Common Ground: A Collaborative Learning Initiative
Bowdoin College Children’s Center and Maine Early Childhood Outdoors Presents
Fall 2026 Workshop:
Designing outdoor, nature-based learning experiences that
foster belonging, equity, and healthy development for every child.
The Common Ground Partnership is a collaborative professional relationship between Maine Early Childhood Outdoors (MaineECO) and the Bowdoin College Children’s Center (BCCC) located in Brunswick Maine.
Rooted in belonging, this partnership advances nature-based learning that honors children’s identities, cultures, abilities, and lived experiences. Through shared professional learning and reflective practice, educators work together to remove barriers to outdoor learning and intentionally create inclusive environments where every child feels seen, supported, and empowered to belong in nature.
Workshop Series
All workshops are held in-person at the Bowdoin Children’s Center in Brunswick.
These workshops are grounded in developmental theory, equity-centered practice, and our ongoing work with outdoor, nature-based programs.
Drawing from observations of children’s social interactions in outdoor learning environments, the sessions are shaped by key questions that have emerged through prior professional dialogue. Participants will engage in reflective and collaborative inquiry to examine how intentionally designed outdoor experiences can support children’s sense of belonging, honor diverse identities and abilities, and align with what we know about child development.
Together, we will extend this shared learning to strengthen inclusive, responsive practice in outdoor settings.
Workshop 1:
Philosophy of Outdoor Curriculum
Tuesday, September 22, 2026, 5:45-7:30pm
Consider how children learn outdoors in their own way; following their interests, using time as they are offered it, and exploring materials and relationships. While caregivers offer conversation and intentional contributions planning circle, singing songs, gathering for plans, children are guided to follow their path. We will address how STEM learning happens organically, how expansiveness with gender roles; race and cultural diversity exist spontaneously in children’s play, and how a caregiver can build curriculum form their observations and notes.
Workshop 2:
Implementation of Outdoor Curriculum
Tuesday, October 20, 2026, 5:45-7:30pm
Caregivers will reflect on how they understand their role in offering curriculum support to children as they play. Some components of this practice include consciously not interrupting children’s play with comments, conversation, or redirection; engaging in “teacher work”, creating staffing schedules that have primary and lead caregivers on the play yard, and supporting the social/emotional moments that occur throughout a play period from learning mindset. Understanding how children’s play may be expressed in light of inclusivity work is paramount so that when curriculum and caregiver interaction is enacted, it is with the lens of understanding diversity.
Workshop 3:
Systems that support Outdoor Nature Based Play
Tuesday, November 17, 2026, 5:45-7:30pm
When curriculum and learning move outside there are systems that are useful to have in place to support the goals of the group. Identifying curriculum in charts with intentional and articulated direction for how caregivers prepare the space, engage in teacher work, or staff areas of the play yard supports the integrity of the learning experience. Additionally having caregivers who are observing, note taking, and photographing play to inform curriculum is important. Finally, managing the tasks of dressing children, processing muddy and wet clothing, as well as communicating with families is a foundational piece to having outdoor play offered primarily and deeply in childcare programs. Often there is awareness of how inclusivity can be embraced in these systems as extra clothes, weather charts, and end of day messiness is part of the program’s daily communication.
Participation Stipends:
MaineECO values the content of these workshops and would like as many teachers to participate as possible.
We recognize that compensation, travel and childcare costs can be barriers to our early childhood professionals attending evening training sessions.
Available stipends are listed below and stipend forms will be available at the training sessions. Anyone is able to receive the stipend, no eligibility requirements are required.
A current W9 will be required to receive a stipend. These stipends are made possible with generous funding and in kind support from Quimby Family Foundation and Bowdoin College Children’s Center.
Available Stipends:
Participation Stipend: $50 per session attended
Travel & Childcare Stipend: up to $100 per session
Registration
It is recommended for participants to attend the entire series to gain the full scope of content and the most reflective experience but it is not required.
Participants can attend any combination of sessions that they choose.
Registration is free and done by filling out the form, linked below.