.jpg)
- Home
- Learn with Us
- Live Teacher Training
- Autumn Reset: Fall Into Nature-Based Learning
Autumn Reset: Fall into Nature-Based Learning
Sat., October 3, 2026 from 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education
Philadelphia, PA
Early birds - register today to reserve your spot!
About this Nature-Based Training
Join us again with our partners at Schuylkill Center in Philly for an exciting day of learning! Just when you need it most, this Autumn Reset will energize and inspire your practice! Packed with tips, tools, and strategies, you will walk away feeling empowered and ready to engage in nature-based learning and play.
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.
This training is ideal for educators, caregivers, and others working with children 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
- Science Inquiry
- Nature Art
- Documentation and Assessment
- Mindfulness and Forest Bathing
- Site Tour and programs overview of Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education
Workshop Descriptions
Beyond a Photograph: Methods for Documenting Nature-Based Learning
Monica Wiedel-Lubinski, Founder & Executive Director, ANBE
Documentation is a powerful way to capture and communicate children’s growth, creativity, and curiosity - especially when it comes to nature-based learning and play. This workshop explores practical approaches to document experiences using photos, journals, and logs, along with strategies that highlight children’s explorations, discoveries, and learning in natural environments. Drawing from examples in the presenter's book, Nature-Based Early Childhood Education, participants will discover a repertoire of tools that can help make learning visible, support planning and reflective teaching practices, and encourage family engagement, all while celebrating the wonder of nature play.
...more coming soon!
Presenter Bios
Monica Wiedel-Lubinski (she/her), Executive Director of ANBE
Founder/cofounder of three nature preschool programs in Maryland and consultant to countless others starting forest and nature schools in the U.S. and abroad, Monica brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to help you jump-start your own nature-based program! She is the coauthor of award-winning Nature Play Workshop for Families (Quarto, 2020) and recently released Nature-Based Early Childhood Education (NAEYC, 2025). Monica earned a Bachelor’s degree in Art Educ. (K-12) and Master’s degree in Early Childhood Ed. from Towson University, Baltimore, MD and completed year-long graduate fellowship with UMBC/UMASS in 2024. Monica is deeply engaged in the Outdoor Preschool Licensing pilot, enacted in 2023 in Maryland as she advocates for more equitable access to nature-based education. She is a wife and mother of two and enjoys spending time in nature with her family.
Melissa Sheppard (she/her) - Founder of Star Child Nature School
Melissa Rot h Sheppard is the founder of Star Child Nature School a fully outdoor nature-based program in Burlington County NJ. Melissa is a Waldorf Early Childhood certified teacher and Level 3 certified through ANBE. Melissa loves to teach her 3-5 year old class, craft and be in any wooded area where worms or rolly pollies can be found.
Emily Woodmansee (she/her) - Executive Director, Bluestone Village
Emily Woodmansee is a naturalist and nature-based educator based in NE Pennsylvania. She is also the Founding Executive Director of Bluestone Village, a nature-based community initiative. Bluestone offers nature-based youth programming, as well as community gatherings to bring young families together outside. Emily lives in NE Pennsylvania with her husband and two young daughters.
With special thanks to our longtime partners at the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education and their nature preschool team!
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.