Offered by Sarah Heller of Pathfinder Outdoor Learning

How often do you catch yourself saying “be careful!” as kids roll down a steep hill or run with sticks? What does “be careful” mean to someone who hasn’t learned how to assess risk? All children are inherently attracted to risky play - climbing trees, using tools, moving at high speeds, hiding and so much more. In this workshop, participants will learn to assess risk collaboratively with their students to move beyond “be careful” to building life-long problem-solving skills. Learn to distinguish between a risk and a hazard, and to create environments and experiences that allow children to take developmentally appropriate risks. In addition to learning how to assess risk with your students, you will leave this workshop with an understanding of how to implement the benefit/risk assessment tool, how to conduct site assessments, and an action plan for incorporating risk assessment into your curriculum and policies.

Sarah and her muddy, content child kneel on the wet sand in front of Puget Sound on Duwamish land.

About Sarah

Sarah Heller is the co-founder and former director of Fiddleheads Forest School, an entirely outdoor, nature-based preschool located in Seattle. She strongly believes cultivating a relationship with nature is essential to a healthy childhood and has lasting social, emotional and developmental benefits. Sarah recently launched Pathfinder Outdoor Learning to support teachers and administrators in cultivating rich, high quality nature-based learning. She holds a Master's in Education and a Certificate in Early Childhood Leadership from the University of Washington, and has been working outside with kids and families for over 15 years. Sarah developed a deep love of the natural world growing up alongside the forests and beaches of the Pacific Northwest. Today she loves exploring those same forests and beaches with her children, and escaping for trail runs and mountain adventures whenever she can.