New To ONB?
Are you an early educator who is interested in bringing play, and outdoor nature-based curriculum into your classroom, but don’t know how to start having this conversation with school admins and parents?
Do you teach early learners and have started using the outdoors as your classroom and nature as your tools to teach, and now want to deepen your practice?
Maine Early Childhood Outdoors can help.
Support for early educators who want to bring outdoor nature-based education into their classrooms.
Integrating outdoor nature-based education (ONB) into your teaching practice doesn’t have to be a heavy lift.
MaineECO is here to guide and facilitate your first steps on your ONB journey. For early educators new to this teaching pedagogy, MaineECO offers:
Accessible outdoor, nature-based education professional development
Printable resources, as well as access to experts in the field for insight and advice
A network of like-minded educators and communities of support
The Gear Mini Grant to help outfit your classroom in quality gear
Quick Tips on Integrating Outdoor, Nature Based (ONB) Education In Classroom For New Teachers
Make a commitment to take one small step regularly.
Start with one hour spent outside.
Designate a specific subject to being taught outside, anchor the day with story time outside.
Integrate outdoor materials in your indoor lesson plans.
Find parent allies; use them as volunteers.
Many parents are thrilled to support to ONB curriculum in their child’s class.
They can join the classroom as a volunteer and chaperone outdoor excursions.
Ask them to advocate for ONB ed to your school administrators.
Focus on awareness.
Start socializing the idea of ONB through language in your handbooks and hiring processes.
Speak about ONB education during family orientations or tours.
Promote ONB ed on bulletin boards and forums.
Resources for Early Educators New
to Outdoor Nature-Based Education
Communities of Practice (CoPs) create space for educators to learn together, build relationships, and strengthen practice over time.
CoPs meet regularly, professionally facilitated, and rooted in shared problem-solving, reflection, and celebration
These communities support educators in staying connected, supported, and inspired.
The Gear Mini Grant aims to increase the amount of time children can spend outdoors by providing funding for quality gear so they foster deeper, more meaningful connections to the natural world.
Any person can apply on behalf of a licensed early childhood program in Maine. Programs of all type, size or philosophy are eligible.
Presented by Bowdoin College Children’s Center and MaineECO, the “Common Ground Partnership” advances nature-based learning and offers free professional development where educators work together to remove barriers to outdoor learning and intentionally create inclusive environments where every child feels seen, supported, and empowered to belong in nature.
