Professional Learning Adventures
Let’s Get Outside!
We live this way, we teach this way.
Helping children advocate for the natural world. Reimagining education and restoring wonder.
Hummingbird Hill Collective provides high-quality, research-based, training opportunities for professionals including caregivers, homeschoolers, family and center child care, occupational therapists, speech therapists, and psychologists interested in engaging with children of all ages in nature connection. Our education is Maryland State Department of Education-Division of Early Learning-Approved.
Our guiding philosophy is that nature connection and education are essential for enhancing the lives of children of all ages. We are pushing forward and working hard to elevate and advocate for nature learning for early childhood education and beyond!
HHC provides opportunities for collaboration through conferences, professional development Institutes, workshops, and keynotes. We are available to customize trainings for your needs.
Where have we been?
Spreading the word about nature connection for children and adults!
2026
Aspire Symposium Nature’s Child and Risky Play, Linthicum, MD
BCFCCA In-Person at Hummingbird Hill Slow Down Pedagogy
AACFCCA In-Person Nature’s Kitchen
St. Paul’s PreK Program, Nature’s Child
MSCCA Annual Conference by the Sea, Ocean City, MD Mother Nature Is Our Superhero! - CUR/1.5
Garrett County CCC Conference-Nature’s Kitchen
Rehobeth Learning Center, Nature’s Child
St. Paul’s School Preschool, Brooklandville, MD Nature Play is the Way!
Warmth and Wonder after Winter PDI @ Hummingbird Hill Collective Slow Pedagogy and Tree ID Winter to Spring
Nature Forward Preschool, Chevy Chase, MD Slow Pedagogy
Geneva Day School Potomac, MD Excited about Emergent Learning
Roland Park Country School, Baltimore, MD Gracious Gardeners
Virtual Workshop-Nature’s Child
Irvine Nature Preschool Woodworking in ECE, Owings Mills, MD
2025
Virtual Workshop-Nature’s Child
Turn Over a New Leaf Fall 2025 PDI Busy Hands, Happy Brains!
The Tidewater School Nature’s Child: Benefits of Outdoor Learning
Notchcliff Nature Programs Woodworking in ECE
ESCCR Super Saturday Loose Parts Extravaganza Sticks, Stones, and Pinecones: Exploring Loose Parts in ECE Wye Mills Chesapeake College
BCFCCA Back to Nature School PDI @ Hummingbird Hill Nature Nature’s Child and Nature Playscapes
AACFCCA Sticks. Stones, and Pinecones: Loose Parts Play
NatStart 25 Nature's Kitchen: There Is A Place for Everyone at the Table On-Demand
MSFCCA Provider Appreciation Day Cloudy Skies and Mud Pies: Put the Messy in Play and Say OK!
Cherish the Chesapeake and Choptank Summer Nature Conference, Cambridge MD
Prince George’s County Family Child Care Association Virtual Training Loose Parts
BCFCCA Virtual Training Loose Parts
Nature Forward! In-Person Risky Play Chevy Chase, MD
PGCFCCA Virtual Training What Is Your Yes? Risky Play
MUD MAGIC AND MESSY PLAY PDI
Greatness Grows Here Price Georges County-Slow Pedagogy
Maryland State Child Care Association Conference Gracious Gardening and Slow Pedagogy Full Day
Anne Arundel County Family Child Care Association Gracious Gardening
2024
Maryland Association of Environmental and Outdoor Education- Lisa Poe Messy Play and Heather Quinn Adventurous Play in ECE
PGCFCCA Virtual Training Gracious Gardening
Nurtured by Nature Professional Development Institute all day @Little Bugs Nature Play and Learning
Garrett County Child Care Resource Center Keynote and Workshops
BCFCCA Virtual Workshop Gracious Gardening
Back to Nature School PDI Down and Dirty: Setting up your Space and Nature’s Child Embracing Nature as a Co Teacher
Turn Over A New Leaf Conference at Hummingbird Hill Collective
ANBE (Association for Nature Based Education) Winter Solstice Teacher Retreat-Nesting in Nature Winter Birds
2023
Snow and Ice Can Be Nice! Winter Conference Little Bugs Nature Preschool- Prince Frederick, MD
Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE) Conference: Ocean City, MD
Nature Play and Loose Parts and "GuideNotes"
Nature and Nurture, An Everyday Adventure Calvert County Family Day Care Association- Calvert County Keynote
Earth Stories: Storytelling and Nature Play Tacoma Park Cooperative Nursery School, Tacoma Park, MD
Dig In! STEM and Nature Play in Early Learning, First Lutheran Preschool, Ellicott City, MD
MSCCA Annual Conference 2023 Loose Parts and Playground Makeover, Ocean City, MD
Nature's Child Virtual Training Calvert County Daycare Association
A Conference for Early Childhood-St. Matthews Church Bowie, MD, Nature's Child
NLC Nature Makeover at The Night Watch Child Care Salisbury, MD Wicomico County
Harvesting Nature's Harmony- Fiber Arts, Clay, and Natural Paint and Pigment, Seneca Creek State Park, Gaithersburg, MD
Maryland Early Childhood 10th Annual Conference Hagerstown, MD Hagerstown Community College, What Is Your Yes? Adventure Play in ECE
Back to Nature School Conference Hummingbird Hill Nature Preschool Reisterstown, MD Baltimore County, Wonder and Whimsy in the Woods
MSFCCA Annual Conference Ocean City, MD, The Practice of Slowing Down: Using Nature as a Role Model and a Second Teacher
Trainer's Conference MSDE/OCC , Virtual -Eco Friendly Training Practices
Learning Day 2023-Child Care Choices Mental Health Association-The Practice of Slowing Down: Nature Brings Calm and Peace
2022
Maryland State Child Care Association (MSCCA) Annual Conference-Adventurous Play
Come Outside Conference Spring Edition-Adventurous Play and Frolic Every Day-Nature, Story, and Song!
National Association of Family Child Care Annual Conference (San Fran) Nature Play through the Seasons
Natural Start Alliance Annual Conference (Ohio) GuideNotes (Kathryn Para/Frolic the Fox)
Professional Development Workshop-Nature's Child at Hummingbird Hill
Back to "Nature" School Conference- Ukify, Ukulele and Sticks, Stones, and Pinecones Loose Parts
Professional Development Morning at First Lutheran Preschool- Nature's Child and Songs for Transitions-
Nature Play Make and Take at Hummingbird Hill Gracious Gardeners and Wonders of Woodworking
Reisterstown Public Library reading and fall activities (FREE and on a nature trail)
NAAEE Annual Conference virtual Nature Play through the Seasons
Waldorf School of Baltimore Pro Development Morning- Adventurous Play in ECE
Fall Into Mindfulness Conference at Hummingbird Hill Nature Preschool- Mindfulness Practices for Adults and Children, nature Journaling and Sit Spots
Early Childhood Nature Connection PDI Sarah's House Nature's Child and Risky Play
NAEYC Annual Conference Nature Play through the Season
ERAFANS Winter Teacher Retreat- Robinson Nature Center Columbia, MD-Brrr...birds in winter
Reisterstown Library Nature, Story and Craft BCPL Reisterstown, MD
2021
Maryland Association of Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE)- Nature Play through the Seasons
Eastern Region Association of Forest and Nature Schools (ERAFANS) 12-HOUR MSDE-approved Outdoor Learning in a Nutshell
Come Outside Conference Fall at Chesapeake Children's Museum- Nature's Child and Messy Science
