Winter is on the way - how will you celebrate the season? Join us for a special retreat that focuses on ways to explore nature in winter. This retreat brings together experts in the field of nature-based early learning to share ideas and practices with a variety of hands-on sessions to choose from. 

ANBE will provide a professional development certificate at the conclusion of the event. Please dress for the weather, as most of this training takes place outdoors, rain or shine. Coffee/tea with lite breakfast and lunch is included, but remember your canteen for drinks throughout the day. Now approved by MSDE for six (6) clock hours of professional development!

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

Who Should Attend?

This training is ideal for educators, caregivers, and others working with young children ages 2 to 8. 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

Attendees will be able to choose from two different schedules featuring the following workshops...

Shine a Little Light on Me: The Magic of Light and Winter Solstice

with Brittany Woodward from Seedlings Nature Playschool

Across the world Winter Solstice brings a sense of renewal and awe in our natural world. Celebrations of light spark joy as we bid farewell to the shortest day, making it the perfect time to share that awe with each other! Following an introduction to child-friendly solstice themes from across world cultures, join us in three light-based provocations to de-light the inner (and outer) child

Winter Solstice Ceremony and Songs for the Season

with Lida Lawrence from The Waldorf School of Baltimore

Join together outside for a Waldorf-inspired Winter experience. We will sing songs, hear an early childhood solstice story and form an evergreen spiral to walk in reverence and joy. Learn how to recreate this type of experience for your students.

Astronomy for Young Children

with Kelley Volgelphol from Robinson Nature Center

Use Robinson’s digital planetarium to visualize why the Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year. Learn about the earth’s tilt, the sun’s position in the winter sky and more, as we delve into the astronomy of the solstice! Then, head outside around the campfire to learn how to teach these “big” astronomical concepts to young children in a way they can understand.

Mindfulness, Nature, and Poetry: Rooting in Awe and Wonder

with Jan Hummer from Open Minds Inc. 

This workshop invites you to reconnect with the living universe around you through mindful time outdoors, reflection, and writing. You’ll learn simple practices to stay grounded in the present, helping you navigate fears, anxieties, and judgments with more clarity and choice. Through daily questions, writing prompts, and inspiration, you’ll cultivate a deeper intimacy with yourself, others, and the natural world, enhancing your ability to respond to life with balance and connection. By refining the quality of your attention, you’ll discover new ways to engage with your relationships and embrace the ever-present interconnection between yourself and all that surrounds you.

Nesting with Nature: Educating Young Children about Birds

with Heather Quinn from Hummingbird Hill Nature Learning Collective

After winter comes spring and warmer weather brings all the birds back to the yard. In this workshop, you will learn about the birds that migrate back or remain after wintering over to our area in Central Maryland. Heather Quinn (Hummingbird Hill Collective, LLC) is sure to turn you into a “bird nerd” while sharing fun ways to explore birds and to make materials such as natural material nests and clay handmade egg activities. You will walk away with a flock of ideas to facilitate bird lessons in your program.

Wild Crafting in Winter

with Julie Biedrzycki from Ancestral Knowledge

Bundle up for a walk to gather materials perfect for winter crafting. Participants will take a walk together to identify and harvest common useful plants for crafts and creations, then spend the afternoon gathered around the fire to practice projects using natural materials to support motor skills, earth science, and artistic expression. Plant ID and collection techniques are essential for nature-based educators and crafting skills also transfer to weaving you can explore with young children.

Meet your Presenters!

Lida Lawrence

Lida Lawrence is the Lead Forest Kindergarten Teacher and Director of the Early Childhood Program at the Waldorf School of Baltimore. She has 18 years of experience teaching in early childhood settings including home daycare, public school, summer camps and private schools. She loves being outside with young children, helping them positively connect with nature, their learning community and a love of learning.

Kelley Volgelphol

Kelly Vogelpohl is the Early Childhood Programs Coordinator for the James and Anne Robinson Nature Center in Columbia, MD. Kelly brings a rich background in Environmental Education to the Robinson Nature Center’s programs and enjoys introducing children of all ages and their families to the Center’s diverse natural resources.

Jan Hummer

Jan is a seasoned professional with over two decades of experience working with nonprofits on both the east and west coasts. She holds a Masters Degree in Contemplative Education from Naropa University. Her passion for mindfulness education has led her to teach in diverse urban and rural settings, where she has touched countless lives with her compassionate approach. As the executive director of Open Minds, Inc., she has been instrumental in facilitating contemplative groups since 2014, utilizing a trauma-informed lens and incorporating mindfulness, somatic practices, yoga, creative arts, and nature-based activities to foster healing and growth in Western and Central MD communities. Beyond her professional pursuits, you can often find Jan enjoying quality time with her family and friends, or immersing herself in creative endeavors, reading, or hiking.

Brittany Woodward

Brittany Woodward has a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Towson University, a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education and a MD teaching certificate in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. It was during her pursuit of her master's degree that she discovered her passion for teaching children in nature. “Balanced and Barefoot: How Unrestricted Outdoor Play Makes for Strong, Confident, and Capable Children” became one of her most treasured leisure education texts and has profoundly impacted her teaching philosophy. Woodward has been doing her dream job as Seedlings’ Nature Playschool Program Manager and Lead teacher since it opened in February 2024.

Heather Quinn

Heather is a Montessori trained child-guide, certified birth-6 years old specializing in nature-based outdoor learning and curriculum. She is the founder of Hummingbird Hill Nature Preschool, a MSDE-licensed early childhood program for children ages 3 to 5. Heather is a MSDE-approved trainer and runs Hummingbird Hill Collective, LLC, teacher education, professional development workshops, and conferences. Additionally, she holds a Level 2 Certification with ANBE as well as an active member, advocate, and facilitator for their programs.

Julie Biedrzycki

Julie is a former teacher, currently raising and homeschooling her 4 young children. As a student of Environmental Science and Policy at the University of Maryland College Park, Julie ran educational support programs in local public elementary schools, which inspired her to stay involved with youth and her community ever since. In the education field for over 20 years, she has taught ages 3-adult in all variety of programs and venues, from public to private schools, from classrooms to National Parks.