Reconnecting Children with Nature Registration Deadline Feb. 24

SCC OFFERS “RECONNECTING CHILDREN WITH NATURE” WORKSHOP

Registration deadline for workshop is Friday, February 24

Story County Conservation will offer a “Reconnecting Children with Nature” workshop that will take early childhood educators outdoors and provide hands-on activities and resource materials that can be used to plan and lead future nature explorations.

 The four-hour training will take place 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. March 3 at the Story County Conservation Center at McFarland Park (56461 180th St.) northeast of Ames. The registration for the workshop is due 4:30 p.m. Feb. 24.

The workshop will include curriculum pulled from the Growing Up WILD activity guide. Growing Up WILD activities are written for children ages three to seven, and activities address the following learning areas: math, science, language, literacy, healthy living, play, and creativity.

The activity guide is correlated to national standards for early childhood education – NAEYC Criteria for Curriculum and Head Start Child Outcomes Framework. Additional correlations have been drafted to Iowa program and curriculum standards – Quality Preschool Program Standards, Iowa Early Learning Standards, and the Iowa Core Concepts and Skills. This workshop has been approved for four “clock hours” of DHS continuing education credit.

Registration, including payment, is required by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, February 24. The cost of the workshop is $30 and includes the following: Growing Up WILD activity guide, Iowa Department of Natural Resources handouts and a Resource CD for Early Childhood (includes activity alignment with Iowa Early Learning Standards and Quality Preschool Program Standards).

Participants should dress for an outdoor hike; boots and winter clothes are recommended. For more information about this or other programs, contact Story County Conservation at 515-232-2516 (8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday), email us at conservation@storycounty.com, or visit www.storycountyconservation.org.