PROGRAM
​3:30 PM - 4:45 PM

Ethical Society 1st Sunday Program
Sunday, January 5

Nature as Norm, not Exception

For thousands of years, children experienced most of their learning outside. Only recently has childhood moved primarily indoors, with alarming consequences. Fortunately, nature preschools and forest schools are growing rapidly across the country, but there is much room for advancing equity and access to nature-based programs. Come learn the benefits and the past, present and encouraging future of these programs, and what you can do to help ensure that nature is more the norm than the exception for all children.  ​

BIO: Susan Chlebowski is a certified Montessori teacher who studies and teaches research-based models of living and learning that honor a child’s right to experience nature as part of a healthy, happy childhood. She served as director/head teacher at two nature-based preschools, is receiving her certification as a Forest School Leader and has studied nature schools in Denmark and Scotland. She is the Education Coordinator for the Merrill Linn Conservancy, a regular guest lecturer on child-led nature pedagogy, and serves on a nature playground design team. Her most recent focus work is connecting children to the outdoors with equity and inclusion.