Mark your calendar to join us Thursday, March 20th at Hayes Barton United Methodist Church for the 2025

Peggy Hibbert Enlightenment Speaker Series event.

This presentation will be appropriate for parents, teachers, and anyone involved in the care of young children.

Certificates of attendance available for 1.5 contact hours. 

Discounts will be available for groups of 5 or more.  Email us at projectenlightenmentfoundation@gmail.com for details.

Participants will grow their confidence in using outdoor spaces to maximize social/emotional learning. Parents and teachers will get a “fresh perspective” on outdoor learning and leave with practical, “ready to implement” ideas to use the very next day!

We will “dig” into some key ideas about Social/Emotional Learning Outdoors:

1- BENEFITS: What are the benefits? What do we know about the effects of being outdoors and how kids learn and what they need?

2- BIASES:  What we as parents/teachers think about being outside and outdoor play...our own experiences, likes and dislikes…..weather/bugs or animals/other sensory sensitivities, traumas, etc.

3- BARRIERS:  What are some barriers to providing optimum outdoor learning experiences? (e.g.., weather, clothing/attire and props, RISK taking, TIME)

4- BASICS: Logistics of our spaces and the skills we want to teach and support.

5- BRIDGES: Practical steps and tools that you can use to create a positive mindset in prioritizing and supporting outdoor times for social/emotional learning! 

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Christine Burkhart holds a BS Degree from East Carolina University in Child Development and Family Relations and is B-K Teacher Certified.  She has over 25 years of experience working in the Early Childhood field.  Her experience includes.

• Preschool Lead Teacher; Special Education/General Education/and Inclusive settings
  
• Kindergarten Teacher 
  
• Early Interventionist/Child Service Coordinator (Birth-5 years)
  
• Curriculum Specialist at an Inclusive Early Childhood Center
  
• Social Emotional Foundations in Early Childhood (SEFEL) Coach
  
• Trainer/Coach for Teachers and Community Providers
  
• Family Support Coach for IEPs/504 plans
  
• Community Collaborator with various specialists in the Triangle area who support neurodivergent learners and  their families (pediatricians, therapists, etc.)
  

Christine has presented at various events and conferences on an array of topics such as best practices in early childhood, inclusion, neurodiversity and IEPs.  Most recently, she presented at the 2024 International Inclusion Conference at UNC-CH on the topic of Child and Family Focused IEPs.

She is the owner of Building Connections, LLC, established in 2017, which now serves more than 350 families, schools, and communities through advocacy, social skill groups, summer camps, coaching, training, and much more.  Her goal is to help kids grow and succeed and to feel connected and valued for who they are. 

“I want to inspire children to love themselves for who they are and help them to ignite connections and relationships with others that are lasting. Each child deserves to feel loved no matter what and be given tools to help them navigate their emotions, friendships, and learning in any environment!”

In 2023, she bought a 12.5 acre farm to merge her work with neurodivergent learners and their families with nature and animals.   She is certified as a Conditional Farmer with the State of NC.

Christine’s knowledge comes not just from her education and work experience, but from personal experience as well.  She was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult and is a mom of two young adults, one neurodivergent (ADHD/Anxiety/SPD/Panic disorder) and one neurotypical.

Learn more about Christine Burkhart on her website www.buildingconnectionsnc.com and on social media.

                                Building Connections, LLC                                         Building Connections NC