Antioch University
In Bloom Conferences
Promising Practices in Nature-Based Early Childhood Education
For the past decade, Antioch University New England’s Nature-based Early Childhood program has offered about 40 In Bloom: Promising Practices in Nature-based Early Childhood Education conferences around the country. Most of them have been in New England, but we’ve also offered conferences in Newark, DE, Santa Barbara, CA, and Asheville, NC, and collaborated on conferences in Jackson, WY, and the New York City metropolitan area. The intent of these events is to support the community of practitioners who are working to bring early childhood education out into the neighborhoods, parks, playgrounds, woods, and open spaces surrounding their schools.
This year, we’ll be offering three In Bloom conferences.
In Bloom in Delaware
- Saturday, April 26, 2025
- University of Delaware Lab School, Newark, DE
In Bloom in New Hampshire
- Saturday, May 17, 2024
- Symonds Elementary School. Keene, NH.
In Bloom in Maine
- Saturday, June 7, 2024,
- Educare Central Maine, Waterville, ME.
Similar to the past few years, the theme for all the conferences will be nature and place-based education for preschool through third-grade students and teachers. Though the theme is the same everywhere, each conference has unique keynote speakers, panels, and musical experiences.
The keynote speakers come from either right around the corner or from around the country. The workshop presenters are mostly local preschool and elementary school teachers who have made a commitment to some form of learning outdoors in their city or town. There’s always a workshop or two by Antioch New England Nature-based Early Childhood faculty. Maine workshop presenters are mostly from Maine, Delaware workshop presenters are mostly from Delaware. and…you get the idea. The conferences happen rain or shine, some indoors and mostly outdoors. The food is great and the joy and energy are palpable. Lots of participants say, “That was the best professional development experience I’ve been to in years.”
The conferences are usually open to about 125 early childhood educators at each site. They fill up! Don’t wait till the last minute to register or you’ll find yourself on a waiting list. Each conference has a shared large group experience first thing in the morning and right after lunch. Then, you choose to attend two longer, hands-on workshops, one in the morning and another in the afternoon. Come prepared to sit on the ground, breathe fresh air, and be actively engaged.
Registration Fees
Working Individual: $125
School Group: $100 per person with three registering from the same district
AU Alumni/Student & UD Current Students: $75
In Bloom in Delaware
Saturday, April 26, 2025
- 8:15 AM – 4:00 PM (Registration check-in opens at 8:15 AM, the conference begins promptly at 9:00 AM
- University of Delaware Lab School, Newark, DE
We conducted two wonderful In Blooms in Delaware in 2022 and 2023 that were attended by early childhood educators and administrators from across the mid-Atlantic states. We took a break last year, and now we’ll be back at the University of Delaware Lab School as part of their 90th anniversary year. And because of the size of the venue this year, we’ll also be limiting the number of attendees to 90. Ninety for the 90th. So, sign up early if you’re interested.
The conference will be held both at 15 Innovation Way and the UD Lab School. They’re right across the street from each other, with a convenient walking path connecting the two. Registration, morning refreshments, and the morning keynote will be held at 15 Innovation Way. Then, we’ll stroll over to the Lab School for workshops. We’ll stroll back to 15 Innovation Way for lunch and the afternoon keynote and then stroll back to the Lab School for afternoon workshops. Always good to have some walking and fresh air inserted into the schedule of the day.
You can choose to park at 15 Innovation Way or the UD Lab School and walk or drive back and forth. There should be ample parking in both lots.
Morning Keynote
Democracy is Built in the Sandbox: How Play Shapes Our Brains,
Our Bodies and Our Communities
Meghan Talarowski, founder and executive director of Studio Ludo, Philadelphia, PA
Riding the wave of the child-saving movement of the early 1900s, play and the playground were seen as foundational to children’s development. Sand gardens and spaces for play proliferated alongside the rise of kindergartens and trained playworkers. Play was considered the right of the child and one of many training grounds for a healthy democracy.
One hundred and twenty five years later, we need a new child saving movement. Play is rarely seen as essential, although it is needed now more than ever. As we look to an increasingly unstable future, play spaces and the adults that support them provide the types of experiences and development that our future needs.
