Nature Learning Collective
Let’s Get Outside!
We live this way, we teach this way.
Helping children advocate for the natural world. Reimagining education and restoring wonder.
Nature Learning Collective of Maryland provides high-quality, research-based, training opportunities for professionals including caregivers, homeschoolers, family and center child care, occupational therapists, speech therapists, and psychologists interested in engaging with children of all ages in nature connection. Our education is Maryland State Department of Education/Office of Child Care-approved.
Our guiding philosophy is that nature connection and education are essential for enhancing the lives of children of all ages. We are pushing forward and working hard to elevate and advocate for nature learning for early childhood education and beyond!
NLC provides opportunities for collaboration through conferences, professional development Institutes, workshops, and keynotes. We are available to customize trainings for your needs.
Professional Learning Leaders
-
Heather Quinn
Hummingbird Hill Nature Preschool
Heather Quinn is a nature nut and earth ambassador. She is a Montessori certified teacher, ages birth-6 years old, specializing in nature-based outdoor learning and curriculum development.
Heather is the founder of Hummingbird Hill Collective in Reisterstown, Maryland and Nature Learning Collective of Maryland.
Email: heather@hummingbirdhill.org
-
Lisa Mullaney
Hummingbird Hill Nature Preschool
Lisa Mullaney is an AMS Montessori certified Pre-Primary child-guide. She has 15 years of experience as a lead teacher in Montessori Pre-Primary, Kindergarten, and Elementary first through third grade classrooms. She is ERAFANS’ Level 1 nature-based education certified and has guided children ages 3 through 8 in an all-outdoor classroom setting. “Nature has always been an important and beautiful part of my life. Teaching as both a Montessori and nature teacher has reinforced my belief that learning in the early years is most effective through play and discovery, especially when it is in nature!”
-
Jami Morris
Newly Retired…Still Inspired!
Jami is newly retired but still inspired to connect with families and nature. She was a facilitator/teacher in Washington County, Maryland. Throughout her career, she has worked with low-income children of Frederick County, the Women and Children Program at Wilson College, and operated her own family childcare for 12 years. After research and training, Jami transformed the playground and established an outdoor classroom and program at Mt. Nebo CLC in Boonsboro, MD, unique to this area.
Email: jpmorris69@gmail.com
-
Kathryn Para
Frolic the Fox
Kathryn Para is a singer-songwriter and creator of "Ukify," ukulele method from Anne Arundel County, Maryland. She performs as herself and Frolic the Fox, bringing fairy dust to the world and teaching child-guides and educators to bring more joy into their lives with nature, story, song and play. These are the ingredients to wonder.
Email: Kathryn@KathrynPara.com
-
Kayla Souza
Little Lilac Preschool
Kayla is the owner of Little Lilac Preschool, a play-based preschool in Hagerstown, MD. Throughout her 20 years of working in early childhood, she has worked in a childcare center, the traditional school setting, and now works as a home-based provider. She holds a Masters degree in ECE and is passionate about advocating for inclusion within the early learning setting. A life-long learner, she loves to garden and watch birds in her backyard with her little helper (her daughter).Description goes here
-
Julie Biedrzycki
Ancestral Knowledge
Julie Biedrzycki is a teacher and outdoor education specialist. As a student of Environmental Science and Policy at the UMDCP, Julie ran educational support programs in local public elementary schools. This work inspired her journey of teaching and community involvement ever since. In the education field for over 20 years now, she has taught ages 3 yrs through adults. focusing on conservation, environmental awareness and outdoor education. She currently lives in MD, as caretaker to a beautiful historic forest and the century-old homes there.
Where have we been?
Spreading the word about nature connection for children and adults!
