Previous Conferences

Second Nature – NINPA’s Midwest Early Childhood Educators Conference

2024 – Second Nature Conference
Hosted and sponsored by Brookfield Zoo Chicago
Keynote Presentation: Connecting Quality Practices to Nature-based Learning
Keynote Presenters: Anna Dutke, Dr. Sheila Williams Ridge, Heidi Faris, and Jenny Hanlon, co-authors of the Nature-based Early Childhood Program Assessment and Guidebook.

Midwest Early Childhood Educators Symposium

2022 – Honoring the Earth and Each Other Through Fostering Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion
Presented in partnership with The Morton Arboretum
Sponsored by Antioch University New England
Keynote Panelists: Jessica Fong, Mariam Murphy, and Sheila Williams Ridge
Keynote Moderator: Katie Slivovsky

2019 – Lessons from the Forest: How Great Programs Place Nature at the Heart of the Curriculum
Presented in partnership with The Morton Arboretum and WiNBECA
Keynote Speaker: Christy Merrick, Special Projects Advisor, Natural Start Alliance

2017 – Worth the Risk: Exploring the Rewards of Connecting Young Children to Nature
Presented in partnership with The Morton Arboretum
Keynote Speaker: Ken Finch, founder of Green Hearts Institute for Nature in Childhood

2016 – Second Nature: Reintroducing Children to the Outdoors
Presented in partnership with The Morton Arboretum
Keynote Speaker: Rachel Larrimore, author of “Establishing a Nature-Based Preschool”

2018 – World of Wonder: International Nature-Based Early Learning Conference

Presented in partnership with Natural Start Alliance, North American Association for Environmental Education, and International Association of Nature Pedagogy
Sponsored by the Chicago Zoological Society/Brookfield Zoo
Keynote Address: Claire Warden, Educational Consultant, Founder of International Association of Nature Pedagogy