Early Childhood Play Summit

Monday, September 23, 2024

Bellaboo's Play & Discovery Center | 2800 Colorado St, Lake Station, IN 46405

Are you looking to become a certified PLAY champion? Join us on September 23 for the Early Childhood Play Summit where you can gain valuable insights into the most current and advanced early childhood programming available. This is a unique opportunity to partake in a variety of sessions, including the engaging Invitation to Play, effective strategies for Hosting Early Childhood Events, tips on Fundraising & Sponsorships, and much more.

Tentative Agenda:

Note! Lake Station is on Central Time!

8:30AM - 9:00AM CST Muffins and Mingle

9:00AM - 9:30AM CST Welcome & Ice Breaker

9:30-10:45: Session 1A & 1B

1A: Design Elements for Nature-based Play Space

This session will empower you to make changes in your outdoor learning environment. Principles of nature-based play design will be introduced with case studies and built examples.

 We will draw on the research and studies that indicate that children playing in a more natural environment are healthier, have better motor fitness, coordination, attention, and observation. More diverse, creative and imaginative play occurs in more natural settings. Relevant and current research will be connected to the importance of natural outdoor play spaces.

 Presenter Bio
Andy Howard – Hitchcock Design Group

 Throughout his career with Hitchcock Design Group, Andy’s creative vision and construction knowledge have played an instrumental role in a variety of projects ranging from early education outdoor classrooms to community parks and large-scale master plans.  As co-chair of the Leave No Child Inside - Chicago Region initiative, he has presented sessions at national and regional conferences on the importance of educating children about nature.  A licensed landscape architect and graduate of Purdue University, Andy’s passion for connecting children with the natural environment has resulted in some of the Midwest’s most innovative nature-based play environments.  

 1B: Leslie Knope Got it Wrong: Parks & Libraries Make the BEST Partners

Julie Wendorf - Crown Point Community Library

 11-12:15: Session 2A & 2B

2A:  Setting the Stage for Multi-Age Play

Explore the many ways to create a functional, inviting, and high-quality learning environment in this training for early childhood programmers by describing the role of space, furniture, and materials used in multi-age play.

Presenter Bio
LeAndra Rivera – SPARK Learning Lab

 LeAndra Rivera has worked as a teacher and coach in early childhood education for six years, deeply understanding the power of play.  Passionate about developmentally appropriate practices, she believes that infants and toddlers deserve engaging and stimulating environments. LeAndra is dedicated to fostering inclusive and supportive learning spaces for young children. 

12:15-1:45: Lunch & Keynote Presentation

Vote for Play: A Platform for Wellness and Learning

The freedom to play contributes to a child’s overall wellness, fosters curiosity and joy, and supports positive mental and physical health.  Children also develop life-skills through play.  Play has a role in the development of skills such as problem solving, compromise, collaboration, conflict resolution, and empathy.  Play also provides opportunities for decision making, motivation, observation, and fosters the development of spontaneous ideas. Join us as we discuss the importance of play and explore activities that provide meaningful learning experiences for young children.

Presenter Bio
Dr. Mary Jane Eisenhauer – First Things First Porter County

Dr. Mary Jane Eisenhauer has dedicated over 25 years to serving young children and families as an educator, advocate, researcher, consultant, and teacher educator. She is the founding Executive Director of First Things First Porter County, a collective impact initiative focused on supporting prenatal to three systems in Porter County, Indiana. Before this role, Dr. Eisenhauer was a Professor of Early Childhood Education and Associate Director for the School of Education and Counseling at Purdue University Northwest, where she established the Center for Early Learning to provide outreach and professional development for educators.

Dr. Eisenhauer’s research explores the connections between children's play, language development, and friendships, as well as the power of community partnerships through collective impact. Her work has been published in Young Children and the Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education. She earned her Ed.D. in Curriculum & Social Inquiry – Early Childhood Development from National-Louis University and holds a B.S. in Speech-Language Pathology and an M.S.Ed. in Education and Social Policy from Northwestern University. Dr. Eisenhauer continues to actively lead efforts to advance early childhood education at local, state, and national levels.

