Page 13 - NatureStart Network

CHAPTER 2

NatureStart and the NatureStart Network

“Children the world over have a right to a childhood filled with beauty, joy,
adventure, and companionship. They will grow toward ecological literacy if
the soil they are nurtured in is rich with experience, love, and good examples.”

–ALAN DYER, A SENSE OF ADVENTURE

“Now that I know how to include nature in different ways, them with nature play-based programs, services, and
I have made it a weekly goal to include nature in some kind learning environments. At the foundation is children’s
of way in my lesson plan.” need to have quality nature experiences as part of their
childhood.
–El Valor NatureStart participant Childhood is becoming increasingly urbanized.
In addition, many early education programs are under
“I’ve gained knowledge about child development, the role increasing pressure to introduce academics traditionally
of early childhood practitioners, how learning happens held for later grades, reducing the time for play.
for young children and best practices for engaging young Childhood nature experiences require planning and
learners. I’ve made more connections with professionals who, facilitation by adult family members and of educators.
like me, want to see young children benefit from all that We need new conservation leaders who act on behalf of
nature has to offer.” children and childhood.
Central to the NatureStart approach is that
–Forest Preserve District of Cook County time spent with nature should be based in play and
NatureStart participant exploration. Learning goals can be connected to nature
experiences, including social-emotional learning,
“I gained an appreciation and understanding of the need language and literacy, math and science, social studies
for nature in the lives of young children. Although I realized
that children want and deserve nature, I know now through
NatureStart that nature is something that children need
developmentally. I can advocate with key stakeholders about
infusing curricula and approaches of education with nature.”

–Mary Crane NatureStart participant

Early childhood educators in formal and informal
settings have enormous potential to provide
opportunities for children and families to explore nature
through play, but educators need help to develop proven
nature-play programs and curricula. So, the Chicago
Zoological Society developed NatureStart, a one-of-a-
kind approach to early childhood education, guided
by nearly 20 years of research, real-world observation,
and evaluation of best practice. The purpose of the
NatureStart Network is to benefit young children
and their families by training educators who provide

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