Nature Education
Nature Education
Online Course
March 10 – April 6, 2025
We invite you to join our 4-week online course – Nature Education – starting March 10, 2025! This course is designed for educators, community leaders, parents, volunteers, and anyone passionate about integrating nature into education and daily life. Hundreds of participants from over 50 countries already took this course!
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Course: Nature Education
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Dates: March 10 – April 6, 2025
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Institution: Cornell University (Civic Ecology Lab)
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Format: Online, interactive discussions, and practical applications
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Workload: 4 weeks, 4-5 hours of work per week. You will have an additional week to complete and submit a lesson plan.
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Certificate: Earn a Cornell University certificate (PDF) upon completion. 25 learning hours.
Why Take This Course?
In an era of rapid urbanization, nature education offers joy, well-being, and deeper connections to the environment. This course explores diverse nature education practices, including:
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Citizen science & environmental stewardship
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Unstructured outdoor play & adventure education
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Forest schools & national park programs
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Wilderness and urban nature centers
Through research-based insights and real-world examples, you’ll learn how nature education enhances human well-being, strengthens communities, and fosters environmental stewardship.
What You’ll Gain
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Apply research on nature’s impact on health and well-being
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Explore & critique different nature education models
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Exchange ideas with global peers and instructors
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Develop an action plan to integrate nature into your programs or daily life
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Receive a Cornell University certificate (PDF):
Participants
Current and aspiring environmental educators, teachers, nonformal educators, volunteers, nature enthusiasts, university students, and anyone interested in using nature education in their work, life, research, and in training other educators. No background in nature education or environmental education is required. Available to participants in any country. All course materials are in English; video lectures contain subtitles in English and Chinese.
Flexible Learning
This course is asynchronous, meaning you can participate at any time of the day. The only live component is an optional webinar, which will also be recorded for later viewing
Technology
The EdX Edge course management system is used for readings, pre-recorded lectures, and asynchronous discussions. Webinars will be hosted via Zoom. In addition, optional informal discussions will be available in social media groups.
Educational Approach
Our teaching approach is based on two principles: (1) Learning is social: participants learn by discussing ideas and sharing resources; (2) Learning should lead to action: participants will apply course content to develop and implement a nature education lesson plan with their students, families, or communities.
Course Fees & Scholarships
Our program relies on your support, and we aim to make it accessible worldwide:
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$100 – Participants from United States, Canada, European countries, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, China, Australia, and New Zealand
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$25 – Participants from all other countries
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Fee Waivers – For countries without Visa/Mastercard payment options (Iran, Afghanistan)
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Competitive Scholarships Available – Write a comprehensive essay and apply via the course registration form before February 28, 2025 at 11:59pm. Learn more on the first page of the registration form. essay
Course staff
An experienced and dynamic team from Cornell University Civic Ecology Lab:
Alex Kudryavtsev
Research Associate,
Cornell University
Marianne Krasny
Professor,
Cornell University
Fish Yu
Graduate Student,
Cornell University
Kim Snyder
Course Administrator
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What time(s) of the day will this course take place?
Course materials, including pre-recorded video lectures, readings, and discussion prompts, will be released every Monday morning (New York time), and you can review them at any time during the week. We will also host an optional Zoom webinar on Wednesdays from 9:00–10:00 AM (NY time), which will be recorded for those unable to attend live.
2. Why do you have different rates for course registration?
We strive to make this course accessible to educators worldwide by offering tiered pricing. Participants from high-income countries pay the standard fee, while those from economically developing countries receive a significantly reduced rate. Participants from countries without reliable international payment systems (e.g., Afghanistan, Iran, Somaliland) can register for free, and those who cannot afford even the reduced fee may apply for a scholarship by submitting a short essay explaining their motivation for taking the course and how they will contribute to the learning community. The course is fully funded by participant fees, and we deeply appreciate your support!
3. What is the refund policy?
You may request a full refund before the end of the first week of the course.
4. How long is the course?
This is a 4-week course, with an additional week to complete the final project—a lesson plan. Participants who complete all required assignments will receive a Cornell University Certificate recognizing 25 professional development hours.
5. Can I submit the course project in my native language?
We strongly encourage all submissions in English so that instructors and fellow participants can provide feedback, but you may submit your final project in Chinese or Spanish, as we have teaching staff who can review these languages.
6. How will I receive course certificates?
Certificates will be emailed within two months after the course ends, following the evaluation of participants' coursework.
7. What social media are used in this course?
We offer optional course discussion groups on Facebook, WhatsApp, and WeChat for participants and instructors to exchange ideas and resources, but only enrolled participants may join these groups.