Week 3: Nature-based ed locally

Class time: none required

Reading: choose several episodes to listen to from two listed podcasts

Assignments: Visit one local area program to tour and interview by Friday, Discussion board due Friday, Journal 3 due Saturday, visit write-up due Saturday

Week 4: Autumn

Class time: 1 hour video meeting, Monday 2-3pm

Reading: Keeler Text, all Autumn chapters

Assignments: Discussion board due Friday, Journal 4 due Saturday

Week 5: Winter

Class time: 1 hour video meeting, Monday 2-3pm

Reading: Keeler Text, all Winter chapters

Assignments: Discussion board due Friday, Journal 5 due Saturday

Week 6: Spring

Class time: 1 hour video meeting, Monday 2-3pm

Reading: Keeler Text, all Spring chapters

Assignments: Discussion board due Friday, Journal 6 due Saturday

Week 7: Summer

Class time: 1 hour video meeting, Monday 2-3pm

Reading: Keeler Text, all Summer chapters

Assignments: Discussion board due Friday, Journal 7 due Saturday

Week 8: Goal-setting

Class time: none required

Reading: Natural Start Alliance Book, "Environments" and "Safety" sections required, "teaching" section recommended

Assignments: Discussion board due Friday, Journal 8 Due Saturday, Goals paper due Saturday

Required Texts

Required Texts are not included in the course tuition.

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.

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

For additional course information

Abigail LaBounty

(774) 238-0872

For additional registration information

Center for Schools Team

(802) 468-1325

Register Now!