Outdoor & Environmental Education

LINCK and Nature Explore Classrooms

October, 2006: Because of demonstrated leadership in nature education and family literacy, Nassau BOCES is invited to attend World Forum on Nature Education for Young Children in Nebraska. The trip is funded by the Rauch Foundation.

March 2007: The “Nebraska 5” join to rally local environmentalists, early childhood educators, teachers, pediatricians and nursery and tree companies for a LI conference.

Summer 2007 through 2008:  Various professional development sessions attended by key Nassau BOCES staff. BOCES also provides training to early childhood center staff.

February 2008: 2-day training in design principles of Nature Explore Classrooms; attended by 25 local landscape

architects.

March 12, 2009: No Child Left Inside Conference, Nassau BOCES is represented as workshop presenters,

moderators, volunteers, outreach committee.

Nature Explore Classrooms offer specifically designed spaces and

materials with proven benefits that encourage children to learn through

discovery.

A collaborative project of:

Children often don’t realize that they’re gaining important

learning skills as they play.

Nature Explore Classroom Elements…

Children have fun while developing imagination and a sense of wonder

which are motivating factors for lifelong learning.

Building miniature natural dams changes the course of floating leaves and feathers.

The sights, sounds, textures and beauty of nature make a

lasting impression on children.

The elements and principles of a Nature Explore Classroom are grounded in research…

Research has shown that when we have the experience of walking on uneven terrain as a young child…

It creates muscle memory that continues to help us even 50 years later!

Certified Nature Explore Classrooms on Long Island

CA Montessori Children’s

Center

LI Children’s Museum

And many others that are recently completed or are on the “Drawing board”…Head Start Centers (Southhold, Central Islip, Roosevelt)

Port Washington’s Children’s Center

Nassau County Museum of Art

Garden City Community Church Nursery School*

Bailey Arboretum*

Eisenhower Park

Old Westbury Gardens

Middle Country Library*

Hillside Farm (Oyster Bay)

Tackapausha Preserve

Sands Point Preserve

Seatuck Environmental Center * Completed

Nassau BOCESNature Explore Classroom will be at…

Brookville!March 2009: BOCES is awarded

a $10,000 matching grant to develop a

Nature Explore Classroom!

This is before…..

And now? A work in progress!