Workshops

Current Workshop Offerings

Our workshop topics are currently evolving. Here are some of our popular topics:

Nature Play Workshop

More and more children today are growing up noticeably weaker-- their balance systems significantly underdeveloped compared to children of previous generations. The cause? Children are not spending enough time playing outdoors and it is affecting their sensory systems and quality of life. Lack of outdoor play affects learning, behavior and health. Based on the philosophy from TimberNook, an innovative outdoor program developed by pediatric occupational therapist, Angela Hanscom, this workshop aims to empower parents and educators with the why and how of nature play.

Key topics of this workshop include:

• The importance of nature play. 
• Introduction to the vestibular and proprioceptive systems and their importance in child development.
• The art of observation and “dissecting” play-- using authentic observation-based assessment for documenting learning in an educational setting.
• Using observation and inquiry to create emergent, child-led learning environments.
• Managing risky play-- renegade rules for respecting childhood and promoting healthy development. 
• Loose parts in nature-- encouraging play experiences

This workshop is intended as a full-day workshop, but can also be modified/divided into smaller workshops or workshop series. Additional book study options: Barefoot and Balanced by Angela Hanscom It’s OKay Not to Share by Heather Shumaker Experience the benefits of nature play first-hand by with field trips and school partnerships.

Make and Take Workshops

DIY PLAY! Sampler

The workshop is a sampler of a larger 4 part series.
During​ ​this interactive workshop,​ ​participants​ ​will:

• Receive a brief introduction to 7 developmental and learning domains: Social-Emotional, Physical, Cognitive, Physical, Language, Literacy, Math. 
• Learn about ways to promote these developmental areas through play. (Resource materials with additional strategies, book lists, and links to inspiring websites.) 
• Make and take the following items: eye-spy bottles, ribbon wands, animal movement dice, wooden tongs, mini felt board, geoboard, lacing board (other options available).
  
  
  
  

Make and Take Math

During this workshop, participants will: 

• Explore​ various ​math​ ​concepts​ ​through​ ​play (it’s more than just 1-2-3!) 
• Learn various strategies to promote math in everyday life. 

Participants​ ​will​ ​make​ ​and​ ​take: Boom​ ​Wackers lookalikes, geo​ ​boards​ ​and​ ​lacing​ ​boards, recycled​/loose parts, along with printed resource material.

Let’s Get Real About Food

Note: Counts toward required annual food program training.
In this interactive workshop, participants will:

• Explore reasons to avoid eating processed foods by limiting artificial ingredients and processed sugar and focusing on whole grain products. 
• Learn the differences between white, whole wheat and multigrain products. 
• Practice strategies for implementing healthy eating and child participation in the kitchen. 

Make and Take items: whole wheat pancake/muffin mix, apple crisp (along with recipes, resources and extra baking materials). Gluten, nut-free and dairy free options available.

Gardening with Kids: Seed to Table

Note: Counts toward Vermont annual required food program training.

Workshop description: Gardening offers many developmental benefits to children and is a great way for us to build connections with our foods. During this workshop, participants will have the opportunity to create container gardens, grow, taste and prepare micro greens, create pickled veggies and homemade salad dressing.
As a result of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Explain the benefits of gardening with children and implement ways to include children in the gardening process-- from seed, to harvest, to table.
• Implement concepts of the square foot gardening method and design their own container garden.