See the Project Learning Tree / Growing Up WILD Trainings page for even more trainings.
More Opportunities Near You
Wednesday, June 23rd; 4:30pm - 5:30pm
EL4IL Presentation and Feedback Session
Zoom
Join EEAI and other project partners to hear an overview of the newly revised Environmental Literacy for Illinois Framework. Then participate in a feedback discussion to suggest changes, additions or ways you think the framework could be improved. Learn about the next steps and ways to get involved as well!
A copy of the revised EL4IL is available online for you to review prior to attending the meeting.
Thursday, June 24th; 11:30am - 12:30pm
EL4IL Presentation and Feedback Session
Zoom
Join EEAI and other project partners to hear an overview of the newly revised Environmental Literacy for Illinois Framework. Then participate in a feedback discussion to suggest changes, additions or ways you think the framework could be improved. Learn about the next steps and ways to get involved as well!
A copy of the revised EL4IL is available online for you to review prior to attending the meeting.
Sunday, June 27th; 1:30pm - 3:30pm
Meet & Greet with the East Central Regional Directors
Scovill Zoo
71 S Country Club Rd, Decatur, IL 62521
Cost: $3.75; for zoo admission; to be paid at the door
RSVP: eastcentralregioneeai@gmail.com
Get to know your Regional Directors, Lizzie Van Ert and Mariah Myers, during this fun day at the Scovill Zoo! We’ll take a tour around the Zoo, meet some of the Zoo’s ambassador animals for a live presentation, and enjoy refreshments while we socialize and talk about things to come in 2021
Saturday, June 26th; 8:00pm
Bat Hike and Campfire
Stillman Nature Center
33 W. Penny Rd.
South Barrington, Il.
Join Naturalists for a fun evening of watching bats fly at dusk. Learn fascinating facts about these misunderstood, valuable creatures.
Feel free to bring marshmallows to toast or s’more fixings!
Cost - $2/person
Register - Lsviatko@clcillinois.edu
Or call Stillman Nature center at:
(847) 428-6957
Wednesday, July 14th; 5:00pm - 6:00pm CT
Nature Play and Connecting Learning Standards Naturally
Virtual Workshop
Presenters - Cara Ruffo, Program Naturalist, Park Ridge Park District; Audrey Todd, Executive Director; Wonder Woods
Join EEAI and members of the Northern Illinois Nature Preschool Association in this exciting nature play webinar. Through stories of children’s experiences in nature, we will explore the connection between student’s nature play and the Illinois early learning and development standards. We will examine the standards side by side with seasonal activities and experiences in nature: Connect the social/emotional standards to a sledding experience, uncover the mathematics of leaf and stick collection, and embrace the creative and dramatic possibilities of a small hill.
Can't make it at this time? Anyone who registers will receive a link to the recording of the presentation.
Cost - FREE for EEAI Members; $10 for Non-members
REGISTER
Presenter Bios -
Cara Ruffo is a Program Naturalist at Wildwood Nature Center at the Park Ridge Park District. She has been educating all ages in science and nature topics since 2009, and has been on the Board of Directors with the Northern Illinois Nature Preschool Association (NINPA) since 2014. Cara’s greatest joy is helping students learn about the world around them, and watching their gained knowledge blossom to greater awareness and grow into stewardship.
Audrey Todd (they/them) (pictured) is the Executive Director of Wonder Woods NFP and former Chef & Food Education Director Farmer with The Forest Playschool for three years. They taught the past 8 years teaching young children outside in a garden, outdoor kitchen or woodland environment. Audrey believes in creating outdoor experiential learning environments that foster creativity, resiliency, and healing. They're a seed planter of plants and abolition. They hold a Forest School Teacher Certificate through The Forest School of Canada and are a member of Radical Playworkers Chicago. They love word play, carrots, and using all five senses to explore the natural world. While not in the woods, you can find them reading or swimming at the lake.
Thursday, July 22nd; 3:30pm - 5:30pm CT
NAAEE Workshop: Practitioner's Guide to Assessing Connection to Nature
Virtual Workshop
Presenter - Bruce Young, Affiliate Network Coordinator, North American Association for Environmental Education
Are you interested in understanding your audiences’ relationships with nature? Do you need to demonstrate to funders that your programs increase learners’ connection to nature? This session will introduce you to the Practitioner's Guide to Assessing Connection to Nature, a new guidebook for helping you measure this elusive concept with young children, teenagers, or adults. This session, presented by NAAEE staff Bruce Young, will enable participants to become familiar with the Guide, explore the tools, and discuss which of the 11 assessment tools will be appropriate for their programs.
