“When children come into contact with nature, they reveal their strength.”

- Maria Montessori, The Discovery of the Child

Join us for a groundbreaking virtual summit that brings together Montessori experts, scientists, activists, and educators to explore how Montessori principles and pedagogy can nurture ecological consciousness in our students and cultivate a generation of sustainability leaders.


Whether you're a school leader pioneering sustainability initiatives, a classroom guide seeking to ignite ecological consciousness, or an education reformer dedicated to shaping future generations, this summit will equip you with insights and strategies to create lasting impact. 

Suitable for Toddler through Elementary

You will have access to the course content for 1 year
19 hour PD certificate provided. This course is also eligible for a 1.9 CEU upgrade from Loyola University. See Details.


This inspiring summit explores innovative strategies for seamlessly integrating Montessori principles with sustainable practices, empowering educators to foster environmentally aware and socially responsible learners.


Key themes include:

Nature-Based Montessori Education: Practical strategies to bring the intrinsic alignment between Montessori philosophy and ecological consciousness to life through outdoor learning and connecting with nature.
Sustainability Education: Creative approaches for weaving sustainability initiatives into the Montessori curriculum, bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and hands-on environmental stewardship.
Cultural Ecology and Experiential Learning: The role of Montessori education in promoting eco-justice, social equity, and inclusion through the exploration of diversity, ecosystems, and hands-on educational activities. 




“We must study the correlation between life and the environment. In nature all is correlated. This is the purpose of nature. Nature is not concerned just with the conservation of individual life or with the betterment of itself. It is a harmony, a plan of construction. Everything fits into the plan: rocks, earth, water, plants, man, etc.”

- Maria Montessori, The 1946 London Lectures

Gain practical strategies rooted in Montessori principles to foster awe, ecological belonging, and a passion for sustainability among your students.
Discover ways to seamlessly bridge indoor and outdoor learning through prepared natural environments.
Learn from global initiatives and culturally responsive teaching practices that affirm diverse identities and promote ecological sustainability.
Explore practical insights and resources that engage students as active environmental advocates.



Outdoor-Based Education

Jana Morgan Herman
Outdoors Unleashed: A Montessori Daily Rhythm


Jana sets the stage for our exploration of Montessori and Ecological Consciousness by showcasing the ecological heart of Dr. Montessori's Daily Schedule. Jana uncovers how outdoor activities foster a love for nature and instill values of respect and protection, hallmarks of Dr. Montessori’s vision of the day.


Angela Hanscom
Playful Outdoors: Reversing the Decline in Play


In this session, Angela reveals how, in the face of decreasing outdoor playtime and a rise in sensory and motor deficits among children, nature is the ultimate sensory experience! Angela offers strategies to promote children's holistic well-being through regular outdoor engagement.


Melina Gac Levin
Developing a Practice of Outdoor Learning with a Montessori Toddler Class


Fostering a love for nature in toddlers is vital for instilling ecological consciousness. Melina showcases how outdoor learning, exemplified by Nido Forest - New York’s first Spanish-language forest school - seamlessly integrates with Montessori principles to nurture a deep connection with the natural world.


Victoria Hackett
Open-Air Learning: Montessori Blueprint for Success


This session explores the growing body of research highlighting the benefits of outdoor learning. Victoria champions diversity and inclusivity by offering insights into creating a Montessori-Inspired Outdoor Classroom, emphasizing how all students thrive when given the opportunity to learn and play outdoors, where unstructured activities foster creativity and problem-solving skills across all subjects.


Tamara Sheelsey Balis
Montessori in Bloom: Cultivating Outdoor Learning Environments


In this presentation, Tamara takes us through Greenspring Montessori School's transformative journey towards nature-inspired education, showcasing initiatives such as creating Outdoor Learning Environments for every classroom, offering practical insights to inspire Montessori schools worldwide.


Sustainability Education

Aliénor Salmon
Nurturing Future Leaders for a Sustainable World


Aliénor offers a global perspective on the transformative impact of Montessori education in fostering ecological consciousness and nurturing future leaders committed to sustainability and peace. She explores the vital connection between Montessori principles and global frameworks like the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, unveiling pathways for creating a brighter, more harmonious world through holistic education.


Claudia Mann, MEd
Let's Get Dirt-y and Save Our Planet


Join Claudia as she offers practical strategies to foster the growth of future stewards and safeguard our planet's future. Claudia inspires teachers to integrate Dr. Montessori's Cosmic Vision and Cosmic Education into daily learning by emphasizing the essential connection between Earth stewardship and purposeful action, with soil science serving as the foundational vehicle for transformative activities, inviting participants to engage hands-on by bringing their own soil samples.


