State Meeting Optional Pre-Session, Wednesday, October 7, 2026, 1:00 PM -- 4:30 PM, Acorns Resort
Learning, Playing, and Growing with Nature: Bringing the Outdoors Into Your Environments and Activities for Young Children
Early bird tickets of $75 are available until August 31, 2026. Regular price is $100.
Wednesday, October 7, 2026, 1:00 PM -- 4:30 PM. OPTIONAL PRE-SESSION with Ms. Jen Alexander (MA, NCC, SB-RPT)
Learning, Playing, and Growing with Nature: Bringing the Outdoors Into Your Environments and Activities for Young Children focuses on the power of nature with Head Start educators who are working with young children and families affected by big stress and trauma. Specifically, this workshop explores the benefits of exposure to the outdoors on health and learning for both young learners and educators. Plus, participants will leave with practical activities for infusing nature into their physical environments and learning activities as well as one idea for their own self-care plans—all to improve staff and child regulation. Throughout, we’ll practice communication skills that support adults in attuning to little ones by sharing attention within the natural world while noticing and meeting their own needs, too!
[While not required, it is helpful to have Ms. Jen's guide, Creating a Regulating Classroom Environment, for this session. You may purchase the guide ($16.95) from Brookes here.]
Ms. Jen Alexander (MA, NCC, SB-RPT) is an experienced trauma-informed educator, school counselor, expert on childhood trauma, global speaker, and consultant. She is also the best selling author of Building Trauma-Sensitive Schools, Becoming a Trauma-Sensitive Educator, and her new trauma-sensitive quick guide series! Known by children and adults alike as "Ms. Jen," she loves helping kids--and giving other the tools and strategies they need to help kids, too.
Acorns Resort: Lodging is available at Acorns Resort, but fills up quickly, so make your reservation soon. Check lodging (cabins and lodge rooms) availability here. Acorns is located at 3710 Farnum Creek Rd., Milford, KS 66514, and is about 15 minutes north of Junction City.