Marilyn BRINK
Chicago Zoological Society - Brookfield Zoo Mgr Professional Development and Early Childhood
People should talk to me about NatureStart™ Professional Development program. Since 2011, NatureStart has reached over 1,300 educators from across the US as well as internationally. Educators from zoos, aquariums, nature centers (informal science and nature-based settings) as well as early childhood educators especially those from Head Start and Early Head Start programs. This competency-based approach supports adult learners as they develop skills, understanding, and confidence to develop and facilitate nature play and nature-based early learning experiences in the nature in children's neighborhoods as well as in those spaces and settings in nature. We focus on the role families take in connecting their children to nature and seeing the whole child's development in these experiences.