The live classes for "Nature Inspired Teacher" certification program will be held on Mondays from 6-8pm EST. 

Session dates will be shared before each new season begins, giving participants time to plan ahead and prepare for the next round of learning.

Yes. The Nature Inspired Teacher Seasonal Certification is an ongoing professional development opportunity that we plan to offer each year.

This unique program is designed to grow over time, with new content and resources continuing to be added to each seasonal course.

Participants currently receive lifetime access to the seasonal courses and resource library, allowing them to revisit lessons, recordings, and materials whenever they need fresh inspiration or support.

Eventually, the program may shift to a fully pre-recorded format. Enrolling now gives you the opportunity to participate in live Zoom calls, ask questions in real time, connect with other educators, and receive direct support from April throughout each season.

This course is designed for early childhood educators who work with children ages 2–6. The content focuses primarily on toddler, preschool, and kindergarten-aged children, with practical strategies that can be adapted for a range of early learning settings.

While the training is centered on 2–6 year olds, several elementary-endorsed teachers have also taken this program and found the content relevant and adaptable for children beyond age six.

All resources for the Nature Inspired Teacher Seasonal Certification are housed in the student dashboard and shared as Google Docs. This format provides immediate access and allows materials to be updated in real time, so participants always have the most current versions at their fingertips.

The resources are designed to take the overwhelm out of preparing thoughtful, nature-inspired learning environments. Participants will find practical tools, planning supports, curriculum ideas, and ready-to-use materials that help make implementation feel clear and doable.

Past students have shared that April’s course resources are among the most helpful parts of the program because they are practical, organized, and easy to adapt for real classrooms.

All live sessions are recorded and uploaded to the student dashboard within 48 hours. If you miss a session, you can still watch the replay and stay connected to the course content.

Past participants have especially appreciated the live Zoom sessions because they offer time for conversation, questions, peer connection, and direct support from April each month. While attending live is encouraged, participants who cannot attend in real time will still have full access to the recordings and can pre-submit questions they'd like discussed.

Participants in the Nature Inspired Teacher Seasonal Certification currently receive lifetime access to the seasonal courses and resource library in the student dashboard.

Once enrolled, participants will receive immediate login access to their seasonal course in the student dashboard. Participants who enroll in the full yearlong program will receive immediate access to all four seasonal courses. 

Each season, April will continue to introduce fresh content, creating a collection of four standalone seasonal courses supported by an ever-growing resource library. With ongoing access, participants can revisit lessons, recordings, planning tools, and resources whenever they need fresh inspiration or support.

Participant questions, reflections, and requests will also help shape the new resources that are developed, making the program responsive to the real needs of early childhood educators.

Yes. At the end of each season, participants will receive a Documentation of Professional Development (DPD) form with the number of professional development hours completed through a combination of live online sessions and self-paced learning in the student dashboard.

Each seasonal course includes documentation for up to 12 hours of professional development.

Participants who enroll in and complete the full yearlong program will earn a "Nature Inspired Teacher Seasonal Certification" indicating 48 hours of professional development.

YES! April Zajko, M.Ed. is a Master Level trainer and sponsor and will submit your attendance directly to Northern Lights at the end of each season! 

Since each state's ECE system works differently, Nature Inspired Teacher, is not able to guarantee that the certificate of completion from this professional development opportunity will count. It is your responsibility to verify that the hours will count. The only state that we currently submit attendance verification to is Vermont. April Zajko, M.Ed. is a Master Level trainer and higher education faculty member who has 15 years of experience in leading professional development with early childhood educators. Please reach out directly to April if you have questions about whether this will count in your state, province, or country. 

The Nature Inspired Teacher Seasonal Certification is NOT a college course. However, many licensed teachers have been able to use the 48-hour certificate toward their teacher license renewal requirements.

Because requirements vary by state, district, and licensing agency, we encourage participants to check with their licensing office or administrator to confirm whether this professional development will count toward their renewal.

If you are interested in college courses on nature-based topics, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter, where we announce upcoming nature-based college classes taught by April Zajko, M.Ed.. You can also reach out directly for information about current and future course offerings.