Nature Ni
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os, a recently launched program of the New Mexico Wildlife Federation, is dedicated to bringing New Mexican youth of all ages out into nature. A primary focus of Nature
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work will be in connecting young children (beginning at three years of age) to the awe and wonder of the natural world. This will be done through a variety of delivery models: center/program visits focused on increasing children’s contact with nature through the Nature and Place-based Early Childhood Education (NPbECE) pedagogy (this could be as simple as introducing natural loose parts play into the program, or as complex as mindfully planning for regular trips to a natural space); “Nature Coaching” for programs wanting to have an intense NPbECE focus; educational workshops and trainings focusing on NPbECE and Risky / Adventurous Outdoor Play, and our signature program: Nature Ninos Forest School.
The Nature
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Forest School program is offering two ECE centers the opportunity to learn about the Forest school approach to early childhood education by hands on learning over the course of six weeks. Sally Anderson, Nature
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Early Childhood Coordinator, will work with the chosen centers to enable them to continue providing Forest School-inspired experiences following these (six consecutive) weekly Forest School sessions where she will serve as the leader. Our big dream is to expand this offering so that we can roll it out to as many ECE centers, programs, Pre-Ks and K/1 programs as possible, throughout the greater Albuquerque area, and eventually, beyond. You can learn more about this unique opportunity and apply for your program,
here
.
In addition, Nature
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ECE hopes to play a significant role in networking and advocating across the state and region for ALL New Mexican young children to become “Nature
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”. We hope to assist you in placing Nature at the center of your learning curriculum!
”Nature
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” is a name Sally Anderson, Founder, Director and Lead Educator at Sol Forest School (which is located in the East Mountains) dreamed up as a potential name for Sol. It didn’t fit, however, because it was intended for a much bigger purpose! Sally and Sarah Candelaria (of NMWF) met in the fall of 2019 and immediately discovered that they both held similar passions and beliefs related to the crucial importance of connecting our young children to the natural world. After several shared conversations, ideas, dreams and goals the Nature Ninos name was given to NMWF’s program dedicated to connecting todos los ninos, of all ages, to the beauty of our New Mexican landscape through a variety or programs and initiatives.
