Nature Connection in Early Childhood
Case studies of local nature excursions from three Marlborough kindergartens
Guest speakers: Gwenda Jones, senior teacher at Marlborough Kindergarten Association, and Ramona Millen, environmental educator
This webinar is free and will be relevant for educators working with children in ECE and early Primary. Please register using the button on the left.
Join us to hear inspiring case studies from Springlands, Mayfield, and Witherlea Kindergartens, who took part in a nature connection pilot programme in 2024. The aim of the programme was to establish regular, local nature excursions, allowing small groups of children to visit and explore local green spaces throughout the seasons, connecting closely with nature and their local community.
Gwenda and Ramona will share useful tips about the logistics of setting up the programmes, including effective policies for Health and Safety. They will also share the highlights and reflections from the teachers and children involved, and how these programmes are evolving and becoming self-sustaining.
Each kindergarten adapted the programme to work for them, but all of the excursions have a focus on supporting children to connect with the environment using their senses and free play. Sometimes resources or activities are used, to help scaffold the experience at the start, but as both the teachers and children gain confidence, the main ingredients are creativity and natural materials. Teachers are learning to trust children’s capabilities and give them agency, with lots of time for exploration and play.
Children are developing a range of physical skills along with literacy, numeracy, observation skills and problem solving. Pūrākau and te ao Māori (e.g. experiencing Atua in te taiao) are embodied within the excursions and this is reinforced back at the kindergartens. Teachers, children and whānau have all noticed the benefits for their wellbeing and sense of connection to the community.
This nature connection programme pilot was supported by the Marlborough District Council, who funded Ramona’s time to help set up the programmes and work with teachers. The extra support from Ramona helped to kickstart the excursions (including being an extra adult for ratios) but they are now self-sustaining.
