An Educator\u27s Guide to Expanding Accessibility to Nature Connections in Traditional Early Childhood Education

Over the last few decades, nature-based education has increased greatly in popularity across the United States. With its many developmental benefits, nature-based preschools have been an important hub to this movement. Children attending these schools are afforded many critical experiences that aid in their growth and development; gross-motor & social emotional skills, greater attentional capacity, and expanded creativity and critical thinking. This popular pedagogy has, however, not been equally accessible to all. With its many barriers, including but not limited to financial, this capstone uses an educator\u27s guide to help answer the question: How can traditional Early Childhood Education programs promote equitable nature connections amongst children in underrepresented communities? This project concludes with a PDF guide to provide educators with affordable and adaptable ways to increase nature connection within non-nature-based underrepresented urban communities