The Roger Tory Peterson Institute's NaturKind program connects nature to early childhood education. RTPI developed the program in collaboration with early childhood education experts at Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena, California.

NaturKind uses an emergent curriculum model in which the teacher observes her children closely and designs the curriculum with careful attention to particular needs and interests. It focuses on small, easy-to-care-for creatures in the classroom such as Helix land snails. Teachers learn to use the animals to inspire learning the basics of scientific inquiry, literacy, and numeracy, as well as caring and compassion; if young children can learn to handle snails with care and even regard them as objects of affection, they will, in turn, learn to treat other creatures, as well as each other, with caring and respect.

NaturKind lays the foundation for an attitude of caring and respect toward the natural environment too; explorations of the natural environment begun in the classroom lead naturally to places outdoors such as gardens and parks.

Teachers take part in NaturKind by attending a one-day professional development seminar. They leave the workshop with everything they need to get started with the program, including a supply of snails and a copy of the book, Snail Trails and Tadpole Tails. To inquire about how to arrange for a NaturKind workshop for early childhood educators in your area contact the Director of Education at RTPI at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 716-665-2473, ext. 228.