Events
Upcoming Events…
There are no upcoming events at this time.
Past Events…
Spaces that Connect Children to the Natural World A two day design class for designers, parents, grandparents, educators, and children’s health practitioners on September 22 & 29, 2020. ONLINE through Coastal Maine Botanical Garden. Details here.
Landscape Analysis and Design for Nature Play and Learning. A 2 ½ day class through Antioch University New England’s Nature Based Early Childhood graduate program on October 10-12, 2020. Nancy has taught this design class to teachers for the past 5 years. This year it will be offered ONLINE, so no matter where you live you can participate. Register here.
Chesapeake Nature Play and Learning Conference: Thursday October 22, 2020. Discover a range of outdoor play environments and approaches to nature play space design during this one-of-a-kind FREE ONLINE event. Enjoy of day full of engaging workshops that highlight ways to take learning outdoors. If you are searching for ideas for your program’s nature play space, or you’d like more information about the benefits of nature play, this conference will offer a variety of examples from the Chesapeake region. Topics will include: health benefits, green fears, design, and maintenance of nature play spaces, plus virtual tours of nature play spaces in the region. Learn more and register here.
POSTPONED Early Childhood Outdoors (ECO) Conference in Sheffield, England. Was March 2020, tentatively now in Spring 2021. Keynote! Details here.
Virginia Association of Environmental Educators Annual Conference, February 26-28, 2020 at Sweet Briar College. Keynote. Details here.
Hitchcock Center for the Environment (at Hampshire College), a talk at 5 pm on March 3, 2020 in Amherst, Massachusetts: “Creating Outdoor Spaces that Connect Children with the Natural World” Details here.
Ecological Landscape Alliance Conference on March 4-5, 2020 in Amherst, Massachusetts. Details here.
Turning a New Leaf Conference on December 6, 2019 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, sponsored by Chesapeake Conservation Landscape Council. Details here.
Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Annual Conference on December 10, 2019. Keynote in Norfolk, Virginia. Details here.
Lunchtime Lecture on Friday, September 27, 2019 from 12-1 at the US Botanical Garden at 100 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington DC. Nancy will give a talk and then sell and sign books. Register here.
Antioch University New England, Keene, NH: October 19-20, 2019. Landscape Analysis and Design for Nature Play and Learning Spaces, a course in the Nature-based Early Childhood Education graduate certificate program.
Professional Development for Principals, August 6-9, 2019 in Port Isobel, VA sponsored by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Well Ray a wellness festival on Saturday, June 22, from 9-1 in Del Ray Alexandria. Nancy will be selling and signing books in the Author Tent from 11-1pm. Details here.
Book Talk: on Tuesday, May 21 at 7:30 pm, sponsored by EcoAction Arlington at Josephine’s Italian Kitchen
2501 Columbia Pike. More details here.
Children and Nature Conference, sponsored by the Delaware Nature Society on Saturday, May 18, 2019, book talk on Nature Play at Home and a hands-on building a maze project. Register here.
Book Talk: on Sunday, May 5, 2019 at 1:30 pm at Tower Hill Botanic Garden, Boylston, Massachusetts. More info here.
Book Talk: on Thursday, May 2, 2019 from 4:30-6:30 pm at the Documentation Studio, Boston University Wheelock College of Education and Human Development. Register Here
In Bloom, a conference sponsored by Antioch University New England, Saturday, April 27, 2019, Kittery, Maine a keynote entitled Creating Outdoor Spaces that Connect Children to the Natural World along with a hands-on building session where we will create a bower using harvested invasive plants. More info here.
Book Talk: on Monday, April 29, 2019 at 7:00 pm, talk and community walk through of potential nature play space site at Bowdoinham Library, Bowdoinham, Maine
Book Talk: on Tuesday, April 30, 2019 at 4:30 pm at Coastal Maine Botanical Garden, Boothbay, Maine
BOOK LAUNCH: Reception, Book Talk and Book Signing. All proceeds benefited NoVA Outside, a Northern Virginia alliance of environmental educators. Sunday, April 7, 2019 from 3:30-6pm at Historic Blenheim, Fairfax City, VA. Nature Play at Home: Creating Outdoor Spaces that Connect Children to the Natural World
NatureCity Forum at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, Maryland on March 26, 2019 is a full day exploration of green infrastructure for climate resiliency, community building, human health and ecological benefit with designers, practitioners, planners and advocates. Sponsored by several regional organizations including NOAA, NWF, Chesapeake Bay Trust, MRPA, US Fish and Wildlife. Nancy was a featured speaker giving a talk entitled Parks, Nature Play and the Next Generation.
Arlington County Public Schools, Arlington, Virginia February 13, 2019 A professional development series entitled: Nature Play and Learning in the Schoolyard: Connecting Children to the Natural World The Nature of Spring
Shema Koleinu – Hear Our Voices Jewish Federation Early Childhood Conference, Rockville, Maryland. December 13, 2018: A talk entitled: The Voices of Nature.
Arlington County Public Schools, Arlington, Virginia December 12, 2018. A professional development series entitled: Nature Play and Learning in the Schoolyard: Connecting Children to the Natural World The Nature of Winter
Arlington County Public Schools, Arlington, Virginia October 8, 2018 A professional development series entitled: Nature Play and Learning in the Schoolyard: Connecting Children to the Natural World The Nature of Autumn
Antioch University New England, Keene, NH: October 13-14, 2018. Landscape Analysis and Design for Nature Play and Learning Spaces, a course in the Nature-based Early Childhood Education graduate certificate program.
