ECHO aims to improve child health outcomes and connect children to nature by bringing high-quality outdoor play and learning environments to all young children.
While indoor spaces at child care programs are often immaculate and engaging, outdoor spaces are often neglected. Through ECHO training opportunities, we hope to inspire, empower, and connect child care professionals in conversations and hands-on opportunities to learn how to create dynamic, natural, and engaging outdoor spaces.
We strive to ensure all trainings provide educators with tools and hands-on ways engage young children in outdoor spaces. Participants will have the opportunity to learn new content, practice new skills, and leave with ideas to implement in the classroom immediately. We regularly seek content knowledge experts, partners, and community supports to ensure our trainings embody best practice and have strong ties to local networks. To learn more, please email echo@nwf.org.
Are you looking for new ways to enhance or use your outdoor spaces at your child care facility? ECHO offers a variety of training opportunities for early childhood professionals, directors, child care health consultants, and family child care providers. We are able to travel to your community to provide training supports to understand the importance of outdoor spaces, and reimagine traditional playgrounds. Browse our training opportunities below, or view our downlodable PDF here. Fees may apply. Please contact echo@nwf.org to request a training.
Educators often spend hours ensuring the indoor classroom is engaging and enriching for young children. However, what about outdoor spaces at child care facilities? Often overlooked, outdoor learning environments can offer various learning and activity settings that have positive outcomes for children. In this 1.5-hour interactive workshop, participants will learn about best practices in outdoor learning environments, why “green is good,” and identify one way they can begin to re-imagine their outdoor spaces.
Have design ideas for your outdoor space, but don’t know where to start? In this 1 to 2-hour interactive workshop, participants will learn how to plan for their outdoor space and will work with a landscape designer to discuss design ideas.
Are you looking to improve your program's outdoor space, but need help creating a design plan? In this 5 to 6-hour interactive workshop, participants will learn about best practices in outdoor learning environments and how to plan for their outdoor space. Programs will work with a landscape designer and education specialist to begin reimagining their space, and will leave with a vision board and diagrammatic plan for improving their outdoor learning environment.
So often cold temperatures and snow deter us from taking our children outdoors in Winter. Join us for this 1.5-hour training to learn hands on and fun ways to engage children outdoors in Winter. We will discuss barriers, guided activities, and ways your outdoor space can support play year round. Let’s bundle up with hats, mittens and scarves, and play.
Not everyone needs to have a green thumb to learn how to grow plants with young children. In this 1.5-hour training, participants will gain the confidence and skills they need to support container gardening in an early childhood setting. Participants will learn best practices in plant care and how to shop for plants at a local garden supply store. Participants will also be able to learn firsthand how to successfully plant a seedling and support its growth. Finally, participants will discuss appropriate ways to engage young children in gardening. Break out your tools, and let’s get messy! Participants will receive gardening resources and materials, and they will leave with their own container garden.
Eww, yuck, wow that texture is unique! Sensory experiences are critical for child development, but sometimes educators avoid providing them because they are messy. In this 1.5 hour training, participants will learn about the value of messy play, different types of messy play, and how to safely encourage messy play in the classroom and outdoor environments. Participants will also leave with recipes for safe messy play and get to experience hands on textures and opportunities for children. Water, Wind and Weather: Engaging Infants and Toddlers in
Our youngest learners are natural scientists. They crave opportunities for exploration, and discovery. However, did you know that many outdoor activities for infants and toddlers also promote critical physical development? In this 1.5-hour training, join us as we explore positive and engaging ways to support infant and toddler growth and development through outdoor settings. We will explore how to create a safe and welcoming outdoor space for young children and engage in hands-on activities you can take back to your program.
The outdoor learning environment is an integral part of any early childhood program. It provides opportunities for children to develop gross motor skills, engage in social interactions, and take appropriate risks. Playing in a more naturalized outdoor learning environment is more engaging for children, and small changes can positively impact children, staff, and families. In this 1.5-hour training learn how adding loose parts to the outdoor learning environment can create new opportunities for cognitive growth and development, creativity, and language. By reimagining the outdoor learning environment as a dynamic and variable space, educators will gain new insights into ways to ensure no two days outdoors are ever the same.
Outdoor time that promotes and supports physical activity is critical for child development. However, how can you embrace active play beyond a traditional play structure? In this 1.5-hour training, learn ways nature can create and promote opportunities for active play. Participants will plan for different types of movement including climbing, kicking, throwing, and lifting, and strategize how unique play elements including stumps, water, and ribbon can promote whole body development. Participants will also learn from examples of intentionally designed outdoor spaces that support the physical development of children.
Children love playing and learning outdoors. There are countless health benefits for young children during time spent outdoors. In this 1.5-hour training, participants will learn how to think beyond the fenced outdoor space to find pockets of nature in the spaces children spend time daily. Participants will learn skills and ideas for taking children on an exploratory walk of their community to find plants, animals, and natural elements in all environments. Participants will also review safety guidelines and best practice in exploring beyond the licensed space. Through exploration of their local environments, children will begin to see and experience their communities in new ways.
