Nature and Outdoor Learning Summit

Saturday, August 19th 2023

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Nature Ninos' goal is to connect families with New Mexico's public lands, watersheds, and wildlife. We create educational opportunities for youth and families outdoors while promoting nature's social and emotional benefits. We directly serve families and youth through our summer camp, day programs, family hikes, and community events. We also inspire and equip educators and youth professionals with the best practices for learning, health, and wellness in the outdoors.

Whether we are in the field with families, guiding policy recommendations, or supporting educators, Nature Niños has expertise to share for learning outdoors and in nature. We want teachers, state and federal leaders, and people who work with youth (including families) to think of us as their outdoor learning team.

Join the Nature Ninos team for a fun Saturday in the outdoors! This event is open for educators (formal & informal), administrators, community leaders, program leaders, homeschool parents, and any other community members wanting to understand how to integrate nature into student education and wellbeing with the use of some of the country's leading environmental education curriculums. While curriculum is important, we will also be focusing on the social & emotional benefits of spending time in nature.

Opportunities will be provided for educators ranging from PreK through High School. 

Outdoor Learning Summit Agenda 

PreK- 2nd Grade Early Childhood Education Training Topics:

9:30 AM- 12:00PM 

• A "small sampling" of the Nature Niños "WONDER-lings" Certification Program a Nature & Place-based Early Childhood Education curriculum created by our partner, Sally Stevens, with Sol Forest School. 
• Project Learning Tree
• Growing Up Wild

Correlations to Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework

• Growing Up WILD Activity Correlations to Head Start Outcomes
• Growing Up WILD Correlations to NGSS PEs

OR

3rd Grade - 12th Grade Curriculum Training Topics: 

9:30 AM- 12:00 PM 

• Project Wild- Project WILD's mission is to provide wildlife-based conservation and environmental education that fosters responsible actions toward wildlife and related natural resources. All curriculum materials are backed by sound educational practices and theory and represent the work of many professionals within the fields of education and natural resource management from across the country.
• Aquatic Wild
• Flying Wild

Correlations to Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)

The documents linked below identify how WILD activities in the respective curriculum and activity guides correlate to NGSS Student Performance Expectations (PEs).

• Project WILD (Fourth Edition) Correlations to NGSS Three Dimensions: DCI's, SEP's, and CCC's
• Project WILD Correlations to NGSS PEs (third edition correlations)
• Aquatic WILD Correlations to NGSS PEs

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM      Lunch (BYOL Bring Your Own Picnic Lunch) & Social Hour 

1:00 PM - 1:50 PM         Break Out Session One

2:00 PM - 2:50 PM        Break Out Session Two 

Break Out Session Options (to include all educators):

• Basic Archery- try your hand on a NASP certified archery range and learn how your school/group can start their own Archery Team! 
• Basic Fishing- learn the basics of trout fishing! Knot tying, casting, cleaning and cooking your catch! 
• Basic Nature Journaling- discover the importance of self-reflection and self-guided art discovery. 
• Supporting Nature Play & Learning through Loose Parts
• Orienteering (Map Reading)
  
• The Importance of Storytelling in Nature
• More to come..... 

3:00 PM - 3:45 PM        Share Out & Reflection

3:45 PM - 4:00 PM        Depart Shady Lakes

Registration Fees 

If the registration fee is the reason, you are unable to attend, please email Sarah Candelaria at sarah@nmwildlife.org.