The live classes for "Nature Inspired Teacher" certification program will be held on Mondays from 6-8pm EST. The dates for the Winter sessions dates are posted. 

Dates for the Spring, Summer, and Fall sessions will be determined with the Annual members. 

The seasonal certification program will be an ongoing offer of "Nature Inspired Teacher". This unique program is something that we plan to offer every year and new content will continue to be added to each season.  Participants who go through this first year of the certification in 2025 will have lifetime access to the seasonal courses and resource library. 

This course is for Early Childhood Educators who work with ages 2-6 years old. Extensions for the materials could be adapted for ages beyond six year olds, but the trainings focuses on toddler, preschool and kindergarten aged children. 

All resources for the "Nature Inspired Teacher Seasonal Certification" are in the student dashboard and will be shared as Google Docs. This  ensure immediate access and real-time updates. This format allows participants to always have the most current versions of materials at their fingertips, fostering a seamless and dynamic learning experience. April is committed to taking the overwhelm out of preparing a thoughtful learning environment and past students have said that the resources from April's courses are the best around. 

All the live sessions will be recorded and uploaded the next day into the student dashboard so if you miss one you can still catch the replay! Past students have really enjoyed the engagement with their peers on Zoom, to be able to ask questions each month and get support from April. However, if you can't make a live session you still can watch the replay. 

Participants in the inaugural year of the "Nature Inspired Teacher Seasonal Certification" will enjoy lifetime access to the program. Each season, April will introduce fresh content, creating a collection of four standalone seasonal courses complemented by an ever-growing resource library in the student dashboard. With unlimited access, students can revisit materials, recordings, and resources whenever they need, ensuring ongoing inspiration and support. By being part of the first cohort, your questions and requests will help shape the resources that are developed. 

Yes, at the end of each season students will receive a Certificate of Completion with the number of hours that they have completed as a combination of online in real time and completed on their own watching content in the dashboard. Each season has it's own certificate and can stand alone as a 12 hour professional development certificate. 

For those who enroll in our comprehensive year-long program, you will earn a unique 45-hour "Nature Inspired Teacher Seasonal Certification." This is a brand new offering that begins in January 2025, and I am excited for my first cohort of students to complete this with me! 
 

YES! April Zajko, M.Ed. is a Master Level trainer and sponsor and will submit your attendance directly to Northern Lights at the end of each season! 

Since each state's ECE system works differently, Nature Inspired Teacher, is not able to guarantee that the certificate of completion from this professional development opportunity will count. It is your responsibility to verify that the hours will count. The only state that we currently submit attendance verification to is Vermont. April Zajko, M.Ed. is a Master Level trainer and higher education faculty member who has 12 years of experience in leading professional development with early childhood educators. Please reach out directly to April if you have questions about whether this will count in your state, province, or country. 

The "Nature Inspired Teacher Seasonal Certification" is NOT a college course. However, many licensed teachers can use the 45-hour certificate toward their license renewal requirements.

If you’re interested in college courses on nature-based topics, be sure to subscribe to our weekly newsletter, where we announce upcoming classes. You can also reach out directly for information on current and future course offerings.