Summer Institute for Nature- and Place-based Early Childhood Education

Join us!

When: June 8 – 12, 2020
Where: Prescott College, Prescott, AZ
Now online!

Registration is now closed. Please check back next year for Summer Institute 2021!

Join us this summer for an inspiring, hands-on, and experiential online professional development event. Don’t worry, you won’t spend the whooole week staring at a screen! Get prepared to connect, collaborate, and reflect with a passionate and diverse group of early childhood educators during our 5-day institute. All you need is a stable internet or data connection and access to a device with Zoom connectivity. We’ll supply the rest – from a shipment of books and materials to engaging workshops to virtual field trips. And don’t forget, you’ll also get year long project mentorship to help you make your nature- and place-based learning dreams a reality! 

Participants will discover:

FOUNDATIONS

What nature-and place-based early childhood education is and why it’s such a hot topic in ECE today.

PRACTICES

Ways to align their current teaching practices with the pedagogy of nature-and place-based learning.

METHODS

How to plan nature-and place-based experiences for young children that are developmentally and culturally appropriate, inclusive, and linked to early learning standards.

STRATEGIES

Effective strategies to advocate for nature- and place-based activitie s in their program and community.

ADVOCACY

Current advocacy efforts for increasing inclusive and equitable access by all children to nature- and place-based learning.

RESOURCES

Potential community resources and partnerships for increasing inclusive and equitable access to natural environments or children and families.

“This Institute exceeded my expectations! The presenters, workshop material and community support has built a confidence and inspiration in me that I was craving so very much when I arrived. Thank you!”

“My experience at Summer Institute went far beyond my expectations. I not only learned lots of new activities, it made me look within to pull out my strengths and passions. An inspiring experience!”

Participants receive:
  • Valuable resources and user-friendly materials to support integrating nature and place-based activities in their own program
  • Professional development hours
  • Year-long project development support from a Summer Institute Mentor
  • Nature and Place-based Early Childhood Education Certificate for participation in Prescott College’s Summer Institute
  • Permanent access to all session recordings.

Pricing

The Summer Institute fee includes materials and resources, four nights of lodging on campus and two to three meals a day. We believe every educator should have the opportunity to attend this professional development experience. so we offer a voluntary, three-tiered pricing program based on your needs:

Price A

$625 $100

Actual cost of online Summer Institute operations

Price B

$400 $75

Partially sponsored by contributors

Price C

$200 $50

The lowest cost, subsidized by the George B. Storer Foundation

Enrollment is limited and a non-refundable fee of $50 is required to hold your place. As a part of the enrollment process, each participant will be asked to identify a nature- and place-based project they will develop with the support of their mentor during and after the Summer Institute.

For questions and more information, please email Allison Houtz, Center Programs Coordinator, npece@prescott.edu. If you have payment questions, please call (928) 350-2235 Monday through Friday, between 8am & 11am (PDT).

Learn more about Prescott College!