Being an Effective Nature Counselor: Activities to Engage Youth in the Outdoors

Description and Learner Outcomes:

Many years ago, botanist Luther Burbank said “Every child should have mudpies, grasshoppers, wildflowers, pine trees, blue sky, soaring birds, fuzzy squirrels, huge rocks, butterflies, pine cones, wild strawberries, and room to run in—and any child who has been deprived of these has been deprived of the best part of education.”

We have long known that magical things happen when children and nature get together.  Now there is a growing body of research that supports the importance of a strong connection with the natural world for all of us, and especially for young people.  As a nature counselor, you will have the opportunity to connect children, and yourself, to the wonders of the natural world.

This course teaches activities and techniques to help campers use ALL of their senses in the outdoors, and also help them develop their sixth sense: the sense of Wonder. Techniques include framing, facilitating, and debriefing of your nature activities. You will learn valuable information about the importance of the natural world in the healthy development of children and adults.  This course and materials can act as a guide for the development of your own nature programming and incorporating the natural world into your organization’s philosophy and curriculum in the future. 

Upon completing this course participants will be able:
1)  To understand why it is so important that children have an opportunity to spend time outdoors in the natural world.
2)  To provide tangible activities which will help children explore and discover the natural world.
3)  To provide techniques for leading nature activities effectively, including suggestions about how to frame and debrief these activities.

Course Length: 1 hour

Course Credit: 1.0 CEC

Presenter Bio:

Ariella Randle Rogge is the Associate Director/Program Director at Sanborn Western Camps in Florissant, CO. She has spent the last twenty years working as a youth development professional in the camping industry and in the experiential and secondary education fields. She is a passionate advocate and supporter of the Children in Nature movement and utilizes her expertise in social media to emphasize the importance of outdoor and camp experiences for all children. Ariella received a B.A. in English from Colorado College and is a certified secondary English educator and Wilderness EMT. She lives happily in the Colorado woods with her husband and two adventurous young sons. 

TWO Purchase Options:
Single person, one-year access to course
Price: $25 member; $60 nonmember
Purchase the Being an Effective Nature Counselor course

Multiple persons (up to 50 persons*), subscription access to course
Price: $55 member; $90 nonmember
*Additional learners will be $5 per person member; $28 nonmember.  Please contact ACA to place your order for more than 50 learners 800-428-2267 or  800-428-2267 ext. 305
Purchase subscription access to Being an Effective Nature Counselor course for up to 50 persons.

Please note the following for subscription access:
• You will be required to supply enrollment information for each learner
• The cost of the course allows up to 50 members of your staff to take the course until December 31 of the current year, unless you purchase additional learners. After that time, you/your camp will need to purchase the course again for the following year.
• Your staff may complete the program at their convenience.