Following the recommendations of federal, state, and county officials, the Chicago Botanic Garden is canceling the Inspiring Nature Play conference originally planned for May 6, 2020. Please stay in touch with us through social media and our website in the event we are able to reschedule for later this year.

This annual conference will highlight developmentally appropriate nature play experiences for early childhood (birth through age 8) and practical ideas for incorporating nature play into your early childhood program. Sheila Williams Ridge, MA, director of the Shirley G. Moore Laboratory School at the University of Minnesota, will present the keynote address. She recently co-authored Nature-Based Learning for Young Children: Anytime, Anywhere, on Any Budget.

Schedule and Session Descriptions

Lunch and parking are included.
Regenstein Center

CPDUs: 6 Gateways: 6
Grade level: preK – 12

Inspiring Nature Play is possible because of the collaborative effort among The Alliance for Early Childhood, BackYard Nature Center, Chicago Botanic Garden, Greeley Elementary School, Forest Preserves of Cook County, Kohl Children’s Museum, Natural Start Alliance (a project of the North American Association for Environmental Education), North Suburban Special Education District, and Northfield Community Nursery School.