Jackie Grundberg
Upcycling in Montessori: A Pragmatic, Hands-On Approach to Nurturing Sustainability


In this presentation, Jackie shows us how to integrate Upcycling projects into Montessori learning environments. She reveals interdisciplinary connections and holistic learning experiences aligned with Montessori principles, empowering educators to foster sustainability, environmental stewardship, and global citizenship through creative and practical initiatives.


Rachel Larimore
Tiny Changes, Big Impact: Demystifying Nature Integration


Rachel offers practical strategies to seamlessly integrate nature into the fabric of early childhood education, addressing concerns and challenges while providing concrete steps to infuse daily schedules, indoor and outdoor environments, and hands-on learning opportunities with the transformative power of nature.


Judith Cunningham, Gabriel Forestieri, Riemer Brandsma
Transforming Eco-Anxiety into Eco-Empowerment: A Call to Action for Montessori Educators


Step into this empowering workshop designed for Montessori educators, where Judith, Gabriel, and Riemer equip adolescents with the tools to navigate from anxiety to well-being while fostering a deep sense of social justice and environmental stewardship. Together, they'll shift the narrative from victimhood to empowerment, harnessing the potential of youth as catalysts for positive change in our sustainable world.


Trisha Moquino
Amplifying Native Nations For a More Just and Sustainable World


Explore the intersection of settler colonialism, Indigenous environmental stewardship, and climate change, focusing on one Native Nation's efforts to protect their land and resources while honoring their ancestral reverence for the natural world through Indigenous perspectives and nomenclature.




Cultural Ecology & Experiential Learning

Gabrielle Kotkov
Rooted in Diversity: Crafting Cultural Responsiveness through Botany Education


Explore the power of the Botany area in the Montessori Primary classroom as a catalyst for cultivating a culturally responsive curriculum, seamlessly integrating plants, herbs, flowers, fruits, and vegetables to celebrate diverse backgrounds year-round. Learn how to nurture intercultural understanding and ecoconsciousness in young learners through hands-on exploration and connection to the natural world.


Zil Jaeger
Words in Bloom: Sowing Rich Vocabulary Across Disciplines


Dive into evidence-based strategies for embedding vocabulary instruction into ecology lessons! Zil shares engaging activities designed to enrich Elementary students' understanding, using practical resources to bring these methods to life in your own classroom.


Letty & Zoe Rising
Engaging Elementary Ecologists: Experiments, Activities, and
Long-Term Project Ideas


Zoe and Letty explore innovative ways to expand Montessori's ecology lessons, from foundational concepts to engaging experiments and long-term projects, designed to enrich Elementary education and foster a deeper understanding of our natural world.


Ashley Causey-Golden
Walking with Nature: Creating an Embodiment Practice to Integrate Nature into Your Classroom


Embark on a transformative journey that goes beyond discussing the significance of Black representation in nature/eco-education and centers Black and Indigenous voices. Join Ashley as she explores the essence of embodiment and fostering a profound connection with the Earth through the structure of trees. This workshop challenges prevailing narratives, helping you to gain practical insights and cultivate a more inclusive and holistic Montessori practice.


Kelly Johnson
Nature's Sketchbook: Drawing Across the Cosmic Curriculum


Delve into the power of drawing as a transformative tool, as Kelly seamlessly integrates nature throughout the Cosmic Curriculum, fostering observation skills, and nurturing a deep connection to the world around us, benefiting both immediate learning outcomes and long-term ecological intelligence.


Priscilla Spears
What is My Ecosystem? Helping Kids Decode their Ecosystems


Dr. Spears equips educators with practical strategies to foster ecological consciousness in children, guiding them to understand, characterize, and appreciate the intricate interrelationships within their local ecosystems through engaging observations and measurements.


CLOSING KEYNOTE
Tammy Oesting
Born of Stardust and Soil: Nurturing Awe, Wisdom, and Wonder


Join Tammy as she delves into practical strategies, drawing from developmental psychology, evolutionary cosmology, and environmental education, to nurture awe, wonder, and ecological consciousness in Montessori settings. Together, embark on a journey of self-discovery and profound connection, exploring the intricate dance between the cosmos and our beloved Earth.


Frequently Asked Questions

Register now to join a global community united by a common vision:

Building a just, sustainable world through the transformative power of Montessori education.

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