Welcome to Sensory Regulation and Nature Connection for Therapists, OT/PT/Speech! This one-day workshop will be facilitated by Anne Stires of Anne Stires Educational Consulting, LLC/Juniper Hill Center for Educator Renewal and pediatric occupational therapist Sue Ford of Coorie Wellness, LLC. During this interactive and collaborative event, therapists will gain hands-on practice and perspective on what regulation “looks like” in outdoor settings and how it can differ from the indoor classroom. They will also learn how to grade, adapt, and scaffold goal areas using the outdoor setting, and tools to incorporate mindfulness, social-emotional learning, and sensory-motor activities into nature connected therapy sessions. With hands-on practice in creating nurturing therapy spaces in the outdoors, therapists will create their own “nature therapy bag” for therapeutic interventions with research and resources to help bridge the outdoors into the classrooms! After a day of nature immersion in a beautiful landscape and connecting with like-minded colleagues, participants themselves will return to their practices renewed and refreshed.

facilitated by Sue Ford & Anne Stires

Workshop Fee: $300

Welcome to Sensory Regulation and Nature Connection for Classroom Teachers/Childcare Providers! This one-day workshop will be facilitated by Anne Stires of Anne Stires Educational Consulting, LLC/Juniper Hill Center for Educator Renewal and pediatric occupational therapist Sue Ford of Coorie Wellness, LLC. During this interactive and collaborative event, educators will be introduced to concepts around nature connected sensory processing and what regulation looks like in the outdoor classroom. They will also learn about how students' hierarchy of needs helps to structure and adapt learning activities for success. Participants will be able to experience the benefits of incorporating daily practice of setting intentions, mindfulness, and self “check-ins” to promote self-regulation, transition tolerance, and flexibility in play, learning, and conceptual understanding. Educators will practice applying strategies, problem solve scenarios, and build their own “tool box” of activities for supporting regulation and individual sensory needs in the outdoor classroom. Participants will complete the fun-filled and refreshing professional development workshop with a wealth of resources and information. The course will provide them with a strong baseline from which to delve deeper into nature connection and outdoor-/community-based schooling for prekindergarten, kindergarten, and elementary-aged children (primarily for up to grade 5).

facilitated by Sue Ford & Anne Stires

Workshop Fee: $300

What a challenging few years it has been…If you are an educator who has been working around the clock to help your students, school communities, and families survive (and even thrive) during this pandemic, you are ready for a day of retreat. Join us for a relaxing and immersive day of renewal in nature with your education colleagues! A host of wellness practitioners will facilitate restorative and generative workshops in yoga, art, breath, play, functional medicine, and nature connection. You will also be treated to a beautiful and healthy lunch. After a day of nature and wellness connection, everyone is sure to leave calm, refreshed, and ready to begin summer–balanced and barefoot.

Facilitated by several Maine-based wellness practitioners–Charlene Lutz, Mae Corwin, Elise Voigt, Carrie Levine, and Anne Stires

Retreat Fee: $0-100 sliding scale Educator / Administrator

Teaching with Nature II: Social Emotional Learning and Nature Connection is a 3.5-day teacher, childcare provider, therapist, or social worker education course, taught in collaboration between Antioch University, the Juniper Hill Center for Educator Renewal, and Anne Stires Educational Consulting, LLC. There is no better context to develop self awareness, practice relationship skills, engage in responsible decision making, and address the needs of the whole child, than when immersed in the natural world in a culturally responsive way. Nature connection provides the ideal structure for children to explore their interests, examine their emerging identities, and grow empathy for, and connection to, all living things. The course will provide participants will build on the concepts of Teaching with Nature I (not a prerequisite, but it is recommended) as a baseline from which to delve deeper into social emotional learning and nature connection topics for prekindergarten, kindergarten, and elementary and middle school-aged children (though grade 8).*

facilitated by Kate Ziminsky and Anne Stires

Workshop Fee: $1200 (add $400 if taking graduate credit from Antioch)

Join us for a relaxing and immersive day of renewal in nature with your administrator colleagues! A host of remarkable wellness practitioners will facilitate generative workshops in yoga, art, breath, play, functional medicine, and nature connection and you will be treated to a beautiful and healthy lunch. Everyone is sure to leave calm, refreshed, and ready to begin planning for another remarkable school year.

facilitated by several Maine-based wellness practitioners (Charlene Lutz, Mae Corwin, Elise Voigt, Carrie Levine) and Marie Robinson & Anne Stires

Workshop Fee: $0-100 sliding scaleEducator/Administrator

Teaching with Nature I: An Introduction to Nature Connection and Outdoor Learning is a 3.5 day teacher, childcare provider, therapist, or social worker education course taught in collaboration between Antioch University, the Juniper Hill Center for Educator Renewal, and Anne Stires Educational Consulting, LLC. We will focus on culturally responsive nature connection and outdoor learning topics including: site and place awareness, safety and risk management, curriculum development, and natural history of local flora and fauna. Local naturalists and additional teachers will be highlighted as needed for key activities and concepts. Participants will complete the fun-filled and refreshing professional development workshop with a wealth of resources and information. The course will provide participants with a strong baseline from which to delve deeper into outdoor- and community-based schooling for pre-K, kindergarten, and elementary-aged children (primarily for up to grade 5).*

facilitated by Marie Robinson & Anne Stires

Workshop Fee: $1200 (add $400 if taking graduate credit from Antioch)