Meghan Talarowski is the founder and executive director of Studio Ludo in Philadelphia. She has degrees in architecture and landscape architecture, is a certified playground safety inspector, and licensed landscape architect. Her research focuses on how the design of play environments impacts physical health and social behavior. To date, she has collected data on over 60,000 people in 100 play spaces. This research informs her play designs, which include over 30 play environments across the US. Her work has been featured by The New York Times, The Atlantic, NPR, Curbed, Dwell, Popular Science, Landscape Architecture Magazine, and World Landscape Architecture Magazine.
Morning Workshops
Take Math Outside!
Rachel Tidd, Author, Wild Learning: Practical Ideas for Bringing Teaching Outdoors and the Wild Math and Wild Reading curricula series, Ithaca, NY
What can you do with a wonder? Achieving the Core through Student Interest.
Kristen Chandler and Alexis Washofsky, Teachers of Outdoor PreK/K, University of Delaware Lab School, Newark, DE
Nature Club in a Primary School
Meg Anderson, Kindergarten Teacher, and Katie Miro, First Grade Teacher, Newark Charter School, Newark, DE
Afternoon Keynote
Roots of Literacy: Getting Ready to Read Outdoors
Rachel Tidd, Author, Wild Learning: Practical Ideas for Bringing Teaching Outdoors and the Wild Math and Wild Reading curricula series, Ithaca, NY
New mandates in the science of reading leave many early childhood educators feeling pressured to ensure their outdoor learning practices align with these new requirements. This keynote highlights how outdoor learning and play can fit within the latest reading research. You’ll leave inspired and equipped with the knowledge and language needed to advocate for outdoor learning and play to be recognized as vital partners in building early literacy skills.
Rachel Tidd is passionate about integrating outdoor and place-based learning to enrich literacy and math instruction. She is the author of Wild Learning: Practical Ideas for Bringing Teaching Outdoors and the creator of the Wild Math® and Wild Reading® curricula. Rachel is a former elementary special education teacher with a Master’s degree in Elementary and Special Education from Bank Street College of Education. Currently pursuing her doctorate at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, her research explores integrating sustainability and language arts education.
Afternoon Workshops
Designing Outdoor Play Environments for Young Children
Meghan Talarowski, founder and executive director, Studio Ludo, Philadelphia, PA
Beyond the Bulletin Board: Using Documentation Panels in Nature-based Education
Katie Pollock and Amanda Lala, Co-teachers, Nature Preschool, University of Delaware Lab School, Newark, DE
Stick Play: The Power of Imagination
Anne M. Stires, Consultant, Anne Stires Educational Consulting, Affiliate Faculty, Antioch University, Doctoral Student, Public Policy and Educational Leadership, University of Southern Maine, Lincolnville, ME
Year-Round Outdoor Play and Learning for Toddlers and Preschoolers:
A Tinkergarten Workshop
Emily Hegman, Montessori-Certified Tinkergarten Teacher, Wilmington, DE
In Bloom in New Hampshire
Saturday, May 17, 2025
- 8:15 AM – 4:00 pm (Registration check-in opens at 8:15 AM, the conference begins promptly at 9:00 AM
- Symonds Elementary School, Keene, NH
We planted In Bloom in Keene, NH, in the spring of 2011. It was part and parcel of the inception of the Nature-based Early Childhood program at Antioch New England. We did a couple of annual events in Keene, and then we moved further afield–down to New Haven, up to Burlington, VT, and over to Kittery, ME. We liked exploring the early childhood communities around New England, but eventually, we started to feel a bit homesick. So it feels right to be bringing In Bloom back to Keene.
The conference will be held at Symonds Elementary School in Keene–a charming, arts-filled neighborhood elementary school with good outdoor learning spaces and easy access to surrounding Wheelock Park. Symonds has a number of teachers conducting forest days in the early elementary grades, and you’ll enjoy all the beautiful child-created artwork on the walls throughout the school. The school provides great examples of how to incorporate nature-based education into the public school curriculum
Morning Keynote
Every Tree Has a Story: An Inspiration Towards Inclusive Nature-Based Experiences
Mariam Murphy, Community Engagement Manager, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle IL
Every individual deserves to connect with nature in authentically meaningful ways. Nevertheless, within diverse natural settings, many diverse learners are not always included. This keynote will outline key principles designed to transform nature-based programs into community-informed, inclusive experiences. Resources and examples are based on the co-development of nature-based programs for students who are Deafblind, integrating sensory-sensitive practices on hikes and prioritizing mindfulness throughout the seasons. Prepare to be inspired by the stories of trees and of the stories of all of the explorers amongst them.
