Conferences

Join us on Saturday, 1st June 2024, as NSW Early Years Nature Connections presents our conference, 'Nature Play - Here to Stay: Sustainability in Action in Early Childhood.' This event is designed to inspire and connect educators who are passionate about taking children 'beyond the fence' in primary schools, OOSH and early learning services.

Immerse yourself in a day of learning amidst other like-minded educators and gain insights from esteemed Australian academics, and early learning and primary-based practitioners. Our conference aims to foster dialogue and knowledge exchange among educators at all stages of embedding nature pedagogy into their teaching practices.

We are thrilled to have Dr. Sue Elliott as our keynote speaker, providing a valuable perspective on the importance of nature play and education for sustainability. Additionally, Uncle Charlie Ashby will be sharing an Acknowledgment of Country and sharing his experience facilitating education programs on Country.

Whether you are new to nature pedagogy or a seasoned practitioner, our conference offers a diverse range of opportunities to enhance your understanding and implementation of sustainable practices in early childhood education. Come be a part of this transformative experience and contribute to the growing community dedicated to fostering a deeper connection between children and the natural world.


Where will the conference be held?

The conference will be held at the Randwick Community Sustainability Hub. We are a not-for-profit organisation so your ticket price goes towards creating more opportunities for NSW EYNC members and the community.

Morning tea and lunch will be provided. Please bring your own reuseable cutlery, drink bottle and keep cup.

https://events.humanitix.com/nature-play-here-to-stay-sustainability-in-action-in-early-childhood

On 5 March 2022, NSW Early Years Nature Connections held our inaugural conference 'Nature Play - Not a passing fad', at the Randwick Community Sustainability Hub. The purpose of this conference was to inspire and connect early childhood educators who take children 'beyond the fence' of early years services. 

We aim for our annual conferences to always be affordable for those educators who need to pay their own way, and be kept small to promote networking. We are a Not for Profit organisation so ticket prices go towards creating more opportunities for NSW EYNC members and the community.

Our conference is a day of learning in and with nature and hearing from Australian academics and early childhood practitioners. A broad range of activities facilitate learning and discussion amongst educators who are new to nature play pedagogy, as well as extend the thinking of those who have been visiting the bush /beach with groups of children for some time. Like our Facebook page to keep up to date with new conferences. 

Organised by Armidale Community Preschool in conjunction with the University of New England, TAFE, Thalgarrah Environmental Education Centre and the NSW Early Years Nature Connections Group.

The Nature Play conference at Thalgarrah was based on the concept that educators inspire each other and learn together. Educators travelled from all over New South Wales representing bush, beach, city and rural aspects of nature play. The sessions were mostly outdoors, interactive and informal, and there was plenty of time to share ideas and build our nature play network. Academics, early childhood and primary teachers as well as early childhood educators with all training and skill levels attended the conference.

On the 27th April 2018, delegates gathered for a two day conference around the question 'Nature Play: What is it all about?'. The schedule was jam-packed for those two days with presentations across a range of topics from barefoot biomechanics to Indigenous aspects of nature play to play-site selection. Presenters included Sue Elliott, Fran Hughes, Sally Lockwood, Galia Urquart, Matt McKenzie, Shona Wilson, Alison Thompson, Gillian Traise, Sue Motley, Sue Nevin, Fiona Harris Margaret Gleeson, Lisa Milham, Melanie Elderton and Mayor and Councillors from Armidale Regional Council.