The Nature Program
Monthly community-based training workshops for adult volunteers to prepare them to teach place-based natural science lessons for classrooms of K-6 elementary school children.

Nearby Nature from Home or School: more outdoor learning activities
Natural science exploration modules that students (and families and teachers) can do alone or in a group and through the seasons — in the backyard, schoolyard, from the front stoop, in a nearby park or natural area.

Knee High Nature
Four Winds’ Professional Development Series/Professional Learning Communities for early childhood educators who want to nurture their young children’s sense of wonder, sense of place and sense of self through nature-based play and learning.

Teacher Professional Development
Year-long, teacher-directed, place-based science education professional development that connects teachers with local content specialists and natural resources to engage students in investigating community-based environmental issues and ideas that are meaning and relevant to their lives and their future.

MORE TIME TEACHING OUTDOORS: In addition to our year-long, multi-session teacher professional development, this year we are also offering a three-hour all-outdoor session for teachers that addresses teaching using the outdoor spaces at their site as a teaching resource for any subject area. This introduction, then, sets the stage for a teacher-led Professional Learning Community (PLC) to support each other in getting all children outdoors. Four Winds staff will provide up to 2 hours of coaching, relevant readings, and resources for the PLC.

Contact us at (802) 353-9440 to find out more!


Nearby Nature!

Click here to access our online publication for a treasure trove of natural science lessons and explorations designed to get children and adults outside learning together in every season.



Child with heart-shaped leaf