If you are starting a new forest or nature-based program (including outdoor preschool, childcare and homeschool classes), this intensive 12-clock hour course can help you get started! We address a range of topics including:

• Honing your vision, mission, and educational philosophy
• Establishing program basics like daily rhythm, class sizes, schedules
• Business planning/determining a business structure
• Locations and partners 
• Licensing considerations
• How to set tuition, compensate staff, and create a program budget
• Policies and practices for your parent handbook
• Creating greater diversity, equity, and inclusion in your program
• Safety and risk management, including liability insurance needs
• Finding and hiring great staff
• Marketing your program
• Evaluation

The format of this interactive course is a combination of facilitated discussion, small group work among participants, and asynchronous independent learning experiences. We provide many templates and resources to help you develop an authentic, placed-base approach to your program. As you might imagine, this is an intense course because we cover so much ground in a short span of time! Be sure to plan time between our sessions to reflect on what we discuss. Please note this is not a prerecorded, on-demand course. It is interactive so we can learn together! 

Upon registration, we will provide you with a complete list of materials needed for the course. Are you ready to take the leap?

SCHEDULE
Online meeting includes facilitated discussion and topics during four consecutive Thursdays from 7-9 p.m. (EST), followed by self-directed reading/planning for at least one (1) hour between class meetings. This means you will engage in 12 clock hours of training during the course.  A professional development certificate is included following successful course completion.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
This course is ideal for anyone establishing a nature-based program, which could be in the form of outdoor preschool, forest school, child care, home school, or afterschool model. Whether your program is in a rural or urban setting, we offer essential information so you can get right to it! Feel free to reach out to Monica with questions.

MEET YOUR COURSE FACILITATOR!

Monica Wiedel-Lubinski (she/her) - Executive Director of ANBE

Founder/cofounder of three nature preschool programs in Maryland, coauthor of award-winning Nature Play Workshop for Families, 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! Monica has a Bachelor’s degree in Art Educ. (K-12) and Master’s degree in Early Childhood Ed. from Towson University, Baltimore, MD and has completed year-long graduate fellowship with UMBC/UMASS. She is a wife and mother of two and enjoys spending time in nature with her family.