Framing Inquiry and Wonder in Place and Time: A Summer PD Opportunity for Early Childhood Educators

UVTPC Blog Writer
Apr 3
2 min read

We’re excited to share an upcoming professional development opportunity from our partners at the Four Winds Nature Institute—designed specifically for educators working with PreK through Grade 3 students in the Upper Valley.

This three-day, hands-on learning experience invites educators to explore how place-based practices can spark curiosity, deepen observation, and support meaningful science learning across the year.

Program Overview

Framing Inquiry and Wonder in Place and Time📅 August 3, 4, and 6, 2026🕘 9:30 AM – 2:30 PM each day📍 Upper Valley locations⏱ 15 total contact hours

This series is ideal for educators who are:

Just beginning to explore outdoor and place-based science practices
Looking for fresh ideas to deepen or expand their current nature-based teaching

Across the three sessions, participants will engage in interconnected experiences that build from moment-to-moment observation to seasonal, year-long learning.

What You’ll Explore

🌱 August 3: The Moment

How do we notice and document what’s happening right now?

Participants will:

Practice close observation using all the senses
Explore journaling and documentation techniques
Reflect on how we define and record “place” across grade levels

Together, we’ll ask: Where am I standing right now—and what is drawing my attention?

🌤 August 4: The Day

What patterns and rhythms shape our daily experiences?

Participants will:

Examine the role of educators in supporting student-led inquiry
Explore both structured and unstructured play
Investigate daily natural patterns like sun, shadow, and weather

This session highlights how everyday moments can become powerful learning opportunities.

🍂 August 6: The Year

How can we use the changing seasons to support learning all year long?

Participants will:

Explore ways to integrate nature across required curriculum areas
Use nonfiction texts to support observation and understanding
Learn about phenology and seasonal change
Develop strategies to organize observations into meaningful, year-long learning

Together, we’ll consider how to nurture student questions and create space for curiosity to grow over time.

Cost & Registration

💲 $50 to reserve your spot (space is limited)

Pay via PayPal at fwni.org
Or send a check to:
Four Winds Nature Institute, 4 Casey Rd., Chittenden, VT 05737
(Please include your name and email address)

📚 Optional course credit available for an additional fee

📧 Questions? Contact Becky Proulx at becky@fwni.org

About the Project

This opportunity is part of Upper Valley Linkages for Environmental Literacy (UVLEL)—a project led by Four Winds Nature Institute and funded by the Wellborn Ecology Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation.

UVLEL aims to:

Strengthen place-based science education
Increase student engagement
Connect schools with local resources
Support environmental citizenship across communities

Join Us & Spread the Word

If you’re looking to bring more curiosity, connection, and place-based learning into your teaching, this is a meaningful opportunity to learn alongside fellow educators in the Upper Valley.

👉 Be sure to check out the flyer below and share with colleagues who may be interested!