SPIRIT OF SPRING:
OUTDOOR TEACHER RETREAT

Gather for a Professional Learning Day designed for teachers, childcare providers, and administrators

Sat., March 20, 2027

8:30 AM - 4 PM
Notchcliff Nature Programs, Glen Arm, MD 

About this Nature-Based Training

Get ready for a joyful day of discovery outdoors! As Spring begins to bloom around us, we’ll gather to reconnect, recharge, and explore what this beautiful season of change can look like with young children. Spend the day learning from inspiring educators, swapping ideas, and diving into a variety of hands-on workshops. 

Hosted in ANBE’s outdoor 'lab' forest school, Notchcliff Nature Programs is nestled on the beautiful grounds of Glen Meadows Retirement Community near Towson, MD and offers the perfect setting to play, learn, and grow together. Come prepared to be fully immersed in nature all day long. It’s going to be fresh, fun, and full of inspiration! Lunch is included on Saturday, but remember your reusable water bottle for drinks throughout the day.

Note: We strive for zero waste during our training events; please bring your resuable water bottle 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.



6-clock hours
MSDE approved training (pending)

Learn with seasoned educators
and expert presenters

Discover nature-based tips and tools to use right away

Gather with a supportive network of teachers and practitioners

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS

Stay tuned - more descriptions on the way!


Childhood Adventures of Forest School

Monica Wiedel-Lubinski, Association for Nature-Based Education

What are the benefits of nature‑based education for young children, and how can teachers spark adventurous outdoor play while still meeting curricular standards? 

In this session, we’ll explore benefits of learning in nature, along with practical strategies educators can use to inspire curiosity, confidence, and joyful exploration outdoors.

Together, we’ll spend time playing and learning in the forest at Notchcliff, experiencing firsthand how nature supports inquiry, resilience, and creativity. You’ll leave with approaches you can bring back to your own setting to help children thrive through meaningful nature‑based experiences. Note: You may want to reference Monica's book, Nature-Based Early Childhood Education for more ideas (NAEYC, 2025).


Music All Around
Kirsten Mize, Association for Nature-Based Education
Everyone has music within them, it is a natural language that speaks to heart and soul. Rhythm and song are not only enjoyable diversions, they can be incredibly helpful learning tools within the classroom to enrich learning experiences, spark interest, or even to simply assist in moving joyfully from one activity to another. In this workshop, participants will learn how to craft musical instruments from recycled materials and use them for an interactive song circle that will equip them with an arsenal of new songs and musical activities perfect for their everyday routine with students. You’ll be sure to be whistling a new tune all the way home! 

Children do yoga around the gathering circle at Notchcliff Nature Programs, the learning lab for the Association for Nature-Based Education.

PRESENTER BIOS

Monica Wiedel-Lubinski, Founder & Executive Director of the Association for Nature-Based Education.

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.
Kirsten Mize headshot, Program Coordinator for the Association for Nature-Based Education.

Kirsten Mize, Association for Nature-Based Education

Goucher College graduate, Kirsten Mize, is delighted to serve the ANBE community as Program Coordinator, curating high-quality training for nature-based educators of all different walks. With a Masters in Education (Focus: At-Risk and Diverse Students) and a Bachelors in Music (Focus: Vocal Performance), Kirsten brings over a decade of diverse teaching experience and pedagogical knowledge to ANBE. She has always had a deep connection with nature and believes strongly in holistic teaching methods, the power of play, and cultivating wonder. When she is not at ANBE, Kirsten works as a voice actor independently from her home studio in Baltimore, Maryland and has lent her voice to musicals, operas, stage plays, podcasts, video games, and radio plays. But probably her most important job is that of mother to one sweet little boy who has inherited his mother's love for music and the outdoors. 
Teachers gather at the Winter Solstice Retreat with log shelter in foreground. Teacher Professional Development with the Association for Nature-Based Education (anbe.org).

- Participants from
Winter Solstice Retreat

"Loved the whole day!"


"I enjoyed networking with other professionals and learning new ways to adapt others teaching skills and ideas into my own practices."


"All presenters were knowledgeable and relayed their knowledge in meaningful and impactful ways. Breakfast, lunch and beverages were truly enjoyable! It’s wonderful to share a day with likeminded educators from various fields."

Questions? Contact us for more information.

Contact us any time