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. *Pending MSDE-approval for clock hours.

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 children 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

Winter Forest Bathing

with Dhruv Veda of Forest Harmony

Intentionally spending mindful time in nature can help heal relationships with ourselves, our community, and our more-than-human world. Dhruv Veda will lead participants in a forest bathing walk to connect to the restorative effects of nature, supporting mental clarity, emotional resilience, and overall well-being.

The Solstice Spark: A Teacher's Guide to Winter Fire-Craft

with Joshuah Emery of Roots and Wings

Gather around the fire as we kindle our curiosity and learn to build a warm, crackling flame, even in the heart of winter. This hands-on workshop is designed to build your confidence in safely and joyfully bringing the gift of fire to your students. We'll explore the woods for "5-star" tinder, practice ancient, reliable ways to build a fire on snow or frozen ground and master a child-centered framework for safety and respect. You're invited to spark new ideas and gain the skills to make fire a powerful tool for warmth, community, and connection in your winter programs.

Astronomy for Young Children 

with Spencer Kessinger of Robinson Nature Center

Gaze up at the Planetarium for an “out of this world” experience! Participants will discover stargazing activities and other unearthly ways to teach children about the science of planets, constellations, phases of the moon and other otherworldly delights.

Candle Dipping

with Julie Biedrzycki of Ancestral Knowledge

Making candles from scratch is a time tested and fascinating process that requires patience, focus, and care. Participants will create hand-dipped wax candles to take home with them, and learn how to conduct the same activity in a fun and safe fashion with small children!

Winter Woodland Tea Time

with Julie Biedrzycki and Monica Wiedel-Lubinski

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.

Meet Your Presenters!

Dhruv Veda - Founder and Forest Bathing Guide at Forest Harmony

Dhruv Veda is the founder of Forest Harmony, a youth-led initiative promoting mental well-being through nature-based programs such as forest bathing, birding walks, and community workshops. Inspired by scientific research on nature’s impact on stress and anxiety, he has led events across Maryland for veterans, seniors, and underserved populations. His work has earned recognition from the Maryland Senate, Ben Carson Foundation, Congressional Medal and partnerships with organizations like the American Legion, the VFW and the Howard County Conservancy. Dhruv has also presented his efforts at seminars at Howard County 50+ centers, blending research with community service. He hopes to continue expanding Forest Harmony as a bridge between science, service, and healing.

Joshuah Emery - Community Ecology Institute, Roots & Wings Program Manager

We are delighted to welcome Joshuah Emery, an educator who believes deeply in the power of hands-on, memorable learning. He is a U.S. Navy Veteran, former USFWS Ranger and has led local nature-based camps with organizations like Ancestral Knowledge, Appalachian Expeditions (APEX), Calleva, and Bretton Woods, and now serves as the Manager for Roots & Wing at the Community Ecology Institute. Joshuah holds a Master's in Experiential and Outdoor Education and loves to share his passion for fostering a deep, meaningful connection with the earth. He is excited to gather with our community and kindle this spark of curiosity with all of you.

Julie Biedryzcki - Ancestral Knowledge

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.

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 - ANBE Executive Director

Monica has pursued her love of nature-based education for nearly three decades. She is the founding director of the Association for Nature-Based Education (ANBE), a nonprofit that offers professional development and community-based programs to cultivate equitable access to nature-based education. As founder/cofounder of three forest and nature preschools in Maryland, and a consultant to countless others, she is grateful to help people nurture relationships with the natural world as an essential aspect of how we approach education. As an author, she shares the benefits of nature-based learning through various publications including an award-winning book, Nature Play Workshop for Families: A Guide to 40+ Outdoor Learning Experiences in All Seasons, coauthored by Karen Madigan (Quarto Press, 2020). This fall, she published Nature-Based Early Childhood Education to provide evidence-based guidance to help educators make deeper connections with children and nature (NAEYC, 2025). As a advocate for outdoor preschool, she helped spearhead the house bill to establish an outdoor preschool licensing pilot in Maryland and is the co-chair the Advisory Stakeholders Group. She was also appointed to Governor Moore's Committee for Outdoor Learning Partnerships where she impacts policy on the state level. She also serves as a representative in the Superintendent's Stakeholders Committee for Baltimore County Public Schools where she lives. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Art Education and a master's degree in Early Childhood Education from Towson University. Monica recently completed a fellowship at UMBC in the Maryland Early Childhood Leadership Program (MECLP), in partnership with the Shriver Center at UMASS in 2024. She looks forward to years of advocacy to come, at the local, state, and national levels.