Ken Finch - President & Founder of Green Hearts Institute from Nebraska, USA
Workshop Title - Enhance your Outdoor spaces with Nature based play – the easy & affordable way.
Join Keynote Presenter Ken Finch to delve deeper into easy and affordable approaches to enhancing your early childhood outdoor spaces for more nature-based play. Bring your own
ideas, successes, and challenges to share!
Cheryl Greenfield, Programme Leader of the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Teaching) at Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT).
Workshop Title – Optimal spaces & places in early childhood settings. Research findings
A presentation of the findings from research undertaken with New Zealand early childhood centres in relation to what spaces/places are perceived as optimal to have in early childhood settings. Research data was gathered through photographs of the space and/or place and responses to a questionnaire completed by teachers. The findings answer the following questions: Why do you see this as an optimal space/place? Why do you consider this aspect of the outdoor environment to be so valuable in terms of children’s holistic development? What is it that you think the children like about it? What do you think contributes to this space/place being so appealing, inviting and/or well used? Eight themes have emerged which Cheryl will share with the participants along with the photographic data that was gathered.
Annemarie Zwack, Visual Artist, Spencer NY, USA
Workshop title: Building Fairy Houses
Using the natural materials of your local environment, participants will build small scale, one-of-a-kind, organic structures that engage the imagination, challenge the maker to be resourceful with materials, and to see the natural world with new eyes. Using tree bark, berries, leaves, nut shells, shells, grasses, sticks, flowers, moss, pebbels, & perhaps a little clay, we will each create tiny worlds for the imagination to inhabit. Join in the fun and experience the transformative practice of seeing with the imagination as you engage in the play possibilities of the natural world.
Pennie Brownlie, Babywise. Accomplished author & early childhood educator. NZ
Workshop Title - With New Eyes
Planet Earth is a Living Body with different names depending on who is telling the Earth Story and naming her: Planet Earth, Mother Earth, Papatuanuku, Gaia are four names you are likely to hear here in Aotearoa-New Zealand. You and I are an integral part of the Life that is this Earth. In this workshop we will look at ways to think and to talk about our Earth Home which acknowledge our interconnectedness. We will explore how our words and our stories underpin our behaviour, and ponder building respectful relationships with the Circle of Life. We will look at the familiar with new eyes.
Mate Poa & Aggie Wynyard, Moerewa NZ
Workshop Title - Nikau Atawhai
The nurture of children has traditionally been the responsibility of women. This Nikau workshop allows you to explore the similarities of how this rakau Atawhai (nurtures) it’s young to blossom like our tamariki/Mokopuna. There are many uses that the Nikau can be used within our Kohungahunga.
Anna Gentry, NaturePlay NZ, Dip Tch, Bed, ECE facilitator, Environmental educator,
Workshop Title: Indigenous Wisdom for 21st Century learning.
Ancient cultures & indigenous peoples recognized natures power, worked with it in their daily lives and recognized nature was their teacher. Join Anna to journey into this knowledge & learn how old ways can direct us in a 21st century living & learning context.
Anna will share her insights, which will include useful tools for all centres. For those taking on a new approach with nature education, and to those well embedded in their programme, a time to reflect. The gems of this workshop will be insightful, practical and hands on to help you create visionary 21st learning & living with children
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