EMPATHY IN NATURE PROJECT INC

IN 2022 EMPATHY IN NATURE CREATED THE GROW OUTSIDE PROGRAM, WHICH WORKS WITH LOCAL UNDER-RESOURCED SCHOOLS TO TRANSFORM THEIR LEARNING ENVIRONMENT INTO A NATURAL PLAYGROUND. CHILDREN GO FROM PLAYING ON HOT ASPHALT LOTS WITH NO SHADE, TO LIVING BREATHING LEARNING SPACES, IDEAL FOR SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL GROWTH, STEAM LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, AND DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES TO IMPROVE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH. THIS PROGRAM INCLUDES A PROCESS THAT STARTS WITH INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY PLANNING, BRINGING TOGETHER STAKEHOLDERS IN THE SCHOOL AND SURROUNDING AREA TO ENVISION THE SPACE, TO SHARE THEIR CHALLENGES, EXPERIENCES, AND VISIONS OF WHAT WOULD SERVE THE CHILDREN, TEACHERS, AND FAMILIES BEST. FOLLOWING THIS PROCESS, EMPATHY IN NATURE HOLDS DIFFERENT EVENTS INCLUDING A COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER DAY, A CHILDREN'S ART DAY, AND A FIRST DAY OF PLAY EVENT TO ENSURE THAT IT IS COMMUNITY-EMBEDDED THROUGHOUT. EIN HAS DEVELOPED A CURRICULUM THAT INCLUDES A 6-PART STORYBOOK SERIES, ACCOMPANYING FIELD GUIDES, AND INDIVIDUALIZED FIELD GUIDES THAT SUPPORT NATURE-BASED, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING. TEACHER WORKSHOPS ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE GROW OUTSIDE PROCESS, AND ARE HELD IN A VERY DIFFERENT WAY THAN MOST TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAMS. WORKSHOPS ARE INTERACTIVE, ENGAGING, AND INVOLVE MOVING AWAY FROM THE TRADITIONAL, CONFERENCE OR CLASSROOM SETTING, WITH CREATIVE AND WELCOMING INVITATIONS TO PLAY (PROVOCATIONS) THAT PROVIDE HANDS ON INSPIRATION FOR EDUCATORS, INSTIGATING A PARADIGM SHIFT TOWARDS A MORE CHILD-CENTERED, PLAY-BASED APPROACH TO LEARNING, WHERE THE ENVIRONMENT SERVES AS A TEACHER AND TEACHERS SERVE AS GUIDES. OVER THE PAST YEAR WE HAVE DEVELOPED A RELATIONSHIP WITH A MAJOR UNIVERSITY WHO IS HELPING TO FUND TRANSFORMATIONS OF HEAD START PROGRAMS IN SAN DIEGO. WE HAVE TRANSFORMED 3 SCHOOLS INTO NATURE PLAY LEARNING CENTERS, TRAINED OVER 200 EDUCATORS WITHIN THE HEAD START PROGRAM ON NATURE-PLAY AND SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL TEACHING PRACTICES, AFFECTING HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN TODAY AND THOUSANDS OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS WHO WILL COME THROUGH THESE SCHOOLS. THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIP, WE ARE COLLECTING AND STUDYING THE DATA ON THESE SCHOOLS TO ADD TO THE BODY OF RESEARCH AND KNOWLEDGE PERTAINING TO NATURE PLAY AND SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL BEST PRACTICES FOR YOUNG CHILDREN. IN ADDITION, WE HAVE TRANSFORMED AN OUTDOOR SPACE FOR AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, INCREASING THEIR OUTSIDE, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING TIME BY 90%. THE SCHOOL IS REPORTING MORE CREATIVITY, ART, FREE PLAY, AND POSITIVE BEHAVIOR SINCE THE OUTDOOR LEARNING ENVIRONMENT WENT IN.