Forest and Nature Early Years Practitioner (FNP)

Campus

King

Duration

11 Weeks (21 Hours)

Credential Awarded

Microcredential

School

School of Early Childhood Education

About the Program

Outdoor pedagogy is gaining momentum across the world as educators recognize the countless benefits of consistent outdoor experiences for children and families.

These micro-credentials will prepare learners to develop and deliver outdoor education experiences in childcare, EarlyONs, school settings and home child cares.

Seasoned and aspiring teaching professionals will be qualified to facilitate, develop, and teach in four-season outdoor programs with young children and their families.

In these microcredentials, you will learn about enabling risk, outdoor pedagogy narratives, re-conceptualizing outdoor learning and Indigenous connectivity. Additional microcredentials will become available for registration at a later date, covering topics such as advocating for risky play.

Program Highlights

earn a microcredential for each completed course
microcredentials for each course are stackable to earn the complete Forest and Nature Early Years Practictioner bundle
provides material that can be used in portfolios, which are required for Ontario’s College of Early Childhood Educators
classes involve a blend of synchronous and asynchronous experiences and are scheduled to fit into an educator’s busy day
during one of the final classes, you will spend time with the faculty in the beautiful forest surrounding our King Campus

Your Career

This training will give you nature-based skills, enable you to create outdoor educational experiences for children and give you more qualifications for your career.

What is a Microcredential?

A microcredential is a short course designed to help you upskill, reskill and boost new skills development. Seneca’s career- and profession-based microcredentials provide focused learning that add value to your existing education and enhance your employability. You will learn in-demand skills and knowledge and benefit from flexible options including different delivery modes, durations and start times.

Explore Microcredentials

Badge

This microcredential is issued in the form of a digital badge. Data embedded in the badge identifies the institution that issued it, along with the competencies, evidence and criteria that was required to earn it. Earners can display their badges on social media sites, electronic portfolios and resumés.

Benefits

Planning

Learn how to develop an outdoor education plan.

Leadership

Gain the necessary skills to mentor peers.

Collaboration

Focus on co-construction of curriculum with children.

Continuous Learning

Increase your employability with additional training based on current market needs.

Student Testimonials

“I love that the courses are mostly asynchronous since it gives me the opportunity to work when I can, as I am a full time ELS. The professors are incredible and dedicated to the work, which make the classes very interesting. I do believe this experience will positively impact my career progression as I can now offer new and exciting opportunities to the children. I love that I can walk away with not only the knowledge, but strong and credible credentials that I can put on my resume!”

— Isabelle Odoardi

“I would recommend taking the FNP microcredential courses. I enjoyed the flexibility of earning badges in subjects that I am interested in and topics that are assets to my professional development. I liked the balance of synchronous/asynchronous material, the self-guided modules and resources available to extend learning. The pace of modules and participation from peers in online sessions was favourable. I also like that the microcredentials are stackable.”

— Leigh McMaster

“It was very well run and easy to follow. The professors were easy to communicate with and get a hold of. I found them very accommodating. I’m looking forward to taking more stackable courses in the future.”

— Sara Last