Supporting Nature-based Early Childhood Educators
I help early childhood educators to start nature-based schools or nature to their existing program.
Chief Visionary of Samara Early Learning
To help make the move towards a more nature-based approach as seamless as possible for administrators and teachers, I founded and own a private consulting business called Samara Early Learning. My role as Chief Visionary at Samara Early Learning my job is to stay focused on WHY we connect young children with the natural world, which is ultimately to create a world where people are connected to and care for each other and the world around them. I believe the natural world is a powerful teacher and young children have a right to experience it. Visit the Samara Early Learning to learn more about that work.
My Books
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Establishing a Nature-based Preschool
Nature-based preschools are powerful programs that fuse early childhood and environmental education to develop a child’s lifelong connection with the natural world. With the number of this unique, cutting-edge program growing throughout the country, many nature centers are asking, “Is a nature-based preschool right for us?” Establishing a Nature-Based Preschool helps answer that question, and provides a how-to guide to move from concept to implementation.
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Preschool Beyond Walls: Blending Early Childhood Education and Nature-based Learning
Children are spending less time being outside in nature, playing, imagining, and learning about their surroundings. Instead, they re spending more time with tablets, televisions, and overly structured routines. Preschool Beyond Walls shows practical and strategic ways educators can create rich, explorative, and interdisciplinary learning through extensive outdoor experiences.
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Evaluating Natureness: Measuring the Quality of Nature-Based Classrooms in Pre-K through 3rd Grade
Nature-based early childhood education is a rapidly growing trend! Although many schools and programs have incorporated nature-based learning, educators can feel at a loss when trying to evaluate quality in this learning approach. But don’t worry—Evaluating Natureness: Measuring the Quality of Nature-Based Classrooms in Pre-K through 3rd Grade is here to help!
More of My Work
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Experience
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Education
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Publications
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Awards
Current Research
PLAY: Supporting Place-based Engagement with Science and Engineering Practices in Early Learning Environments is a current research project I’m working on with colleagues at the Maine Math and Science Alliance and Bowdoin College. For more on this study visit the project website here, or check out some of the media coverage below:
Press Release from Bowdoin College (July 15, 2022): Bowdoin Receives NSF Grant to Expand STEM Education for Maine Preschoolers and Kindergarteners
Press Release from Press Herald (July 18, 2022): Bowdoin, math and science alliance receive more than $2.25 million to expand STEM education for Maine preschoolers, Kindergarteners.
Other Writing & Work
Nurture in Nature: Getting Started with Nature-based Learning blog of Kaplan Early Learning, 2021, by Rachel A. Larimore
Taking Learning Outside in COVID-19 blog for Gryphon House, 2020 by Rachel A. Larimore
Learning with Nature Blog Series for Guidecraft, 2020 by Rachel A. Larimore
Using Principles of Nature-Based Preschools to Transform Your Classroom, by Rachel A. Larimore, published by Young Children magazine, 2018
Program Considerations for Establishing a Nature Preschool, by Rachel A. Larimore, Natural Start Alliance
Defining nature-based preschools, by Rachel A. Larimore, International Journal of Early Childhood Education, 2016
Reflection: The powerful teaching of a deer carcass, by Rachel A. Larimore, Exchange Magazine, 2014
Growing with the children: Bringing nature preschool practices to elementary schools, by Rachel A. Larimore, Natural Start Alliance, 2014