Cost: Recommended donation of $5. Please visit EEAI Donate page to make donation is possible.
REGISTER
EL4IL Presentation and Feedback Session
Zoom
Join EEAI and other project partners to hear an overview of the newly revised Environmental Literacy for Illinois Framework. Then participate in a feedback discussion to suggest changes, additions or ways you think the framework could be improved. Learn about the next steps and ways to get involved as well!
A copy of the revised EL4IL is available online for you to review prior to attending the meeting.
Thursday, June 24th; 11:30am - 12:30pm
EL4IL Presentation and Feedback Session
Zoom
Join EEAI and other project partners to hear an overview of the newly revised Environmental Literacy for Illinois Framework. Then participate in a feedback discussion to suggest changes, additions or ways you think the framework could be improved. Learn about the next steps and ways to get involved as well!
A copy of the revised EL4IL is available online for you to review prior to attending the meeting.
Sunday, June 27th; 1:30pm - 3:30pm
Meet & Greet with the East Central Regional Directors
Scovill Zoo
71 S Country Club Rd, Decatur, IL 62521
Cost: $3.75; for zoo admission; to be paid at the door
RSVP: eastcentralregioneeai@gmail.com
Get to know your Regional Directors, Lizzie Van Ert and Mariah Myers, during this fun day at the Scovill Zoo! We’ll take a tour around the Zoo, meet some of the Zoo’s ambassador animals for a live presentation, and enjoy refreshments while we socialize and talk about things to come in 2021
Saturday, June 26th; 8:00pm
Bat Hike and Campfire
Stillman Nature Center
33 W. Penny Rd.
South Barrington, Il.
Join Naturalists for a fun evening of watching bats fly at dusk. Learn fascinating facts about these misunderstood, valuable creatures.
Feel free to bring marshmallows to toast or s’more fixings!
Cost - $2/person
Register - Lsviatko@clcillinois.edu
Or call Stillman Nature center at:
(847) 428-6957
Wednesday, July 14th; 5:00pm - 6:00pm CT
Nature Play and Connecting Learning Standards Naturally
Virtual Workshop
Presenters - Cara Ruffo, Program Naturalist, Park Ridge Park District; Audrey Todd, Executive Director; Wonder Woods
Join EEAI and members of the Northern Illinois Nature Preschool Association in this exciting nature play webinar. Through stories of children’s experiences in nature, we will explore the connection between student’s nature play and the Illinois early learning and development standards. We will examine the standards side by side with seasonal activities and experiences in nature: Connect the social/emotional standards to a sledding experience, uncover the mathematics of leaf and stick collection, and embrace the creative and dramatic possibilities of a small hill.
Can't make it at this time? Anyone who registers will receive a link to the recording of the presentation.
Cost - FREE for EEAI Members; $10 for Non-members
REGISTER
Presenter Bios -
Cara Ruffo is a Program Naturalist at Wildwood Nature Center at the Park Ridge Park District. She has been educating all ages in science and nature topics since 2009, and has been on the Board of Directors with the Northern Illinois Nature Preschool Association (NINPA) since 2014. Cara’s greatest joy is helping students learn about the world around them, and watching their gained knowledge blossom to greater awareness and grow into stewardship.
Audrey Todd (they/them) (pictured) is the Executive Director of Wonder Woods NFP and former Chef & Food Education Director Farmer with The Forest Playschool for three years. They taught the past 8 years teaching young children outside in a garden, outdoor kitchen or woodland environment. Audrey believes in creating outdoor experiential learning environments that foster creativity, resiliency, and healing. They're a seed planter of plants and abolition. They hold a Forest School Teacher Certificate through The Forest School of Canada and are a member of Radical Playworkers Chicago. They love word play, carrots, and using all five senses to explore the natural world. While not in the woods, you can find them reading or swimming at the lake.
Thursday, July 22nd; 3:30pm - 5:30pm CT
NAAEE Workshop: Practitioner's Guide to Assessing Connection to Nature
Virtual Workshop
Presenter - Bruce Young, Affiliate Network Coordinator, North American Association for Environmental Education
Are you interested in understanding your audiences’ relationships with nature? Do you need to demonstrate to funders that your programs increase learners’ connection to nature? This session will introduce you to the Practitioner's Guide to Assessing Connection to Nature, a new guidebook for helping you measure this elusive concept with young children, teenagers, or adults. This session, presented by NAAEE staff Bruce Young, will enable participants to become familiar with the Guide, explore the tools, and discuss which of the 11 assessment tools will be appropriate for their programs.
Cost: Recommended donation of $5. Please visit EEAI Donate page to make donation is possible.
REGISTER