In Mud: Nature-based early childhood education
Spring in the Tetons begins with mud!
Saturday, May 2nd, 2026
9:00 am – 4:00 pm MST
Based on Teton Science Schools’ Jackson Campus
Price: $110
Come join us for our 9th annual In Mud Workshop. We are excited to welcome keynote speaker Erin Tanzer, teaching faculty in Nature-Based Early Childhood Education from Antioch University New England. Erin values the importance of outdoor risky play for children’s development and as a part of the foundation for life-long learning. Erin will share some of her dissertation research, which focused on young children’s perspectives during outdoor risky play, and she will share practical tips on how children’s views and experiences can shape our pedagogy and teaching.
Workshop sessions will explore these themes and topics further with opportunities to spend time outside – exploring, playing, and taking risks together. Following the morning keynote, participants will have the opportunity to peek into classrooms and then take a journey to Rendezvous Park, the Jackson Hole Land Trust’s flagship community open space, near the Jackson Campus.
Recommended for Early Childhood Educators: preschool through lower elementary school. 7 STARS hours are available or a certificate of completion.
There is an option to stay overnight at TSS on Friday, May 1, 2026 with arrivals from 5-7 pm. For those who stay on Friday evening, lodging and breakfast the following morning will be an additional $125.
Description of keynote
Honoring the ‘I’m Not Sure’ Feeling: Aligning Pedagogy with Children’s Perspectives of Risky Play
With Dr. Erin Tanzer, Antioch University New England
Educators who venture outdoors often witness children engaging in adventurous play and may wonder: What is this experience actually like for the child? This keynote presents recent research into that inquiry, uncovering the complex feelings and wonderings children navigate during adventurous and risky play. For a young child, the true essence of risk extends far beyond physical challenge; it is purposeful play with emotions, uncertainty, and curiosity. Participants will find inspiration in children’s voices, rekindle their own sense of wonder, and glean child-centered strategies to support play that align with children’s lived perspectives.
Dr. Erin Tanzer is a member of the teaching faculty in the Nature-based Early Childhood M.Ed. and certificate program at Antioch University New England. Erin enjoys working with experienced and aspiring educators to create playful and connected learning experiences and environments. Her areas of interest include playful pedagogy in higher education, transformative leadership in early childhood, place-based education, nature-based early childhood education, inquiry-based approaches, and outdoor risky play pedagogy. Her experience in the field includes teaching in postsecondary/ higher education, teaching in Reggio-Emilia-inspired and nature-based early childhood settings, designing project-based curriculum, and facilitating educator professional development. Erin’s recent research is about young children’s perceptions of outdoor risky play.
Workshops Descriptions
| Facilitator | Workshop Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Amy Butler, Author and educator who has recently relocated to the Teton Valley from northern Vermont | Sticks, Sticks, Glorious Sticks! | In a wild setting it is almost guaranteed that there will be a plethora of loose parts that will entice and engage children. Stones, plant matter, soil and sticks. These are nature's affordances and offerings for exploration and extended learning back in the classroom. Yet, how do we meet our own discomforts of both large and small loose part play in undomesticated spaces? In this workshop we will explore the benefits gained by allowing children to explore stick play by scaffolding agreements for safety while acknowledging children's sense of agency and purpose in nature-based learning. |
| Elise Pierce, Preschool Division Head, Teton Valley Campus | Resilience and Regulation: Supporting Social Emotional Skill Building Through Risk | How does our own sense of personal risk impact the way that we support children during risky play? How does observing and participating in risky play support the development of resilience and regulation in young children? Use tools to assess and understand your own connection to risk and risk management. Develop new skills to support children’s social emotional growth during risky play situations. |
| Erin Tanzer, Faculty, Antioch University New England | The Risk We Take, The Tales We Tell: Reconnecting with Our Own Play to Document Theirs | Become a better observer of risky play by diving into the action yourself! While educators often understand the theory and developmental benefits of risky play, we can become disconnected from the visceral emotions, the thrill of uncertainty, and the driving curiosity that children experience. In our time together, we will engage in self-selected risky and adventurous play and re-acquaint ourselves with the feelings and wonderings inherent in these experiences. In turn, we can develop a keener eye and build deeper empathy for the children we work with. |
| Katie Rose Griffith, Head of Farm & Garden, Teton Valley Campus | From Picky to Curious: Supporting Risk-Taking with Food in Early Childhood | Children don’t need pressure to eat—they need permission to explore. How do we support young children in becoming adventurous eaters — without pressure, bribery, or power struggles? Join us for an engaging, hands-on workshop that blends outdoor education, sensory exploration, and research-based feeding practices to help children build confidence with new foods. Grounded in principles from Kids Eat in Color and responsive feeding approaches, this session explores how risk-taking in nature and risk-taking with food are deeply connected. |
| Paige Fisher, Director of Early Childhood, Jackson Campus | From Stumps to Trees: Growing Confidence in Risky Play in Young Learners | Step into a world of adventure for young learners, where risk is a natural part of play! This hands-on session invites educators to explore how risky play can be thoughtfully scaffolded for children aged 1–5. Using loose parts like stumps, branches, rocks, and trees, you’ll design playful invitations that grow with children’s abilities, encouraging safe risk-taking, confidence, and curiosity at every stage. Come ready to climb, balance, and imagine—then leave inspired to create environments both indoors and outdoors that spark curiosity, foster adventure, and let children safely take risks and thrive. |