Heart Centered Teaching Institute 2026

The 9th Annual Heart Centered Teaching Institute is October 24, 2026 at the UofL Event and Conference Center @ Shelby Campus.

Teaching Beyond Walls: Implementing Nature-Based Approaches through Play
The world currently faces many crises. Early childhood educators can’t solve them all, but we can influence the outcome! Dr. Rachel Larimore will make a case for nature-based early childhood education as a powerful tool for influencing the future of our society and planet. She’ll address the core components of nature-based pedagogy including how we can support learning with nature among three spaces—the Inside, Outside, and Beyond. This session will bring together nature-based approaches and social-emotional learning. You’ll leave smiling, inspired, and ready to change the world!

Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM EST (Check in at 8:30 AM)

Cost: $50

Early Bird Registration (before September 18th): $40

A limited number of scholarships will be available at a reduced cost. Click here to apply for a scholarship.

Prizes and give aways! Register early to receive a free Heart Centered Teaching t-shirt! (To guarantee a t-shirt, you must register before September 18th. T-shirt size will be asked on the registration form.)

Registration closes Friday, October 9th. Early Bird Registration closes Friday, September 18th.

Location: UofL Event and Conference Center @ Shelby Campus (map)
Founders Union Building
450 North Whittington Pkwy
Louisville, KY 40222

Parking: Free parking on site. 

Credit: 6 hours of ECE-TRIS credit

Keynote Speaker: Rachel A. Larimore, Ph.D.

Rachel is an educator, speaker, consultant, and author of multiple books including Establishing a Nature-Based Preschool, Preschool Beyond Walls: Blending Early Childhood Education and Nature-Based Learning, and Evaluating Natureness: Measuring the Quality of Nature-based Classrooms in Pre-k Through 3rd Grade.

“As the Chief Visionary of Samara Early Learning, my work focuses on the intentional integration of nature into the early childhood classroom—Inside, Outside, and Beyond. Learning with nature supports young children’s holistic development and as such they can live rich, full lives. I have been in the field of education for nearly 30 years. Ten of those were spent as the director of a nature-based preschool. I left this position to complete my Ph.D. in curriculum, instruction, and teacher education at Michigan State University. At that same time I founded Samara Early Learning, which focuses on helping early childhood educators start nature-based schools or grow nature-based approaches in their existing program.” – Rachel Larimore, Ph.D.

Read more about Dr. Rachel A Larimore.

Thank you to our sponsor!

4-C membership discount does not apply to the institute.