Nature Play Training Institute FAQs

Anyone with a desire to help advance the regional landscape of outdoor play is welcome. We invite childcare professionals, teachers, play landscape designers, representatives from non-profits, parks professionals, funding organizations and anyone with a sincere interest in outdoor play.

Nature Play Training Institutes are pre-approved to provide early childcare professionals with a specific number of ECE-TRIS credit hours. The number of hours is posted for each Institute workshop. We are happy to assist individuals self-report professional development credit when allowed by your professional organization. 

One of the purposes of Institutes is to offer networking opportunities between organizations. We limit the number of participants from any one organization to five. You may submit additional names for a waiting list. One week in advance of the Institute we will draw names from the waiting list by lottery.

The full cost of each Institute is advertised. Organizations and individuals serving low- to middle-income audiences and special populations may be eligible for full scholarships. Others may be eligible for partial scholarships. If cost is a prohibitive factor in your attendance we will figure out a way to include you for free or at a cost that is affordable.

Meal arrangements will be announced for each Institute. 

Let us know if transportation is an issue and we will try and assist by letting other attendees who may live near you know.

To receive professional development credit you must attend the entire workshop.

Both, actually. Some workshops may take place in tented areas near the Bernheim Children’s Play Garden.  Please come prepared for the outdoors regardless of the workshop location.

For the most part, yes. In the event of severe weather you will be contacted and we will move or cancel the event. If you suspect that a workshop may cancel because of weather we encourage you to contact Bernheim at 502-955-8512 or watch for an update blog on this website.

For more information contact Claude Stephens – 502-215-7121 or cstephens@bernheim.org.  

No promises but we will do our best to refund your reservation.

We would prefer that you let us know in advance so that we can go to our waiting list.