Term
Summer 2024
Capstone
Capstone Project
Degree Name
MAED: NSEE
Facilitator(s)
Jana Lo Bello Miller
Content Expert
Mallory Lape
Abstract
Nature-based preschools are increasing exponentially across the United States. These preschools combine best practices in early childhood education with place-based environmental education. Nature is the unifying theme of nature-based preschools, with programs spending a significant amount of time outdoors learning in, with, and about the natural world. Many nature-based early childhood educators are seeking to create urban nature-based preschools to reach children and communities with little access to green spaces or natural habitats. Urban nature-based preschools thus require locations that have attached green space or can access public green space easily. In most states of the U.S., these preschools must also have licensable indoor space. Finding these spaces can be difficult. I propose that educators look to urban churches to meet these location needs. Church membership in the United States has been declining in recent decades, causing financial strain on congregations who wish to keep their church operational. Churches are looking more often to community partnerships to meet these needs. The potential partnership between nature-based preschool and church led me to explore my research question, how can urban nature-based preschools partner with churches to support each other? To answer this question, I created a capstone website resource for nature-based early childhood educators looking for urban preschool spaces. The website introduces educators to the rationale behind a nature-based preschool-to-church partnership and provides resources for how to approach, build, and maintain such a partnership. The website also includes a discussion board to enhance topic-related communication and resource sharing among educators. Through the process of investigating my research question and creating the capstone website, I believe I have created a useful resource for the nature-based early childhood education field and have created opportunities for future research around this unique partnership
Project Type
Website Creation
Keywords
Community Building, Early Childhood, Nature-based Education
Recommended Citation
Sinclair, Sarah, "How Can Urban Nature-Based Preschools Partner with Churches to Support Each Other?" (2024). School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects. 1064.
https://digitalcommons.hamline.edu/hse_cp/1064
dc_type
text
dc_publisher
DigitalCommons@Hamline
dc_format
application/pdf
dc_source
School of Education Student Capstone Projects