Nature Play Regional Listening Session

Illinois is in the process of launching a new Department of Early Childhood. Preschool licensing will be overseen by the new state agency. There is an opportunity to update current licensing standards to give clear legal standing to outdoor nature-based programs.

Outdoor ECEC practitioners have first hand knowledge of the health and developmental benefits of nature play. The state of Illinois wants to build a nurturing system for healthy, high quality childcare. We have a responsibility to share our knowledge and experience for the benefit of all Illinois kids and families.

The Transition Advisory Committee (TAC) is responsible for getting the new agency up and running. They are currently soliciting input about parent and provider needs via Regional Listening Sessions. We’re invited to assemble our community and give feedback about what we want the new agency to do.

The Nature Play Regional Listening Session is an opportunity to find out more about the new Department of Early Childhood and to contribute to the statewide conversation about what an equitable system for high quality early learning looks like. Join us on 9/23 from 7-8:30pm via Zoom.

In this meeting, we'll be following a template provided by the TAC.

This is a monthly Peer-to-Peer Network Zoom meeting for educators who work in early learning who want to incorporate outdoor learning. We meet the second Monday of each month from 7-8pm. The meeting is not topic-based - we want to hear from you and find out what you need to get your work done and then work together to solve all of our needs as a community. 

It’s important to get together now because:

1. Three states now have licensing standards for outdoor, nature-based (ONB) preschool programs and the national movement is only picking up steam.  We want to convene a peer-to-peer network to talk about our community's needs in order to create an advisory council of experts to teach our state about ONB best practices.

2. Governor Pritzker has initiated a new agency to oversee everything related to Early Childhood Education, projected to open in 2027.  The development of the new agency is a public process. Nature-based educators should be part of the conversation about what early childhood education looks like in our state.

Fill out the form at the link below to get on the invite list for the meeting and/or get on the mailing list for future meetings. FYI, these meetings are for educators. Feel free to add your name as a parent and you will receive notifications of parent focused events and networking opportunitities.

https://forms.gle/eheyJ2wkbrn7RieN6

This is a monthly Peer-to-Peer Network Zoom meeting for educators who work in early learning who want to incorporate outdoor learning. We meet the second Monday of each month from 7-8pm. The meeting is not topic-based - we want to hear from you and find out what you need to get your work done and then work together to solve all of our needs as a community. 

It’s important to get together now because:

1. Three states now have licensing standards for outdoor, nature-based (ONB) preschool programs and the national movement is only picking up steam.  We want to convene a peer-to-peer network to talk about our community's needs in order to create an advisory council of experts to teach our state about ONB best practices.

2. Governor Pritzker has initiated a new agency to oversee everything related to Early Childhood Education, projected to open in 2027.  The development of the new agency is a public process. Nature-based educators should be part of the conversation about what early childhood education looks like in our state.

Fill out the form at the link below to get on the invite list for the meeting and/or get on the mailing list for future meetings. FYI, these meetings are for educators. Feel free to add your name as a parent and you will receive notifications of parent focused events and networking opportunitities.

https://forms.gle/eheyJ2wkbrn7RieN6

We’re starting a monthly Peer-to-Peer Network Zoom meeting and this will be our first meeting. The meeting is not topic-based - we want to hear from you and find out what you need to get your work done. 

It’s important to get together now because:

1. Three states now have licensing standards for outdoor, nature-based (ONB) preschool programs and the national movement is only picking up steam.  We want to convene a peer-to-peer network to talk about our community's needs in order to create an advisory council of experts to teach our state about ONB best practices.

2. Governor Pritzker has initiated a new agency to oversee everything related to Early Childhood Education, projected to open in 2027.  The development of the new agency is a public process. Nature-based educators should be part of the conversation about what early childhood education looks like in our state.

Fill out the form at the link below to get on the invite list for the meeting and/or get on the mailing list for future meetings.

https://forms.gle/eheyJ2wkbrn7RieN6

Watch the trailer

Forest Schools for Illinois (FSIL) is very proud to present a special screening of No Small Matter. High-quality early care and education has far-reaching impacts. With a healthy dose of humor and a surprising edge, No Small Matter reveals the tragic cost of getting this wrong, and the huge payoff—for our kids, our families, and our country—of getting it right. Run time is approximately 75 minutes. Please bring a lawn chair for comfortable movie viewing.

A fantastic pop-up adventure playscape will be provided for kids to experience while grown-ups watch the film, and popcorn will be enjoyed by all!

$10 suggested donation per family. Any proceeds will support the advocacy efforts of Forest Schools for Illinois to make outdoor preschools legal and accessible for more kids in our state.

Many thanks to the Welles Park Advisory Council and Park Supervisor Becky Kliber, who sponsored this event.

Saturday, December 14, 2019

• 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM

• LaBagh Woods, Grove #1 (the stone pavilion)

• Suggested $10 donation per family

Join us, rain or shine, to celebrate the turning of the seasons and remember the joy and wonder of being outdoors in the winter. We’ll make pancakes, frolic in the wilderness, and enjoy a performance by Mae the Fire Dancer! We’ll also be filling out postcards and petitions asking our state representatives to pass the Forest Schools for Illinois bill.

Bring your own table settings; pancakes & tea provided

See you out there!