The Early Childhood Outdoor Learning Network acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which we live, work and play. Stories and knowledge shared by First Peoples of connection with Country are invaluable to our learning and understanding. We acknowledge all First Peoples and pay respect to Elders: past, present and emerging.
ECO Learning Network's 2022 Training Package
Our training, which supports teachers and educators to start nature/bush/beach kindergarten programs, is School Readiness Funding-approved.
Training will return to in-person delivery, including nature kindergarten site visits in 2022!
Term 1 training - Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne
Day 1 - Monday 7 March, 9.30am-3.30pm at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne
Day 2 site visits - participants choose one from three different options:
Weds 16 March, 9am-12pm at Westgarth Kinder's Darebin Parklands site, or
Thurs 17 March, 9am-3pm at Woodleigh School Minimbah Campus, Frankston South, or
Mon 21 March, 9am-2pm at Balnarring Kinder's beach site
Day 3 - Monday 28 March, 9.30am-3.30pm at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne.
Term 2 training - Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne
Day 1 - Friday 27 May, 9.30am-3.30pm at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne
Day 2 site visits - participants choose one from three different options:
Mon 6 June, 9am-2pm at Balnarring Kinder's beach site, or
Weds 8 June, 9am-12pm at Westgarth Kinder's Darebin Parklands site, or
Thurs 9 June, 9am-3pm at Woodleigh School Minimbah Campus, Frankston South
Day 3 - Friday 10 June, 9.30am-3.30pm at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne.
To book for our term 1 and 2 training, please send us an email at training.ecoln@gmail.com
Our facilitator-led training offers an introduction to outdoor programs through reflection, discussion and access to current practitioners.
Sessions address:
Philosophy, pedagogy & partnerships; Regulations; VEYLDF Practice Principles & Outcomes;
First Peoples' Perspectives; The nuts & bolts of running an outdoor program
Sessions will also be offered in terms 3 and 4.
We also offer training packages for individual early childhood centres, networks, and organisations. For more information on options,
click on the link below or email us at training.ecoln@gmail.com. We look forward to working with you.
Training will return to in-person delivery, including nature kindergarten site visits in 2022!
Term 1 training - Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne
Day 1 - Monday 7 March, 9.30am-3.30pm at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne
Day 2 site visits - participants choose one from three different options:
Weds 16 March, 9am-12pm at Westgarth Kinder's Darebin Parklands site, or
Thurs 17 March, 9am-3pm at Woodleigh School Minimbah Campus, Frankston South, or
Mon 21 March, 9am-2pm at Balnarring Kinder's beach site
Day 3 - Monday 28 March, 9.30am-3.30pm at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne.
Term 2 training - Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne
Day 1 - Friday 27 May, 9.30am-3.30pm at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne
Day 2 site visits - participants choose one from three different options:
Mon 6 June, 9am-2pm at Balnarring Kinder's beach site, or
Weds 8 June, 9am-12pm at Westgarth Kinder's Darebin Parklands site, or
Thurs 9 June, 9am-3pm at Woodleigh School Minimbah Campus, Frankston South
Day 3 - Friday 10 June, 9.30am-3.30pm at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne.
To book for our term 1 and 2 training, please send us an email at training.ecoln@gmail.com
Our facilitator-led training offers an introduction to outdoor programs through reflection, discussion and access to current practitioners.
Sessions address:
Philosophy, pedagogy & partnerships; Regulations; VEYLDF Practice Principles & Outcomes;
First Peoples' Perspectives; The nuts & bolts of running an outdoor program
Sessions will also be offered in terms 3 and 4.
We also offer training packages for individual early childhood centres, networks, and organisations. For more information on options,
click on the link below or email us at training.ecoln@gmail.com. We look forward to working with you.
Promoting outdoor learning for young children.
The Early Childhood Outdoor Learning Network is a forum for educators to share their experience of providing early childhood education outdoors, learn from each other, and promote outdoor learning for young children. The ECOLN runs an annual Pedagogy & Practice Conference, Gatherings to visit nature kindergarten sites, and training for services wanting to get a nature program off the ground. We maintain a map of nature kindergarten programs, and a mailing list. We engage in promotion of nature kindergarten and children's access to outdoor play. We aim to connect teachers and services to each other, and learn from each other. Our professional learning programs include a strong commitment to acknowledging and working with First Nations people. We are a not-for-profit network of practitioners. Explore the information on this site for our past and present Conference programs, and our range of activities. To stay in touch, like our Facebook page, and sign up to our mailing list.
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About our GatheringsThe Early Childhood Outdoor Learning Network holds Gatherings where outdoor programs host visitors to their learning sites.
Gatherings are open to all, but are chiefly directed at practitioners who want to see the site, hear about how the program works in that space, and hear from other practitioners about the practicalities and pedagogy of teaching in these settings. Gatherings are held on Saturdays so as not to disrupt programs. We understand that people would love to see programs in operation, however it is too intrusive for the children and educators. Gatherings have been held at a range of services. See here. For notification of future Gatherings, join the the ECOLN mailing list. Pedagogy & Practice in Nature Education Conference Series
The Early Childhood Outdoor Learning Network kicked off our annual Pedagogy & Practice Conferences for outdoor learning practitioners in 2016. These are held during Nature Play Week, in partnership with the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne.
Conferences are kept small to promote networking, and affordable for educators who have to pay their own way. From 2020, eligible services can use their SRF funding to attend this Conference. Programs intentionally go beyond the classroom to build the stores of knowledge we have to draw on when working with children. Click on links below for information about past Conferences. Nature Kindergarten Facilitator Demonstration Project
ECOLN has linked with outdoors education peak body Outdoors Victoria for this exciting project. Targeting areas where outdoor programs in early childhood are under-represented, the project has employed a facilitator, ECOLN member Rose Major, to help early childhood services develop Nature/Bush Kindergarten programs. Find out more here, or contact facilitator Rose at naturekindergarten@outdoorsvictoria.org.au |