Back to Nature School RETREAT

Register today to reserve your spot! 

About this Nature-Based Training

Approaching a new school year is exciting...but it can also feel overwhelming unless you have a strong support system. If you are one of the only nature-based educators at your school, it can be daunting to implement new routines for outdoor learning alongside a long list of other required tasks. If you find yourself struggling to implement nature-based learning in your school, you are NOT alone! Join us in Rochester, New York as we equip teachers to ensure that 'back to nature school' is more intentional, joyful, and fun!

Our Professional Learning Retreats bring together experts in the field of nature-based education to share ideas and practices with a variety of hands-on sessions. ANBE will provide a professional development certificate at the conclusion of the event which can be used in some states towards continuing education hours. Please check with your state department of education! Remember to dress for the weather, as most of this training takes place outdoors, rain or shine. Coffee/tea with lite breakfast and lunch is included, please bring your canteen for drinks throughout the day.

Note: We strive for zero waste during our training events; please bring your canteen for drinks.

Who Should Attend?

This training is ideal for educators, caregivers, and others working with children of all ages in programs that prioritize nature-based experiences. Our participants work in all kinds of settings, from nature-based schools and forest kindergartens to public schools, traditional preschools, HeadStart programs, child care settings, and more.

Overview of Retreat Topics 

• Fostering Empathy Through Animal Interaction
• DIY Nature Journals
• Nature Walk with Nature Journaling Tutorial
• Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights
• Site tours of Helmer Nature Center and Maplewood Nature Center

Workshop Descriptions  

One Health: Fostering Empathy Through Interactions with Animals
Alyssa Catholdi, Lollypop Farm, Humane Society of Greater Rochester
This session explores how incorporating the idea of One Health, the understanding that the well-being of humans, animals, and our shared environment is deeply interconnected, can cultivate empathy, compassion, and respect in our classroom communities. Participants will learn to read animal body language and seek consent; ensuring safe, positive experiences that mutually-benefit both children and animals. Participants will also dive into a variety of resources, activities, and lesson plans designed to bring compassionate, socially responsible practices into daily routines.

A Walk in the Woods: Nature Journaling How-To
Elijah Kruger, New York State Parks
This slow-paced nature exploration will allow you to deepen connections with elements of nature that interest YOU. Learn how to harness student interest and excitement outdoors while making connections back to the classroom. Topics will include basic nature identification, outdoor group management, as well as helping students establish deeper relationships with nature. Be sure to bring your nature journal!

Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights: Rooting Youth in Nature
Kyra Stephenson, Director of Helmer Nature Center

Young people thrive when they have meaningful opportunities to connect with the natural world. This interactive session explores why nature connection is essential for youth development, well-being, belonging, and environmental guardianship while highlighting practical, evidence-based strategies for creating these experiences in schools and communities. Participants will engage in hands-on nature connection activities, explore the collaborative process behind the COBOR initiative, and consider how a similar cross-sector partnership could be developed in their own community to connect more youth with nature. Participants will leave with actionable ideas, resources, and inspiration to cultivate lasting nature connections and build local collaborations that support young people and the places they call home.

DIY Nature Journals

Ben Rubin, Rochester Public Schools

A field notebook can be one of the most important tools for learning outdoors, both for students and for teachers. Binding your own book is empowering, cost-effective, and orienting. No matter whether your books are pocket sized accordions or scrolls, nature journaling adventures or data-driven records, they can be a home for collecting observations, impressions and inspiration; for tracing larger cycles and mapping stray ideas. We will cover materials and design, orientation activities, briefly dive into history to touch on the value of notebooks, and end with a hands-on demo. Each participant will leave with a small book they have created and notes covering how to incorporate nature based journaling into teaching. 

Presenter Bios

Kyra Stephenson (she/her) - Director of Helmer Nature Center

Kyra Stephenson is the Director of Helmer Nature Center in the West Irondequoit Central School District and the founder of Nature Mind Solutions LLC. An award-winning environmental educator, she has dedicated her career to advancing nature-based learning, helping schools and communities use nature to foster curiosity, well-being, academic growth, and environmental guardianship. Kyra developed and teaches, Integrative Pedagogy with Nature, the first graduate course in nature-based learning at SUNY Brockport. She is passionate about building partnerships that connect people with nature and inspire the next generation of environmental guardians.

Alyssa Catholdi (she/her) - Humane Education Supervisor at Lollypop Farm

Alyssa is the Humane Education Supervisor at Lollypop Farm, where she uses her love for animals and nature to help people build deeper empathy for the world around them. With a Master’s in Social Justice & Education and a Bachelor’s in Childhood/Special Education, she draws on her years as an inclusive school teacher in New York and England to create welcoming, hands-on learning experiences for all students. Her goal is to make education fair, accessible, and inspiring, encouraging everyone to become kind advocates for animals and the environment. When she’s not teaching, Alyssa loves staying active outdoors by running, hiking, and enjoying water activities, before heading home to her cat, Bean.

Elijah Kruger (he/him) - Environmental Educator, New York State Parks

Elijah is an Environmental Educator for New York State Parks who has worked with students and other groups of diverse backgrounds in natural spaces throughout New York for about 15 years. He considered it a thrill to have the opportunity to help others fall in love with nature. Elijah's passions in the outdoors include hiking, birding, and making maple syrup.

Benjamin Rubin (he/him) - Artist and Teacher, Rochester City School District

Ben Rubin has taught book-binding and artist bookmaking in workshops in Mexico, Vietnam, Slovenia, South Africa, Afghanistan, Cambodia, and the US. His personal explorations in art and travel are mostly hand-bound experiments with upcycled materials and cover 40 countries and more than three decades. He has spent the last 4 years teaching K-12 art at Rochester International Academy, a public city school designed to support refugee students and new arrivals to the US.

Lodging

Need a place to stay near by? 

Holiday Inn Express Rochester NE Irondequoit (~10 min away)

2200 Goodman St. N, Rochester, NY 14609

Hampton Inn Rochester Irondequoit  (~8 min away)

1323 East Ridge Road, Rochester NY 14621

Check out other recommended locations here!

With special thanks to our partners at Helmer Nature Center!

Have questions? Email us at programs@anbe.org. Please note that all participants are required to complete this waiver during registration. Our refund policies are found here as well.