On Tuesday, September 29 at 4 pm ET, join Natural Start for a conversation about reopening nature preschools during the pandemic. How have programs adjusted their practices to better serve their families and communities? Hear from several program directors who have transitioned their schools to be 100% outdoors this fall, followed by Q&A and small group discussion. This is a free opportunity, but you need to preregister. 

Meet the Presenters: 

Catherine Koons-Hubbard

Catherine Koons Hubbard is the Nature Preschool Director at Schlitz Audubon Nature Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which was a 2019 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School. Prior to taking this on in 2016, Catherine worked as a Nature Preschool teacher in the classroom and on the trails from 2008-2015. Catherine has a BA in Anthropology from Macalester College in St. Paul, MN, and a Masters’ Degree in Education from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. She has taught environmental education in Philadelphia, Oregon, New Mexico, and Wisconsin

Lesley Romanoff

Lesley Romanoff (pronouns she/her) is director and lead teacher at Takoma Park Cooperative Nursery School in Takoma Park, Maryland in the suburbs of Washington DC. She teaches 3, 4, and 5-year olds and their parents. She created the School’s summer program, Tinkering at the Cooperative School, for 5 through 10-year olds that reclaims the magic of adventure play, den-building, and outdoor adventures. She created a program to extend outdoor education to public elementary schools to help students access urban forests and green spaces through an #Optoutside. The Cooperative School—its forest program along with its spaces, philosophy, and commitment to the parent-participatory model—reflect her approach to early childhood education in nature, play, and art.