Full course description
Start Date
Enroll Now
Price
$15.00
Credential
Digital Badge
Length
5 Weeks
Commitment
3-4 Hours Weekly
Format
Asynchronous
Cultivating Learning, Wonder, and Connection Through Nature
Course Description
Nature-Based Play and Learning invites educators, caregivers, and youth-serving professionals to explore how meaningful experiences in nature support children's learning, development, and well-being from early childhood through adolescence. Through research, reflection, and real-world examples, participants will examine the benefits of nature-based play and learning, discover a variety of approaches for different educational settings, and deepen their understanding of how children grow, learn, and connect with the world around them.
Throughout the course, learners will engage in personal nature journaling, assess their current educational environment, and identify opportunities to incorporate nature-based experiences into daily practice. By exploring the relationships among people, places, systems, and personal beliefs about learning, participants will develop a practical and personalized plan for integrating nature-based play and learning in ways that are meaningful, achievable, and sustainable within their unique context.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the importance of nature-based play and learning for children throughout their teens.
- Implement a nature journal plan.
- Evaluate your educational setting for opportunities to include nature-based play and learning.
- Describe your ideas about how children learn and the role of nature-based play and learning practices in education.
Target Learner
This course is designed for educators, caregivers, administrators, and youth-serving professionals who want to deepen their understanding of how nature-based play and learning supports child development, well-being, and academic growth. It is especially valuable for individuals seeking practical, research-informed strategies to incorporate nature-based experiences into educational settings and foster stronger connections between children, learning, and the natural world.
Course Topics
- Teaching
- Child development
- Discovery learning
Policies
This non-credit course is offered online using the Canvas LMS, over a 7-week period. It is asynchronous, but not self-paced. You will have a total of 49 days to complete the course. The 49 days to complete begins on the day of enrollment and under no circumstances will extensions be given. You will be assessed throughout the course to demonstrate proficiency on the subject matter. You must pass all assessments before receiving the course badge.