Teaching is an art. It takes the ability to grow and learn with the children in the classroom. Utilizing emergent curriculum, a teacher is able to build upon a child’s interest and create an environment that embraces the journey for knowledge. In this 1.5-hour training, participants will learn how emergent curriculum can be embraced in the classroom to not only help children achieve their academic goals, but also create an atmosphere of learning, collaboration and exploration. Participants will be able to plan for their own program and to understand simple first steps to implement emergent curriculum.
Very rarely do we have all the tools and materials we need for the children in our classrooms. In this 1-hour interactive training, we will dive into the world of fundraising and provide easy ways to start approaching those in your community to gain monetary or material donations for your program. Participants will receive sample materials to start making the ask and learn how to no longer fear hearing “no.”
Engaging your families and the community creates the networks and supports you need to support the children in your care. As you reimagine and rethink your outdoor spaces, fi nd your champions to help you bring your vision to life. In this 1.5-hour training, learn how to share about your journey with your families, identify local community supports, and learn how to lead a volunteer event for families and the community. Participants will also learn easy to build projects that can lead to big changes in outdoor spaces for children.
Creating a high-quality outdoor learning environment doesn’t have to break the bank. Learn ways to activate and improve your outdoor space through low-cost, high-impact changes. Participants will gain inspiration and ideas that they can implement in their own spaces by creatively using affordable materials to support children’s play.
Partnering with families is a critical component of success in early childhood education. But how do you truly create equal and effective partnerships that support child development and school success? What does it look like to engage families in both the indoor classroom and the outdoor learning environment? In this 1.5 hour training, we will talk about how to engage families in the creation of your outdoor space, and how to incorporate family engagement in outdoor curriculum.
As early childhood professionals, we recognize the importance of the outdoors for the cognitive, physical, and social emotional development of young children. However, in many child care programs the outdoor play space for young children is often overlooked and underutilized. In this 3-hour training, you will learn how to assess and analyze an outdoor space, be able to identify best practices in outdoor learning environments and begin to reimagine the outdoors into a dynamic, flexible and natural environment that engages children. The tools and experiences from this training will allow you to support child care programs in various settings and help ensure young children have access to high quality outdoor learning environments.
It takes a village. Creating dynamic and engaging outdoor spaces is a community effort. In this 1.5-hour training, participants will learn how to create an environment that values staff ideas and voices to involve them in the design, build, and activation of outdoor spaces. Participants will learn how child care programs can imbed policies and procedures to support the development of their outdoor spaces. Participants will also learn how to plan for outdoor time with children, how staff can support site maintenance, and how directors and owners can empower staff to become experts in outdoor play.
Are you interested in learning natural and affordable ways you can engage children in outdoor spaces in your home? Join us in this 1.5-hour training to learn how to implement a naturalized outdoor learning environment in your own backyard. Participants will gain hands on knowledge of different play settings they can add to their outdoor spaces and easy ways to create a dynamic and engaging outdoor space. Each participant will leave with materials to start implementing right away.
Educators often spend hours ensuring the indoor classroom is engaging and enriching for young children. However, what about outdoor spaces at child care facilities? Often overlooked, outdoor learning environments can offer various learning and activity settings that have positive outcomes for children. In this 1.5-hour interactive workshop, participants will learn about best practices in outdoor learning environments, why “green is good,” and identify one way they can begin to re-imagine their outdoor spaces.
Have design ideas for your outdoor space, but don’t know where to start? In this 1 to 2-hour interactive workshop, participants will learn how to plan for their outdoor space and will work with a landscape designer to discuss design ideas.
Are you looking to improve your program's outdoor space, but need help creating a design plan? In this 5 to 6-hour interactive workshop, participants will learn about best practices in outdoor learning environments and how to plan for their outdoor space. Programs will work with a landscape designer and education specialist to begin reimagining their space, and will leave with a vision board and diagrammatic plan for improving their outdoor learning environment.
So often cold temperatures and snow deter us from taking our children outdoors in Winter. Join us for this 1.5-hour training to learn hands on and fun ways to engage children outdoors in Winter. We will discuss barriers, guided activities, and ways your outdoor space can support play year round. Let’s bundle up with hats, mittens and scarves, and play.
Not everyone needs to have a green thumb to learn how to grow plants with young children. In this 1.5-hour training, participants will gain the confidence and skills they need to support container gardening in an early childhood setting. Participants will learn best practices in plant care and how to shop for plants at a local garden supply store. Participants will also be able to learn firsthand how to successfully plant a seedling and support its growth. Finally, participants will discuss appropriate ways to engage young children in gardening. Break out your tools, and let’s get messy! Participants will receive gardening resources and materials, and they will leave with their own container garden.
