NH Children in Nature Conference
“Opening Doors to Happier Healthier Lives”
 
October 7, 2010, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
at The Hanover Inn, Hanover, NH

Join us in the Upper Valley as we continue to encourage communities, organizations and individuals to open their doors to nature as a way of leading happier, healthier lives. Dr. Tory Rogers, Director of the Kids’ CO-OP at the Maine Medical Center and a key figure in motivating children to get up, out and moving, will begin the day as our keynote speaker with "Get Outside:  A Prescription for Health."   

The rest of the day will be filled with informative workshops and networking opportunities that will provide you with the resources, tools and knowledge to create communities that encourage children, youth and families to spend more time outdoors -- such as planning and developing school gardens, building community trail projects, Questing (using treasure hunts to explore communities), providing safe routes to play and school, encouraging recreation in all seasons, getting teens outdoors and into nature, creating playgrounds for early childhood, and more.  The conference will provide examples from around the state, while showcasing the exemplary efforts of the HEAL initiative and the Upper Valley.  Workshops will provide a rich opportunity for conversation, motivation and collaboration, three essential tools for developing new initiatives that foster experiences in nature.

SCHEDULE

8:30   Registration and morning refreshments

9:00   Welcome

9:15   Keynote with Dr. Tory Rogers, Director of the Kids Coop, Maine Medical Center, "Get Outside:  A Prescription for Health"

10:15 Break

10:30 Concurrent Session A (choice of 5 workshops); descriptions are listed here.

• A-1 Building Trails, Building Collaboration:  A Step in the Right Direction
• A-2 Hands-on Otter Brook:  Partnership for 8^th Grade Field Science
• A-3 Early Sprouts:  Gardening and Nutrition Experiences for the Young Child
• A-4 Growing Inside Out:  School Gardens and Outdoor Classrooms
• A-5 Story Walks:  A Unique Outing for Your Community

12:30 Lunch, networking, announcements

12:45 Address from First Lady, Dr. Susan Lynch (anticipated)

1:45   Concurrent Session B (choice of 5 Workshops); descriptions are listed here.

3:15   Call to Action and Closing

3:30 Evaluations/Certificates and Departure; Optional tours of local projects

For more information and descriptions of concurrent workshops, see  nhchildreninnature.org.


NH Children in Nature events are funded by generous contributions from:

New Hampshire Charitable Foundation

Growing Up Healthy - The Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation

If paying by check, complete the online registration process and select "show other payment options" listed beneath the PayPal link in the payment section of the registration page.  

Please make your check out to New Hampshire Environmental Educators and send your payment to:

NHEE
c/o: Margret and H.A. Rey Center
PO Box 286
Waterville Valley, NH 03215

Please include names of registrant(s) with check.