Resilience and inner strength for teachers and educators (and children)
Course in Nordic early childhood and forest education
24-28 August 2026 (JP)
May 2027 (EN) – specific dates coming soon
Copenhagen
Join us for a course at the Danish forest kindergarten Børneøen Bonsai in the north of Copenhagen. Come and experience first-hand how nature education can help you build resilience within yourself as a teacher or educator, as well as within the children you work with. Get inspired and confident in using the outdoors as your educational space.
The course is available in three languages:
🇬🇧
in May (2027) for
international students
🇯🇵
in August for
Japanese students incl. translator & travel guide
🇩🇪
for German students. Dates not yet confirmed. Please inquire if interested.
If you contact us at uddannelse@bonsainet.dk we are happy to communicate with you in Japanese and German.
“They need to see it, and they need to see other teachers doing it. And somehow that makes it real.”
Susan Wood is the director of an early childhood centre in California, USA. She first came to Bonsai Institute’s Nordic Childhood Education course in 2023 – and has returned every year since, bringing different members of her staff each time.
In May 2026, she sat down with us to talk about what keeps drawing her back.
The program offers you
-
Observation time in one of our kindergarten groups
-
Guidance from a dedicated mentor
-
Lectures on resilience, natur education, observation and evaluation techniques
- Hands-on workshops that transform nature education and learning into practice
-
Optional: Visits to our three campuses in and around Copenhagen
-
Warm, organic vegetarian meals prepared by our kindergarten chef
You will learn and experience first-hand
- the tranquility of a (safe space for) childhood in harmony with nature´s rhythm
- the benefit and excitement of free play and risky play – and how it supports children´s development of self-confidence and self-esteem
- inspiration and new insights on nature education to take home and implement immediately
- new ways and methods of observing children and reflecting on their development needs, making your dialog with the parents more objective, caring and grounded
Our lectures
The lectures by Rikke Rosengren and our other experienced educators will offer insights into the Scandinavian way of child caring. There will be mention of various theories, which we use in our daily work with children: Attachment theory, Gordon Neufeld´s relational developmental approach, various Scandinavian early childhood education and nature education theories, Waldorf education, a.o..
Our afternoon workshops
- The workshops will include topics such as:
- mindfulness with children in nature
- creative processes in nature
- using natures elements in working with children
Get inspired by
- becoming part of an international network of educators focusing on nature education
- learning about resilience in adults and children
- finding out about our project on regenerative and world care practices in early childhood education
Pictures from previous courses
For International students (English)
Next May 2027
Visit from the US.
For Japanese students
Next 24th – 28th August 2026
Visit from Japan. Pictures by Masato Sezawa
Børneøen Bonsai and its 3 campuses
Børneøen Bonsai is a forest Waldorf kindergarten and nursery, which was founded in the year 2000. It is located next to a forest and to the sea in the north of Copenhagen, in Charlottenlund. The two other campuses are: Bonsai Amarger nursery, where it all began, and our new nursery and kindergarten Bonsai Skovly in Espergærde, which was founded in 2022.
Being passionate about sharing her knowledge on early childhood and nature education, Rikke Rosengren established the educational institute, called Bonsai Institute as well as publishing company Blue Pearl Books in 2019, where educational books are being published in support of parents and educators.
Practical info
Date
May 2027 – specific dates coming soon (for international students)
24th – 28th August 2026 (for Japanese students)
For German students the dates have not yet been confirmed. Please inquire if interested. Find German presentation here.
Max. 25 students per course
Price
For English and German course: EUR 1.800 incl. VAT and catering.
Early bird price for English course EUR 1.700 incl. VAT, valid until 31.10.2026.
For Japanese course: TBD.
Contact us at uddannelse@bonsainet.dk. We are happy to communicate with you in Japanese. Find information in Japanese here.
Where
Børneøen Bonsai
Jægersborg Allé 2A, 2920 Charlottenlund, Denmark