Project ACT’s Annual Conference: It’s Easy to Be Green. Presented by Abilities Network, Project ACT and Community College of Baltimore County. Saturday, October 6, 2018: A talk entitled: Creating Earth-friendly, Child-friendly Nature Play and Learning Spaces.
USGBC Charlottesville, VA: January 9, 2018 a lunchime talk entitled:Create Outdoor Magic: Designing Nature Play and Learning Spaces
Antioch University New England, Keene, NH: October 13-14, 2017 Nancy taught: Landscape Analysis and Design of Nature Play and Learning Spaces a course in the Nature-based Early Childhood Education graduate program.
Virginia Naturally from VAEE, Front Royal, VA; October 10, 2017: Nancy presented Creating Nature Play and Learning Spaces
Arlington County Public School’s Staff Training, August 29,2017
NoVA Outside: Create Outdoor Magic: DIY Natural Play and Learning Spaces, a four-part series in March 2017
Delaware Environmental Education Association Conference, The Pilot School, Wilmington, DE: February 11, 2017: Designing Natural Play and Learning Spaces
Charlotte Hall, MD December 7, 2016 Maryland Nature Play Working Group Early Childhood Training
Antioch University New England, Keene, NH: October 15-16, 2016 Nancy taught: Landscape Analysis and Design of Nature Play and Learning Spaces a course in the Nature-based Early Childhood Education graduate program.
American Horticulture Society Children’s Garden Symposium, Columbia, SC July 14-15, 2016. Nancy presented: Boulders, Birches & Books: A Magical Park Connects Families to Nature
Maryland Nature Play Working Group presentation to Maryland EC Licensing on Nature Play, July 12, 2016
Catholic Diocese of Virginia: Creating Natural Play and Learning Spaces October 14, 2016
Maryland Recreation and Parks Association, November 13, 2015: Constitution Gardens: The Nature Play Experience
Alexandria PLAY: November 10, 2015 Creating Natural Play and Learning Spaces
Green Schools National Conference: March 5-6, 2015 in Virginia Beach
Nancy presented in “Speedy Sustainability 360: in design, the classroom, the district and at the national level”
EarlySpace will be at booth 116 in the exhibit hall as part of the Seneca Creek Collaborative.
VAECE Annual Conference: March 19, 2015 3:30-5 pm in Richmond, VA
Nancy will present: “Creating Outdoor Magic: Designing Natural Play and Learning Spaces”“What is Natural Play“ for the Mayor and Council, Town of Vienna February 9, 2015
“Constitution Gardens Natural Play Park: Project Overview” for the Maryland City and County Planners’ Roundtable December 11, 2014
Focus on Sustainability “Creating Outdoor Magic: Designing Natural Play and Learning Spaces” a webinar for Chesapeake Conservation Landscape Council, Ecological Landscape Alliance, Midwest Ecological Landscape Alliance, and Ecolandscape California. December 10, 2014
“Creating Outdoor Magic: Helping young Children Build Relationships with Nature” for the Jewish Early Childhood Education Conference Kavanah: Weaving Mindful Relationships December 4, 2014
“The Design of Spaces for Outdoor Art” for Early Childhood Outside: The Arts in Nature
April 26, 2014 at Westlawn Elementary School in Falls Church, VA
VAECE Annual Conference
Nancy presented The Essential Elements of Natural Play and Learning Spaces
on Friday, March 14 at 11 am.
Nature Play Space Workshop by Maryland Working Group on Natural Play
Nancy spoke on The Managment of Natural Playspaces: how to program and care for your natural playspace.
November 14, 2013, Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD
Creating Outdoor Magic: The Eight Essential Elements of Natural Play and Learning Spaces at the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Annual Conference
Friday, November 22, 2013, Washington, DC
An experienced landscape designer and former ECE teacher shares inspiring images of earth-friendly, child-friendly outdoor spaces. You’ll learn about an effective process to CREATE THE SPACES YOUR CHILDREN DESERVE while building community at your school. You’ll see natural climbing and digging spaces, mud kitchens and outdoor art studios, a wetlands learning lab, a mosaic stream, cob playhouses, living roofs, and discover lots of beautiful native and edible kid-friendly plants. You’ll learn about how school communities have come together to design and build these wonderful spaces (and find out how they raised the funds!)
Gardening for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Special Educational Needs, July 11, 2013, Arlington, VA. The program will feature a discussion of the book, Gardening for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Special Educational Needs, by Natasha Etherington. Reading of the book is optional. The discussion leaders include Elenor Hodges, Nancy Striniste and Mary Van Dyke of NoVA Outside, and April Rosenthal, the Therapeutic Recreation Programmer of the Arlington County Department of Parks and Recreation.
VAECE Annual Conference: Nancy, along with colleagues Sandra Redmore and Sissy Walker, gave a talk entitled Designs, Strategies and Curriculum that Promote Outdoor Learning. VAECE Annual Conference, (February 14-16): EarlySpace designs were on display in the exhbit hall all weekend!
Earth-friendly, People-friendly Landscaping, a talk by Nancy Striniste, on Feb 23, at Lynchburg College’s Sydnor Performance Center, (Schewel Hall), in Lynchburg, VA from 7-9 pm. Sponsored by The Central Virginia Master Naturalists and the Central Virginia Environmental Education Alliance, in cooperation with the Naturalist Program of the Lynchburg City Parks and Recreation Department.
Early Childhood Outside: Lens on Outdoor Learning, Saturday, April 13, 2013 at Fairlington Preschool, Alexandria, VA.
