Path Forward: Starting a Nature-Based School Workshop (VIP; workshop + 1:1 time with Rachel)

Build a profitable nature-based school that aligns with your values and provides an incredible place for children to thrive

How would it feel to…

• Be confident in your decision-making when starting, growing, and sustaining a nature-based program 

• Ensure your nature-based school or program will be financially stable

• Ask questions and bounce ideas off of an expert in the field who helps you see blind spots in your planning of a high-quality nature-based school or program

• Get answers to the ins and outs of starting and operating a high-quality nature-based school

• Establish a network with other educators pursuing a similar passion to connect young children with nature

• Avoid costly mistakes with ready access to accurate, up-to-date information

…open your own nature-based school without skipping important steps, wasting time, wasting money, or feeling alone through the process!

This workshop is for early childhood educators who want to open the doors of their own nature-based school or program.

Here’s how it works...

The two 3-hour live workshop sessions are intended to make it easier for you to be successful in opening a new nature-based school or program. In this workshop we’ll discuss:

→Key questions to ask before embarking on writing a business plan

→Components of a business plan

→Writing a business plan that gives an accurate picture of your vision 

The workshop itself will be a mix of presentations and small-group interaction and problem-solving. Here’s what we’ll cover:

Session 1 focus:

→ Components of a business plan

→ Step 1: Making a go/no-go decision

→ Step 2: Gathering the Facts

Session 2 focus:

→ Step 3: Making key decisions

→ Step 4: Completing the Details

• Programming plan (What will the program look and feel like?)

• Site plan (How do I determine if a site is right for my business?)

• Building plan (What does the ideal physical space look like and how can I achieve that vision?)

• Marketing plan (Who is the target market? How do I reach them? How do I identify potential competition?)

• Operating plan (How do I identify the nuts and bolts of my program such as schedule, registration process, insurance, etc.?)

• Financial plan (How do I identify and track start-up and operating expenses?)

• Risk analysis (What might go wrong in my business plan and how might I respond if it does?)

The workshop itself will be a mix of presentations and small-group interaction and problem-solving. Can’t make it live for all or a portion of the workshop? No problem! We will send the recording to registrants after the workshop. Please note, however, this is a WORKshop so we will not record worktime. 

If you’re ready to make your nature-based school a reality and stop struggling with fear and doubts, join us for this Path Forward workshop. You’re sure to leave with a clearer picture of the next steps to make your dream a reality!

Get the VIP Upgrade...

In addition to registration, the VIP option includes 60 minutes of 1-on-1 time with Dr. Rachel Larimore outside of the workshop. This can be broken up into two 30 minute sessions between January 27 and March 31, 2025. Going VIP a great way to get additional individualized support as you integrate the workshop material into your business planning materials. Please note, only 4 VIP spots are available and they’re on a first-come, first-served basis.

About Rachel Larimore…

Dr. Rachel A. Larimore is an educator, consultant, speaker, researcher, and author. Her work focuses on the intentional integration of nature to support young children’s holistic development by learning with nature to expand their worlds and live rich, full lives. She has written multiple books including Establishing a Nature-Based Preschool, Preschool Beyond Walls: Blending Early Childhood Education and Nature-Based Learning, and Evaluating Nature: Evaluating Natureness: Measuring the Quality of Nature-based Classrooms in Pre-k Through 3rd Grade. Her newest book is Reimagining the Role of Teachers in Nature-based Learning: Helping Children be Curious, Confident, and Caring. Rachel is the founder and Chief Visionary of Samara Early Learning, an organization focused on helping early childhood educators start nature-based schools or add nature-based approaches into their existing program. Prior to founding Samara, she spent more than a decade starting and directing one of the first nature-based preschools in the United States.