Abstract
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>The lively curiosity that young children embody is well known to their teachers. So is their ability to notice, delight in, and learn from the natural world. Each day brings opportunities to encourage these tendencies, yet teachers can be unsure how to take advantage. Professional training often emphasizes indoor programming and skips over the ways of bugs, slugs, and wildflowers, while knowledge gleaned from prior science study may be difficult to translate to the preschool or primary level. Natural history courses geared towards early childhood educators can provide welcome support, enabling teachers to learn about neighborhood wildlife in ways that directly relate to their work. This chapter introduces a course offered within Antioch University’s Nature-based Early Childhood Program that has roots in holistic traditions of nature-study, arts integration, and experiential learning. Its philosophy, aims, structure, and activities are described, along with perspectives from participants. Widespread inclusion of such courses in teacher education programs is crucial in our time of ecological crisis, encouraging teachers to develop a loving knowledge of their surroundings that in turn nurtures children.</jats:p>