Fueling Curiosity, Wonder, and Renewal: Nature, Connection, and Building Empathetic Communities

A hands-on workshop presented by Patricia Hunter McGrath and Christina Bianchi

Saturday, August 30, 2025, 9 am to 3 pm

Cost: $110
Includes a light breakfast

“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature — the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.”
― Rachel Carson

Now, more than ever, our approach to environmental design and materials in our schools and classrooms must reflect our role in creating restorative, responsible relationships.

How can we create classrooms that foster a worldview of empathy and kindness?
How can we make our connections visible through our setups at the start of the year?
How do we harness our connection to the natural world to support engagement, imagination, integration, and experimentation in the classroom?
How does a sense of place help to ground us in our relationships?
How do natural materials enhance learning environments and connect to the curriculum?
How to delight in the unpredictable alive in our classrooms?
How do we introduce the use of multiple symbolic languages?
How can fostering wonder and curiosity in the natural world support mindsets of diversity, equity, and inclusion?

Presented by:

Patricia Hunter McGrath and Christina Bianchi