Local in-home childcare provider is honored with nature-based Wonder Award from ERAFANS

During the Natural Wonder Summit on April 1, 2017 in New Canaan, CT, local resident Jessica Clayton received quite an honor. She was named the first recipient of the Wonder Award by the Eastern Region Association of Forest and Nature Schools (ERAFANS), a non-profit that supports nature-based educators through professional development.

The Wonder Award was inspired by conservationist Rachel Carson to acknowledge nature-based educators who exemplify what it means to share nature's wonder with young children.

Clayton is a dedicated nature-based early childhood educator and the director of a small in-home childcare program, Riverside Rhymes Nature Play School in Brick, NJ. The children in her care enjoy daily nature play outdoors as a natural part of learning. She also brings awareness to hotly debated topics, research, benefits and challenges of nature-based early childhood education as a moderator of the Facebook Group "Nature Preschool Ideas & Community" with nearly 3,000 members.

Sue Penix of Baltimore who nominated her wrote, "She takes her children regularly to her local woods to give them an opportunity to explore, play in the mud and have fun. Jessica is also an active advocate for all things Nature. She is a mentor for other programs who are seeking to incorporate more Nature into their programs."

Penix explained how they bonded at Irvine Nature Center's Nature Preschool Conference, "we had the opportunity to share our love of Nature play and desire to help others in the journey. After that conference Jessica, created a Facebook page for the folks who attended to share their experiences and network. This group has grown into an international group of folks who support Nature Play."

Thanks to Clayton's steadfast commitment to connecting young children with nature, through the use of technology and good old-fashioned mud, it is no wonder she earned the Wonder Award.