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Nature and Supranature
October 21, 2026
6:30 PM EDT
Professional Development
Short Description
Ahead of her time, Dr. Montessori knew the positive impact of nature on the human spirit, a conviction that has since been broadly supported and reinforced by countless scientific studies. Yet to enshrine nature was not her goal, nor to set it apart from our humanity or to stand back in awe. Instead, she argues that humans are meant to engage mightily with the natural world and transform it so that they are better able to adapt for survival, wellness, and comfort. Those transformations of the natural world, which she called supranature, have moral implications that resonate with adolescents, whose work on the land and in commerce put them at a meaningful crossroads. This webinar will explore the crossroads where nature meets human activity and the subsequent impact on adolescent development.
Professional Development
Objectives
By the end of this session, participants will:
- Gain insight into the critical interface between nature and supranature
- Gain an understanding of supranature’s role in adolescent valorization
- Learn practical strategies to put adolescents at the intersection of nature and supranature for moral, economic, and social independence
About Our Speaker
Caren Ross has established and led three farm-based Montessori adolescent programs in Connecticut over the past two decades and has spent the last 11 years as the lead guide and farm manager of the adolescent community at the Montessori School of Greater Hartford. She trained in Ohio, Mexico, and Hartford, and co-authored an article on the pyschodisciplines, which included a follow-up workshop on the adolescent-run farm.
Caren has a BA in psychology and Spanish from Tufts University and an MA in international affairs from Columbia University. Caren worked many years as a journalist, writing news stories from the United Nations and editing news from Spanish-speaking countries. Her long-time involvement with land preservation efforts further prepared her for Erdkinder work.
Conference Overview
A 4-Day In-Person Conference & Orientation | October 7-10, 2026
Conference Fee: Early Bird through 7/15/26: $895.00 | Full Price: $1,125.00
Part I: The Alexandrian Great Work — Seeds Planted in the Second Plane
The opening 2.5 days immerse participants in the living structure of the Alexandrian curriculum as it unfolds in the elementary years.
Presented by Kathleen Allen, Gerard Leonard, and David Kahn
Part II: In the Fullness of Time — From Adolescence to Adulthood
Beginning Friday afternoon, the lens widens. The conference turns explicitly toward the continuum from Second Plane foundations to Third and Fourth Plane culmination.
Presented by Baiba Krumins Grazzini, David Kahn, Mary Boehnlein, Xavier Angelo Paez Barrameda, and Caren Ross
Conference Hospitality
To support a collegial and reflective learning environment, the conference includes morning and afternoon tea each day, along with a light bagged lunch. These shared pauses in the day provide space for informal conversation, continued inquiry, and connection among participants and presenters.