Winter Solstice RETREAT

Winter Solstice Retreat: A Season of Light & Learning
Sat., December 5, 2026 from 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Robinson Nature Center
Columbia, MD

Early birds - register today to reserve your spot! 

About this Nature-Based Training

Winter is on the way! Join us in Columbia, Maryland for an inspiring day of training full of ways to help children welcome the winter season. This hands-on training will awaken your senses, kindle curiosity, and spark more ideas for outdoor learning with young children. 

Our Professional Learning Retreats bring together experts in the field of nature-based education to share ideas and practices, with a variety of workshops to choose from. ANBE will provide a professional development certificate at the conclusion of the event (pending 6 MSDE clock hours). Please dress for the weather, as most of this training takes place outdoors, rain or shine. Coffee/tea with lite breakfast and lunch are included on Saturday, but remember 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.

Workshop Descriptions 

Tapping into Nature's Sweetness - A Maple Sugaring Demo

Spencer Kessinger, Robinson Nature Center

Learn about the art and tradition of maple sugaring – when the sap from trees is collected to make syrup. Enjoy a hike to learn about maple sugaring, a sap cooking demonstration, and a tasting of a variety of syrups. Get equipped with the tools and knowledge to DIY in your own programs when the season is right!

Winter Woodland Tea Time

Monica Wiedel-Lubinski, Association for Nature-Based Education

Cozy up by the fire, share your favorite wild tea recipes, and connect with other nature-based educators to close out the day! In keeping with Solstice traditions, we’ll wild-craft our own Yule Log to take home and celebrate the return of the light.

Presenter Bios

Spencer Kessinger - Early Childhood Program Coordinator at Robinson Nature Center

Spencer was born and raised on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, where she spent her childhood playing outside and developed a passion for teaching in and about nature. This passion led Spencer to pursue a degree in Environmental Studies, with minors in Education and Biology, from St. Mary's College of Maryland. Spencer joined Robinson Nature Center in 2021, first working with the Early Childhood Programming as an educator, and now as the Program Coordinator. The Early Childhood Programming at Robinson Nature Center is dedicated to harness the inquiry, excitement and desire to learn, found during early childhood through engaging nature-based learning experiences, activities, and outdoor, emergent-based play.

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. 

More details coming soon! This is a sampling of past session topics and workshops:

• Astronomy for children
• Wildcrafting
• Winter Solstice Celebrations and Traditions
• Forest Bathing
• Candlemaking
• Birding
• Seasonal crafts
• Foraging
• Yule Log making

...and more!

With special thanks to our partners at:

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.