An Introduction to Engaging Children in Permaculture
A 12-HOUR course over 4 sessions x 3 hours
Starting 27th August 2025
A live online course for school & nursery teachers, forest school leaders, nature kindergarten teachers, parents, and other educators to learn how to engage children in all aspects of permaculture, learning from nature with a child-led approach. Register here.
Permaculture is about working with nature, based on deep observation and understanding of the principles which underpin natural systems. Childhood is the ideal time to get to know nature, and how nature works, through play and experimentation.
We will:
Find out how permaculture ethics and principles can be applied to education, in how we speak, the activities we engage in and in the spaces we design
Discover some great benefits of outdoor learning, including relevant research, and learn how to create session plans which engage the whole child: eyes, heart, hands and head, through active participation in a session learning about soil
Look at different garden designs both in school and home gardens and get involved in a practical activity (such as testing soil)
Learn about the different activities that we can do with children and, more importantly, think about how the way we approach the child can enable us to think of infinite possible activities
Connect with other like-minded people
This course is the first module of our 72 hour Permaculture design course, and a prerequirement for the CiP Practitioners Course, and as many of our students decide to continue on their learning with us this course sets you in good stead for joining those courses in the future.
This training course is being led by Lusi Alderslowe and Annette Argabright, see below for their biographies.
This course is the produce of the European ‘Children in Permaculture’ project in which best practice has been shared across the continent from Finland to Italy, Scotland to Romania:
“The future of our planet depends on a change of consciousness, in which the people and the resources of the natural world are no longer taken for granted and exploited without considering long term impacts. Supporting children from early childhood to develop a sensitive, compassionate and cooperative relationship with each other and the natural world is a crucial step in generating this new consciousness” (p. 1, The Children in Permaculture Manual; Alderslowe, Amus & Deshaies, 2018).
Dates & Times
Wednesdays: 27th August, 3rd, 10th, 17th September 2025
Time:
It is at the same time each of the 4 sessions.
UK: GMT: 5:30 pm-8:45 pm (17.30-20.45)
USA: Central Standard Time (e.g. Texas): 12:30 pm-3:45 pm (12.30-15.45)
CET: Central European Time (e.g. France): 6:30 pm-9:45 pm (18.30-21.45)
COURSE FEES
Organisation/good wage/pay it forward: £180
Waged: £120
Low waged (household income below £13k) £80
Unwaged (e.g. student). Max 2 places. £40
Location
All four sessions will be held on a Zoom teleconference call. Participants will be given practical home play tasks to do between sessions.
Your trainers
Lusi Alderslowe
Permaculture Educator, Children in Permaculture Trainer, Senior Tutor for the Diploma in Applied Permaculture Design, an author of ‘Earth Care, People Care and Fair Share in Education’. Find out more
Annette Argabright
Permaculture Educator, Permaculture Designer, Home Schooler, Children in Permaculture Practitioner, Tutor for the Diploma in Applied Permaculture. Find out more
PREVIOUS INTRODUCTION TO ENGAGING CHILDREN IN PERMACULTURE COURSES:
March 2025 Online **FULLY BOOKED*
October 2025 Online **FULLY BOOKED*
September 2022 @ 19:00 – 21:00. ONLINE ** FULLY BOOKED**
June 2022 @ 19:00 – 21:00 UK time. ONLINE ** FULLY BOOKED**
February 2022 UK time ONLINE
November 2021: 16.30-20-30 UK time ONLINE
October 2021 : 16:30-20:30 Finnish time ONLINE
August 2021 : 16:30-20:30 UK time ONLINE **FULLY BOOKED**
July 2021, 09:30-13:30 UK time ONLINE
April 2021, 09.30-13.30 UK time ONLINE **FULLY BOOKED**
February 2021 09.30-13.30 UK time ONLINE **FULLY BOOKED**
January 2021 @16:00-20:00 UK time. ONLINE **FULLY BOOKED**
November 2020 09:30-13:30 UK time. ONLINE **FULLY BOOKED**
October 2020 @ 16:00-20:00 UK time. ONLINE **FULLY BOOKED**
Sept 2020 @ 09:30-13:30 UK time. ONLINE **SOLD OUT**
Aug 2020 @ 16:00-20:00 UK time. ONLINE **SOLD OUT**
July 2020 @ 08:30-12:30 UK time. ONLINE **SOLD OUT**
June 2020 @ 16:00 – 20:00 UK time. ONLINE **SOLD OUT**
May 2020 @ 09:00 – 13:00 UK time. ONLINE **SOLD OUT**
Apr 2020 @ 09:00 – 13:00 UK time. ONLINE
Nov 2019 - Two day course - Tangleha, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Oct 2019 - Two day course - The Sustainability Centre, England
June 2018 - Two day course - Edinburgh Montessori School, Scotland
June 2018 - Two day course - Gatehouse Primary School, Scotland