2025
BCFCCA Virtual Training Loose Parts
Nature Forward! In-Person Risky Play Chevy Chase, MD
PGCFCCA Virtual Training What Is Your Yes? Risky Play
2024
Maryland Association of Environmental and Outdoor Education- Lisa Poe Messy Play and Heather Quinn Adventurous Play in ECE
PGCFCCA Virtual Training Gracious Gardening
Nurtured by Nature Professional Development Institute all day @Little Bugs Nature Play and Learning
Garrett County Child Care Resource Center Keynote and Workshops
BCFCCA Virtual Workshop Gracious Gardening
Back to Nature School PDI Down and Dirty: Setting up your Space and Nature’s Child Embracing Nature as a Co Teacher
Turn Over A New Leaf Conference at Hummingbird Hill Collective
ANBE (Association for Nature Based Education) Winter Solstice Teacher Retreat-Nesting in Nature Winter Birds
2023
Snow and Ice Can Be Nice! Winter Conference Little Bugs Nature Preschool- Prince Frederick, MD
Brooke Herrera Keynote: Benefits of Winter Play Heather Quinn, Lisa Poe and Jami Morris
Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE) Conference: Ocean City, MD
Nature Play and Loose Parts Lisa Poe and Heather Quinn and "GuideNotes" Kathryn Para
Nature and Nurture, An Everyday Adventure Calvert County Family Day Care Association- Calvert County Lisa Poe- Keynote
Earth Stories: Storytelling and Nature Play Tacoma Park Cooperative Nursery School, Tacoma Park, MD Lesley Ronamoff
Dig In! STEM and Nature Play in Early Learning, First Lutheran Preschool, Ellicott City, MD-Jenny James and Dr. Leanne Christenson
MSCCA Annual Conference 2023 Ocean City, MD, Loose Parts-Lisa Poe and Playground Makeover Jami Morris and Heather Quinn
Nature's Child Virtual Training Calvert County Daycare Association-Lisa Poe and Heather Quinn
A Conference for Early Childhood-St. Matthews Church Bowie, MD, Nature's Child -Lisa Poe and Heather Quinn
NLC Nature Makeover at The Night Watch Child Care Salisbury, MD Wicomico County-Heather Quinn and Jami Morris
Harvesting Nature's Harmony- Fiber Arts, Clay, and Natural Paint and Pigment, Seneca Creek State Park, Gaithersburg, MD
Amy Beam, Julie Biedrzycki, and Heather Cornelius
Maryland Early Childhood 10th Annual Conference Hagerstown, MD Hagerstown Community College, What Is Your Yes? Adventure Play in ECE-Heather Quinn
Back to Nature School Conference Hummingbird Hill Nature Preschool Reisterstown, MD Baltimore County, Wonder and Whimsy in the Woods -Heather, Lisa, Kathryn and Jami
MSFCCA Annual Conference Ocean City, MD, The Practice of Slowing Down: Using Nature as a Role Model and a Second Teacher-Heather Quinn
Trainer's Conference MSDE/OCC , Virtual -Eco Friendly Training Practices-Heather Quinn
Learning Day 2023-Child Care Choices Mental Health Association-The Practice of Slowing Down: Nature Brings Calm and Peace -Heather Quinn
2022
Maryland State Child Care Association (MSCCA) Annual Conference-Adventurous Play-Heather Quinn and Lisa Poe
Come Outside Conference Spring Edition-Adventurous Play and Frolic Every Day-Nature, Story, and Song!-Kathryn Para, Heather Quinn and Lisa Poe
National Association of Family Child Care Annual Conference (San Fran) Nature Play through the Seasons-Kathryn Para
Natural Start Alliance Annual Conference (Ohio) GuideNotes (Kathryn Para/Frolic the Fox)
Professional Development Workshop-Nature's Child at Hummingbird Hill
Back to "Nature" School Conference- Ukify, Ukulele and Sticks, Stones, and Pinecones Loose Parts-Kathryn Para, Lisa Poe, and Heather Quinn
Professional Development Morning at First Lutheran Preschool- Nature's Child and Songs for Transitions-Heather Quinn
Nature Play Make and Take at Hummingbird Hill Gracious Gardeners and Wonders of Woodworking-Heather Quinn and Lisa Poe
Reisterstown Public Library reading and fall activities (FREE and on a nature trail)
NAAEE Annual Conference virtual Nature Play through the Seasons
Waldorf School of Baltimore Pro Development Morning- Adventurous Play in ECE-Heather Quinn
Fall Into Mindfulness Conference at Hummingbird Hill Nature Preschool- Mindfulness Practices for Adults and Children, nature Journaling and Sit Spots-Tara Segree and Jami Morris
Early Childhood Nature Connection PDI Sarah's House Nature's Child and Risky Play, Heather Quinn and Lisa Poe
NAEYC Annual Conference Nature Play through the Seasons - Lisa Poe and Heather Quinn
ERAFANS Winter Teacher Retreat- Robinson Nature Center Columbia, MD-Brrr...birds in winter Lisa Poe and Heather Quinn
Reisterstown Library Nature, Story and Craft BCPL Reisterstown, MD
2021
Maryland Association of Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE)- Nature Play through the Seasons
Eastern Region Association of Forest and Nature Schools (ERAFANS) 12-HOUR MSDE-approved Outdoor Learning in a Nutshell (virtual and in person)
Come Outside Conference Fall at Chesapeake Children's Museum- Nature's Child and Messy Science
Debbie Wood, Heather Quinn, Kathryn Para, and Lisa Poe