Mariam Murphy is the Community Engagement Manager at The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, IL. With a background in special education and a love of the outdoors, her focus has been developing accessible and engaging nature-based experiences. Through curiosity, creativity, and collaboration, Mariam has designed programs, including Nature Play for All, seasonal tactile hikes, and an accessible maple tapping experience. She is a contributing author featured in Dr. Ruth Wilson’s book Naturally Inclusive: Engaging Children of All Abilities Outdoors. Mariam hopes to soon pursue her dream of becoming a pastry chef while being inspired by local seasonal ingredients in everything she bakes.
Morning Workshops
Clap, Dance and Sing!
Peter Siegel, Award-winning Songwriter, Music Producer, Teacher Symonds Elementary School and founding member of the folk-funk-world-beat band The Gaslight Tinkers, Brattleboro, VT
Explore the Wonders of Math Outdoors
Kristine Kennedy, Teacher, Symonds Elementary School, Keene, NH
Supporting Risky Play
Erin Tanzer, Teaching Faculty, Antioch University New England, Keene, NH
Inclusive Outdoor Education: Promising Practices for Working with Challenging Behavior
Laura Eldridge, Student Support Team Leader and Intensive Behavior Needs Case Manager, Mount Lebanon Elementary School, NH; Adjunct Faculty, Antioch University New England, Keene, NH
Kristine Kennedy, Vera Longtoe Sheehan, enrolled citizen, Elnu Abenaki Tribe, Executive Director, Vermont Abenaki Artists Association (VAAA)
Afternoon Keynote
Katie Baker, Turn Back Time, LLC, MA
Intentions Matter: The Purpose Behind the Practice
Katie Baker, Co-Director, Turn Back Time, Paxton, MA
Join Katie Baker as she highlights the intentionality of her practice as director and teacher at Turn Back Time, a long-standing farm and forest, nature-based program in Paxton, Massachusetts. Turn Back Time is rooted in respect for nature’s ability to teach and heal, and offers people of all ages the time, space, and permission to learn, gain new experiences, and grow in confidence and love for themselves, for others, and for this earth we call home. Discover how its mission serves to guide and support an emergent curriculum*, and explore the intent behind adopting a “Yes” culture that prioritizes social development and builds strong relationships within an inclusive community.
Afternoon Workshops
Nature’s Touch: The Sense That Connects Us
Mariam Murphy, Community Engagement Manager, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL
Nature Journaling for Your Students and YOURSELF: A Tool for Reflection, Documentation & Mindfulness
Liza Lowe, Director, Inside-Outside, Affiliate Faculty, Antioch University New England, Class Teacher, Gathering Waters Charter School, Keene, NH
Insects in the Classroom: Tips and Tools for Utilizing Your Schoolyard Resources
The Caterpillar Lab, Marlborough, NH
Natureful Science – NGSS Outdoors in Early Elementary
Eliza Minnuci, Co-Founder, Forest Kinder, Co-Author, The Forest Days Handbook, Flexible Pathways Teacher, First Branch Elementary School, Tunbridge, VT, Adjunct Faculty, Antioch University New England, Keene, NH
Nature-based Integrative Emergent Curriculum for Pre-K & K
Abenaki Arts with Vera Longtoe Sheehan
In Bloom in Maine
Saturday, June 7, 2025
- 8:15 AM – 4::00 pm (Registration check-in opens at 8:15 AM, the conference begins promptly at 9:00 AM
- Educare Central Maine, Waterville, ME
Join us for the In Bloom in Maine conference for nature-based early childhood educators at Educare Central Maine in Waterville! The workshops will take place in the play yards and outdoor areas of Educare, as well as in the nearby forest and stream areas. There will be tours of the school and outdoor play areas, as well as parts of the adjacent elementary school. At lunch, participants will have the opportunity to meet with Antioch University/Inside-Outside’s Maine chapters and the Maine Early Childhood Outdoors network. We will enjoy providing you with simple morning refreshments and a healthy lunch as part of your registration fee.
Morning Keynote
Growing Connections: Cultivating a Love for Nature Through Early Childhood Education
Kim Shaw, Founder and Director, A Safe Place Childcare, Raleigh-Durham, NC
How can we nurture a lifelong connection to nature in the youngest learners? In this keynote, we will explore the profound role early childhood educators play in fostering children’s sense of wonder, resilience, and care for the environment (the neighborhood). Drawing inspiration from A Safe Place, an urban garden serving underserved children in a food desert through free programming, we’ll highlight how nature-based learning transforms communities and empowers children. Through stories, strategies, and reflections from years of practice, we’ll examine how place-based learning experiences—rooted in gardening, outdoor exploration, and community building—empower children, families and staff to grow into stewards of the earth. Together, we’ll celebrate the joy and transformative power of connecting children to the natural world.
