Kennebec Valley Community College SECOND Annual Early Childhood Symposia
8:00-8:30 - Registration and Breakfast
Breakfast will be provided by the KVCC Cafe
8:30-8:50 - Keynote
An Inside Look: A Day in the Life of Maine's Founding
Nature- Based, Place-Based School! 
Presented by: Anne Stires, Founder/Director of Juniper Hill School
Nature-based, place-based education is an exciting, growing field. The sheer number of programs establishing themselves in the past few years has been exponential. The photographs and stories are stunning. However, the inside scoop on how a school or program rooted in nature-based, place-based education truely functions is more of a mystery. In the inspiring keynote address, on "A Day in the Life of Juniper Hill School," participants will get an overview about how students develop a deep connection to self, each other, and the natural world, as well as to their community through place-based learning projects. They will also hear about the importance of seasonal celebrations and family/community involvement. Information about the why/where the classes are taught throughout the grade levels, implementation of integrated acedemics connected to nature and the local community, and how social connection and physical work is structured will also be shared. Get ready for an inside look at Maine's founding nature and place-based school!
9:00-11:00 - Morning Workshops
Workshop 1
The Difference You Make: Exploring ACEs, Toxic Stress and Resilience in Young Children and Families
Presented by: Sue Mackey Andrews, MRBN
Participants will learn about the many forms of toxic stress that infants, preschoolers and young children may experience, how these forms of stress may affect development, behavior and the ability of the young child to learn. We will explore strategies that expand our ability to provide a soothing and safe place for children through their relationship with you, as well as trauma-informed approaches to creating positive relationships with families.
Workshop 2
The Daily Break - Stress Solutions
Presented by: Dr. Cory St. Denis, Neurologically Based Chiropractor
This workshop will give you practical, 15 minute strategies that will reduce overwhelming feelings and stress. Participants will customize their daily 15 minute daily break to ensure healthy habits are implemtened throughout each workday, week and year! By changing little things every day you CAN hold your energy level up high, focus more, and automate the small decisions in your routine so you spend less time stressing.
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Workshop 3
The Yucky and the Dangerous: Risk Managment in Nature-Based Early Childhood Education
Presented by: Anne Stires, Founder/Director of Juniper Hill School
Poison Ivy + Berries + Mushrooms + Feathers + Bones + Slush + Dead Animals + Mud + Ticks + Water + Trees = Excited Children & Nervous Parents! As soon as children enter the natural world, weather as classroom or play space, they discover and explore. They are sure to come across biting insects, poisonous berries, dead animals, mud and all the exciting loose parts that make up their world. Our job, as guides and educators, is to help support their development by allowing for safe and appropriate explorations of these materials. Children are naturally drawn to what is yucky and dangerous because they need to make sense of their world. As adults in their lives, we have a choice: to make them fearful and worried, or to increase their knowledge base through play first and information next. The latter increases children's confidence and resilience. Explore the "Yucky and the Dangerous" with hands on, outdoor activities for children and through role playing conversations with parents.
11:00-11:45 - Lunch
Provided by the KVCC Cafe
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12:00-1:15 - Afternoon Session 1
Moody Cow Meditates
Presented by: Eva Goulette, Dancing Jaguar Inspirations LLC
This class will be taught exactly as it is presented to preschoolers, but with adult language, so that the participants can experience first-hand how the story of Moody Cow guides their students to discover mindfulness and how it can be used as a tool to help regulate emotional reactions when things aren't going well. We will also discuss how it can be adapted for various age groups. Participants will have fun listening to the story of Peter, The Moody Cow and his very, very bad day. As things go from bad to worse for Peter, his grandftaher steps in to teach him a valuable tool to calm himself and diffuse his anger. Peter's grandfather introduces him to mindfulness jars, and Peter experiences first-hand how he can use the jar to slow his breathing.
Active Play!
Presented by: Baylee Doughty, Inland Hospital
Are you looking for new, fun, exciting ways to get your kids phsycially active and having fun in the classroom? This is a fun, interactive workshop on Active Play! Active Play is a program developed by Dr. Diane H. Craft; all activities in this program are super fun and geared toward children 18 months to 6 years old. All materials and equipment are inexpensive, and are easily obtained. Each activity is organized to be easy to lead, in both small and large areas, indoors and out. lastly, Active Play is a way for children to have fun together with countless hours of healthy fun!
Inside Out / Outside In - Bringing Outside In
Presented by: Stacy Shaffer, Educator
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1:30-2:45 - Afternoon Session 2
Workshop X
Full STEAM Ahead
Presented by Allison and Patti Cooke, STEAM Engine Education
At STEAM Engine Education, we create a safe learning enviornment to help children expand their knowledge and explore interesting topics in Science Technology Engineering, Arts, and Math through fun and creating technology and investigation. Allison and Patti have devoted their lives to teaching children and have a passion for supporting children and introducing the community to educational opportunities that are enjoyable for everyone.
The destiny of our world rests in the hands of the young of us. These new citizens will need to be able to conceive new and exciting ideas, collaborate successfully with others, and create their own solutions to the many problems we face. They will be scientists and engineers, use technology and math, and design with functionality and beauty in mind. For today, however, they are small children, still willing to sit with their family or teacher and listen to an interesting, exciting, or heartwarming story. Join us to learn how to build a repertoire of books to read to children and how to use them as springboards to further exploration.
Workshop Y
Yoga, Kids, Connection
Presented by: Abby Brennan
In this workshop, Abby will talk about the benefits yoga has for children, in fostering the relationship they have with themselves, others, and our world. Though we often think of yoga mostly as exercise, postures aid in the development of coping skills, self-control, and persistence. Breathwork is a great way for children to explore their empotions, and develop their ability to self-regulate. Thinking about these skills as tools for a toolbox, and the practice of yoga as just that, a practice, also gives freedom for children to decide what works best. Movement? Stillness? Breath? Some combination of it all? Yoga provides an experience that is social yet independent, active yet slow, and structured yet non confininhg. Plus, who doesn't want to stand on their hands?!?
Designing Natural Playspaces
Presented by: Laura Newman, School Ground Greening Coordinator and Sashie Misner, Landscape Architect
Join us to learn how you can make your existing outdoor enviornment be a more effective place for children to play/learn utilizing basic design ideas and integrating the kinds of natural features that are multi-function and springboards for a wide range of self-directed play and child-centered learning. We will talk about not only what to have in the space but how to lay things out in a way that encourages movement and offers a range of chioces from day to day for each child.
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2:55 - 3:15 Closing Remarks, Evaluations, and Raffle