Looking for upcoming meetings? Check here for the 2025-2026 schedule, and become a member for email updates on upcoming events!
September 2025 – Hickory Knolls Discovery Center in St. Charles topic: The Blueberry Awards
April 2025 – Oak Park Public Library in Oak Park topic: Rethinking Weapon Play in Early Childhood
February 2025 – North Park Village Nature Center in Chicago topic: Campfires and Community
April 2024 – Oak Park Public Library in Oak Park topic: Nature Play: Not Just Woods and White Kids
February 2024 – The Sterling Morton Library at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle topic: The Blueberry Awards Books: An Annual List of the Best Nature Books for You and Your Nature Preschool Students!
October 2023 – Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods in Riverwoods topic: Queer Ecology
April 2023 – Garfield Park Conservatory in Chicago topic: Spring into Spring! Gardening with Young Children
February 2023 – Wildwood Nature Center in Park Ridge topic: Winter Books & Block Party!
November 2022 – Trickster Cultural Center in Shaumburg topic: Indigenous Connections and Collaborations in Early Childhood Programming
February 2022 – The Morton Arboretum in Lisle topic: Cultivating Divergent Thinking, Reflection, and Curiosity About the Natural World
October 2021 – Cantigny Park in Wheaton topic: The Magic of Yet and Growth Mindset
October 2020 – Virtual Social Hour topic: Conversations in the Field of NbECE
March 2020 – The Morton Arboretum in Lisle topic: Literacy Through the Seasons
November 2019 – Natural Beginnings in Yorkville topic: Connecting and Fundraising Around the Campfire!
September 2019 – North Park Village Nature Center in Chicago topic: Block Party!
April 2019 – Hobson School in Naperville topic: NINPA After Dark
December 2018 – Webinar topic: Public Forest Day Programs
September 2018 – The Morton Arboretum in Lisle topic: Unpack Your Backpack!
April 2018 – Prairie School of DuPage in Wheaton topic: Place-based Education
February 2018 – Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe topic: Assessment Tools in Nature Education
November 2017 – Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Bolingbrook topic: Growth Mindset
September 2017 – Brookfield Zoo in Brookfield topic: Universal Design for Learning
April 2017 – Rosewood Beach in Highland Park topic: Challenges in Early Childhood Nature Education
February 2017 – Red Oak Nature Center in North Aurora topic: Risk/Benefit Analysis
November 2016 – Lyman Woods in Downers Grove topic: Art and Journaling in Nature
October 2016 – Maggie Daley Park in Chicago topic: Valuing Diversity in our Programs
April 2016 – Pilcher Park Nature Center in Joliet topic: Nature Noises and Music
February 2016 – Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe topic: DCFS Licensing
November 2015 – Emily Oaks Nature Center in Skokie topic: Natureness Scale and Defining Nature-Based Education
September 2015 – Conservation Foundation/McDonald Farm in Naperville (with a tour of Knoch Knolls Nature Center) topic: Process Art
April 2015 – The Morton Arboretum in Lisle topic: Spring Activities Roundtable and Discussion of Nature Wonders: A Guide to Early Childhood for Environmental Educators
November 2014 – North Park Village Nature Center in Chicago topic: Winter Activities Roundtable
May 2014 – Kendall County Forest Preserve in Yorkville topic: Welcome to NINPA! What are you hoping to gain from NINPA?
Northern Illinois Nature Play Association 