Kimberly Shaw is the Founder and President of A Safe Place Child Enrichment Center and Elizabeth’s Garden. Starting as a family child care home in August 1997, it has grown to two five-star, NAEYC-accredited centers sitting on 3.5 acres in East and Southeast Raleigh, NC. She has served thousands of families by exploring nature-based curriculum through natural connection while providing a safe, natural space for learning, playing, and celebrating community. Ms.Shaw continues to partner with local organizations, including the Natural Learning Initiative at North Carolina State University, to develop the outdoors as demonstration sites in both centers.
Morning Workshops
Bringing Nature in: Supporting Sensory Needs in the Indoor Classroom
Meg Kenter, First-grade teacher, Berwick Academy, Berwick, ME
Sue Ford, Occupational Therapist, Owner of Coorie Wellness LLC, Kittery, ME
Developing Routines in an Outdoor Classroom
Heather Bowen, Pre-Kindergarten teacher, Camden-Rockport Elementary School, Rockport, ME
It Can Be Done: PreK for ME Curriculum…Outdoors!
Megan Vaillancourt, Preschool Teacher & Outdoor Learning Coordinator,
Amanda Jandreau, Preschool Teacher, and Stacy Higgins, Preschool Teacher, Educare Central Maine, Waterville, ME
Cultivating Wonder: Outdoor Explorations with Students in an Urban Setting
Leigha Hart, Environmental Literacy Teacher, Portland Public Schools, Portland, ME
Exploring Nature-Based Art
Charlene Lutz, Artist, Educator, and Author, Mount Chase, ME
Teacher Education Through Outdoor Play: Leading Communities of Practice
Anne Adams, Network Coordinator, Maine Early Childhood Outdoors, Camden, ME
Afternoon Keynote
A Perfect Pairing: Nature Play and Sensory Integration
Sue Ford, Occupational Therapist & Owner of Coorie Wellness LLC, Kittery, ME
In this keynote, Sue will explore the powerful connection between emotional regulation, nature-based education, and resilience. Using her lens as a pediatric occupational therapist, she will discuss how outdoor environments and meaningful play can support emotional regulation, enhance sensory processing, and foster adaptability and growth in children. Sue will share strategies to strengthen the mind-body connection and provide tools to help educators support children in building strong foundations for development, resilience, and connection within the natural world around them.
Sue Ford is a Pediatric Occupational Therapist, Infant Massage Educator, Reiki Master, and founder of Coorie Wellness in Kittery, Maine. With over 20 years of experience, she is dedicated to supporting health, wellness, and emotional resilience in children and families. Her work spans private practice, early intervention, schools, community education, and parent/family consulting. Passionate about nature-based learning, Sue integrates natural spaces and creative movement into programs, believing these practices build emotional regulation and resilience and creates tools to foster connection and mind-body awareness. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring New England’s seacoast and mountains with her husband, three children, and two dogs.
Afternoon Workshops
The Power of Growing Food with and for Children
Kim Shaw, Founder and Director, and Abram Shaw, Early Childhood Teacher, A Safe Place Childcare, Raleigh-Durham, NC
Sparking Emergent Learning through Nature and Play
Jessica Lewis, Founder and Teacher, Inch by Inch Preschool, Wilton, ME
Increasing Accessibility: Mini Explorations in Nearby Nature
Annie Coaluca, Executive Director of Early Learning & Family Services, Bath Area Family YMCA, Bath, ME
Small Worlds from Little Hands: Using Small Worlds to Enhance Early Learning
David Sobel, Professor Emeritus and Author, Antioch University New England, Keene, NH and Susie Spikol, Author and Naturalist, Hancock, NH
Nature Talks: Empowering Language Development Through Outdoor Adventures
Kate Glennon, Speech Language Pathologist, Certified Nature Educator & Founder of Outdoorsy SLP, Seacoast, NH
Squirrels and Seeds: Nature-based Curriculum Connected to State Science Standards
Darilyn Birse, 2nd Grade Teacher, Mitchell School, Kittery, ME