Presenter Bio
Linda Curley – Purdue Extension Lake County

 Linda Curley is a Health and Human Sciences Educator for Purdue University Extension.  She holds a Master’s Degree in Child Development and Family Sciences from Purdue University.  Prior to becoming an Educator, Linda worked with Purdue’s Family Nutrition Program and delivered nutrition education to youth and adults in underserved communities.  Curley has been awarded the 2016 Educator of the Year Award for Higher Education from the Indiana Association for the Education of Young Children, the 2019 Purdue Cooperative Extension Specialists’ Association Team Award for the Succession Planning Team, the 2018 Ann Hancock Award for Co-Parenting for Successful Kids, the 2021 Purdue University Corps of Engagement Award for Families Tackling Tough Times Together Steering Committee Member, and the 2022 Purdue University College of Agriculture Team Award for the Purdue Extension Succession Planning Team.  Curley works closely with early childhood educators to strengthen skills to meet the needs of our most vulnerable populations.  She currently serves Lake County, Indiana providing community education and outreach. Her overall focus includes programs highlighting the importance of health and wellness, foods and nutrition, human development and family resource management.

1:45-3 PM: Session 3A & 3B

3A: Nature Play & Early Childhood Nature Education Curriculum

Kiddos are naturally curious and need outdoor exposure to develop many important skills as they grow. During this session, a variety of simple and fun ways to engage will be demonstrated as participants venture outdoors. We will also do 2 mini-lessons from national environmental education curricula, "Growing Up WILD" and "Getting Little Feet Wet," which focus on wildlife and water respectively.

Presenter Bio
Caryn Corriere – Lake County Parks

Getting "paid to play outside", Caryn Corriere has been working in the environmental education and nature play field for over 25 years, 7 of those with Lake County Parks. Experiencing deserts, mountains, seaside shores and more, she has a great appreciation for the diversity and wonder of the natural world and loves sharing it with others, especially little explorers.

3B: PBS: Fueling Curiosity, Inspiring Minds

PBS and member stations like Merrillville-based Lakeshore Public Media are America's largest classroom and a trusted window to the world. Together, we provide a wealth of free curriculum-aligned videos, interactive tools, lesson plans, and additional resources to help create a positive learning environment for children of all ages and backgrounds. Lakeshore Public Media is committed to early childhood education in Northwest Indiana and offers additional resources and partnership opportunities. Our educational mission is to harness the power of the media to help every child, including those who can't attend preschool, reach their full potential in school — and in life. Learn more about free, high-quality educational resources that are available to you through your local public broadcasting station.  

Presenter Bio
Carl Kurek - Lakeshore Public Media

Carl Kurek is the Vice President of Development for Lakeshore Public Media, Northwest Indiana's public broadcasting station that serves audiences across television, radio and digital platforms. After participating in the Strosacker Early Learning Fellowship in 2022, Carl made early learning and childhood development a focus for Lakeshore, which has since launched "Learn With Lakeshore" community events as well as "Building Blocks," a multimedia initiative that will promote early education and early childhood development in Northwest Indiana and across the Hoosier state. Carl is dedicated to building strong partnerships in the community and raising awareness about all of the tools and resources that Lakeshore and PBS have to offer.  

PBS: Fueling Curiosity, Inspiring Minds

PBS and member stations like Merrillville-based Lakeshore Public Media are America's largest classroom and a trusted window to the world. Together, we provide a wealth of free curriculum-aligned videos, interactive tools, lesson plans, and additional resources to help create a positive learning environment for children of all ages and backgrounds. Lakeshore Public Media is committed to early childhood education in Northwest Indiana and offers additional resources and partnership opportunities. Our educational mission is to harness the power of media to help every child, including those who can't attend preschool, reach their full potential in school — and in life. Learn more about free, high-quality educational resources that are available to you through your local public broadcasting station.  

 3-4 PM: Garden BOOK HUNT