Discovering Nature with Young Children
FREE Early Childhood Education Workshops for Professional Growth at PCOE. Focus on nature while supporting reading, math, science and physical exercise!
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About the Program
Learn how to weave nature themes into all your activities – support 
reading, math, science and physical exercise. You can attend all sessions or just your favorite topics.
These dynamic two-hour sessions present and demonstrate “nature play” in Early Childhood Education to help build school readiness skills through nature exploration.
After learningall about thebenefits, you get to use 
hands-on tools and receive inspirational ideas to facilitate nature study both indoors and out.
This program is brought to you by a partnership of Placer Nature Center and First 5 Placer. Lessons are taken from national programs Project Learning Tree and Project Wild.
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Dates, Location & Registration
Dates: Classes take place on the following Wedenesdays from 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM:
- 2/22/2012 - Water Wonders
- 3/21/2012 - Squirrely squirrels
- 4/18/2012 - Butterflies flutterby
Location: Held at the Placer County Office of Education Annex, Nobili Room, at 356 Nevada Street in Auburn.
Register through Placer County Office of Education
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Attendee Quotes
"I’m not a huge fan of bugs but this was a very interesting & informative workshop! Bugs are actually pretty cool!"
"You..(Linda)..are so animated…I wish you were a preschool teacher!"
"Very informative. Learned lots of information about things around our school, house environment."
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**BONUS** FREE PROGRAM MATERIALS!
Participants attending 2 or more classes receive TWO free books! Our Education Director, Linda Desai is trained in both Project Learning Tree and Project Wild. Through these associations we are able to offer these free books to you just for attending two classes! Over 60% of participants return for 4 or more classes!
Bonus #1:
Growing Up WILD is an early childhood education program that builds on children’s sense of wonder about nature and invites them to explore wildlife and the world around them.
Through a wide range of activities and experiences, Growing Up WILD provides an early foundation for developing positive impressions about the natural world and lifelong social and academic skills.
The activity guide, Growing Up WILD: Exploring Nature with Young Children:
- Is written especially for early childhood educators of children ages 3-7.
- Features 27 field-tested, hands-on, nature based activities in a full-color 11”x17” activity guide.
- Includes crafts, art projects, music, conservation activities, reading and math connections and much more.
- Involves social, emotional, physical, language, and cognitive domains to help foster learning and development in all areas.
- Supports developmentally appropriate practice allowing children to learn at levels that are individually, socially, and culturally appropriate.
- Is correlated to the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Standards and the Head Start Domains.
Bonus #2:
Project Learning Tree:
Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood
A Learning ® Magazine 2011 Teachers’ ChoiceSM Award winner!
Exploring nature is a complete sensory experience, and early experiences with the natural world have been positively linked with the development of children's imaginations and their senses of wonder and curiosity—important motivators for lifelong learning. PLT’s Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood encourages children to explore, discover, and communicate in expressive ways, and provides an introduction to environmental education at a key developmental period in children’s lives.
Developed with preschool educators and early childhood specialists, the guide is designed for educators who work with children ages 3 to 6. It offers over 130 experiences that engage children in outdoor play and exploration.
Topics include exploring nature with five senses, meeting neighborhood trees, and experiencing trees through the seasons. An accompanying CD features music from children's musician Billy B. Brennan that encourages children to sing, dance, and move.
The activities include group experiences, such as music and movement, and neighborhood walks; learning centers, such as math and manipulatives and art; reading connections; and family and friends.
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Related Programs
If you would like to see the Nature Center in action or have 
children of your own that you would like to bring to a class designed for families, you are welcome to attend “Our Day Outside”. Feel free to bring a friend and invite your fellow Early Education Educators, Caregivers and Moms! Read more about Our Day Outside and see the schedule
Our Day Outside is also made possible by First 5 Placer
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First 5 Placer
Thanks to a partnership with First 5 Placer County's Children and Families Commission, Placer Nature Center presents a unique and dynamic series of hands-on learning programs for children 0-5 years old, thier families and educators. Programs include:
Our Day Outside enables families with preschool children (up to 5 years old) to explore and play together. Through nature investigations with hand lenses, singing, crafts, make-believe, puppetry and much more, children interact together and with their families, learning about the world around them while having lots of fun!
Discovering Nature with Young Children is 12 Hours of free Professional Growth for teachers with children up to 5 years of age.
The series of six two-hour sessions present and demonstrate “nature play.” Teachers and caregivers have the choice of attending all six sessions or just their favorite topics. In class, educators learn to use tools and
inspirational ideas, to facilitate nature study while weaving themes into other indoor and outdoor activities.
Foothill Discovery allows
Placer Nature Center takes the learning program to Placer County Early Headstart and Headstart preschools. Foothill Discovery helps children learn to see nature in their own schoolyard. Children develop close observation skills, how t