Anniversary Year Symposium: No Child Left Inside: Restoring Nature to Early Childhood
Wednesday, April 29, 8a.m.-4p.m.
Registration (just scroll down to the bottom of the page)
For a PDF of the agenda (subject to change), click here.
Join the national dialogue about the critical relationship between direct exposure to nature and healthy childhood development. Learn about the physical, cognitive, emotional, social, and creative assets that young children gain through outdoor experiences, and how direct, authentic experiences in nature can be created for children wherever they live, play, and learn.
This symposium is for everyone concerned about the healthy development of today’s children, including early childhood professionals, teachers and administrators, recreation leaders, pediatric healthcare providers, parents and caregivers, urban planners, environmental educators, architects, landscape architects and designers.
Featuring presentations by:
Jane Kirkland, author of the award-winning children’s nature series, Take a Walk books
Robin Moore, Director of the Natural Learning Initiative and Professor of Landscape Architecture, North Carolina State University
Plus Chip & Ashley Donahue, founders of Kids in the Valley, Adventuring (KIVA)
$25 includes lunch; advance registration required; earns 5 training hours.
For a PDF of the No Child Left Inside save the date card, click here.
Related Events:
Teacher Workshop: Dinner in the Garden for Teachers
Tuesday, April 28, 5–8:30 p.m.
Presented in cooperation with the Center for Life Sciences Education, Virginia Commonwealth University Keynote presentation by Jane Kirkland, dinner, and walks and talks in the Children’s Garden. Free admission; enrollment limited to 150; advance registration required. Earns 1.5 training hours.
Registration is currently CLOSED for this event.
Family Event: Homespun Fun for Families
Wednesday, April 29, 5:30–7:30 p.m.
This Children’s Garden event introduces easy outdoor activities you can do at home. Meet our guest speakers, learn about nature clubs from Chip & Ashley Donahue, and play together as you watch the sunset. Plus, Tracy Kane, noted author and illustrator of The Fairy Houses Series™, will read from her books and help families build fairy houses in the Children’s Garden. Free with Garden admission; food available for purchase.
To help us prepare, register your family in advance. Email Registration for Homespun Fun for Families
This symposium is the second in a four-part series marking the Garden’s 25th anniversary. These events are made possible with generous support from the Robins Foundation.