Eww, yuck, wow that texture is unique! Sensory experiences are critical for child development, but sometimes educators avoid providing them because they are messy. In this 1.5 hour training, participants will learn about the value of messy play, different types of messy play, and how to safely encourage messy play in the classroom and outdoor environments. Participants will also leave with recipes for safe messy play and get to experience hands on textures and opportunities for children. Water, Wind and Weather: Engaging Infants and Toddlers in
Our youngest learners are natural scientists. They crave opportunities for exploration, and discovery. However, did you know that many outdoor activities for infants and toddlers also promote critical physical development? In this 1.5-hour training, join us as we explore positive and engaging ways to support infant and toddler growth and development through outdoor settings. We will explore how to create a safe and welcoming outdoor space for young children and engage in hands-on activities you can take back to your program.
The outdoor learning environment is an integral part of any early childhood program. It provides opportunities for children to develop gross motor skills, engage in social interactions, and take appropriate risks. Playing in a more naturalized outdoor learning environment is more engaging for children, and small changes can positively impact children, staff, and families. In this 1.5-hour training learn how adding loose parts to the outdoor learning environment can create new opportunities for cognitive growth and development, creativity, and language. By reimagining the outdoor learning environment as a dynamic and variable space, educators will gain new insights into ways to ensure no two days outdoors are ever the same.
Outdoor time that promotes and supports physical activity is critical for child development. However, how can you embrace active play beyond a traditional play structure? In this 1.5-hour training, learn ways nature can create and promote opportunities for active play. Participants will plan for different types of movement including climbing, kicking, throwing, and lifting, and strategize how unique play elements including stumps, water, and ribbon can promote whole body development. Participants will also learn from examples of intentionally designed outdoor spaces that support the physical development of children.
Children love playing and learning outdoors. There are countless health benefits for young children during time spent outdoors. In this 1.5-hour training, participants will learn how to think beyond the fenced outdoor space to find pockets of nature in the spaces children spend time daily. Participants will learn skills and ideas for taking children on an exploratory walk of their community to find plants, animals, and natural elements in all environments. Participants will also review safety guidelines and best practice in exploring beyond the licensed space. Through exploration of their local environments, children will begin to see and experience their communities in new ways.
Teaching is an art. It takes the ability to grow and learn with the children in the classroom. Utilizing emergent curriculum, a teacher is able to build upon a child’s interest and create an environment that embraces the journey for knowledge. In this 1.5-hour training, participants will learn how emergent curriculum can be embraced in the classroom to not only help children achieve their academic goals, but also create an atmosphere of learning, collaboration and exploration. Participants will be able to plan for their own program and to understand simple first steps to implement emergent curriculum.
Very rarely do we have all the tools and materials we need for the children in our classrooms. In this 1-hour interactive training, we will dive into the world of fundraising and provide easy ways to start approaching those in your community to gain monetary or material donations for your program. Participants will receive sample materials to start making the ask and learn how to no longer fear hearing “no.”
Engaging your families and the community creates the networks and supports you need to support the children in your care. As you reimagine and rethink your outdoor spaces, fi nd your champions to help you bring your vision to life. In this 1.5-hour training, learn how to share about your journey with your families, identify local community supports, and learn how to lead a volunteer event for families and the community. Participants will also learn easy to build projects that can lead to big changes in outdoor spaces for children.
Creating a high-quality outdoor learning environment doesn’t have to break the bank. Learn ways to activate and improve your outdoor space through low-cost, high-impact changes. Participants will gain inspiration and ideas that they can implement in their own spaces by creatively using affordable materials to support children’s play.
Partnering with families is a critical component of success in early childhood education. But how do you truly create equal and effective partnerships that support child development and school success? What does it look like to engage families in both the indoor classroom and the outdoor learning environment? In this 1.5 hour training, we will talk about how to engage families in the creation of your outdoor space, and how to incorporate family engagement in outdoor curriculum.
As early childhood professionals, we recognize the importance of the outdoors for the cognitive, physical, and social emotional development of young children. However, in many child care programs the outdoor play space for young children is often overlooked and underutilized. In this 3-hour training, you will learn how to assess and analyze an outdoor space, be able to identify best practices in outdoor learning environments and begin to reimagine the outdoors into a dynamic, flexible and natural environment that engages children. The tools and experiences from this training will allow you to support child care programs in various settings and help ensure young children have access to high quality outdoor learning environments.
It takes a village. Creating dynamic and engaging outdoor spaces is a community effort. In this 1.5-hour training, participants will learn how to create an environment that values staff ideas and voices to involve them in the design, build, and activation of outdoor spaces. Participants will learn how child care programs can imbed policies and procedures to support the development of their outdoor spaces. Participants will also learn how to plan for outdoor time with children, how staff can support site maintenance, and how directors and owners can empower staff to become experts in outdoor play.
Are you interested in learning natural and affordable ways you can engage children in outdoor spaces in your home? Join us in this 1.5-hour training to learn how to implement a naturalized outdoor learning environment in your own backyard. Participants will gain hands on knowledge of different play settings they can add to their outdoor spaces and easy ways to create a dynamic and engaging outdoor space. Each participant will leave with materials to start implementing right away.
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