Sorting out the terms and concepts within Nature-based Early Childhood Education
Nature-based early childhood education is an umbrella term describing the integration of two disciplines—early childhood and environmental education. This includes any program model which provides young children, ages 0-8, extensive daily outdoor time, operates with nature as the curriculum’s organizing concept, follows a curriculum which emerges from children’s interest in seasonal events, and emphasizes learning with nature.
There are many similar and related terms within the field of nature-based education such as forest preschools, forest kindergartens, nature kindergartens, and forest schools. This document is intended to provide an overview of the key terms and concepts within nature-based early childhood education.
