Nature Preschools and Forest Kindergartens: The Handbook for Outdoor Learning

Environmental education expert David Sobel joins with a variety of colleagues to share their experiences and steps for creating a successful forest kindergarten program. Nature Preschools and Forest Kindergartens walks you through the European roots of the concept to the recent resurgence of these kinds of programs in North America. Going well beyond a history lesson, these experts provide the framework to understand the concepts and build a learning community that stimulates curiosity and inquisitiveness in a natural environment. This helpful guide provides the curriculum, ideas, and guidance needed to foster special gifts in children. It also gives you the nuts and bolts of running a successful nature preschool business, such as potential obstacles, staff and curriculum design, best practices for success, site and facility management, and business planning. Nature Preschools and Forest Kindergartens provides the mentorship and guidance to become a leader in nature-based education. David Sobel has spent the last twenty-five years working in the field of child development, place-based education, and parenting with nature. He currently serves as senior faculty in the education department at Antioch University New England in Keene, New Hampshire. His expertise and passion have led him to authoring seven books and being identified as one of the "gurus and rock stars of environmental education" by Teacher magazine.