For parents looking to pry their children away from the television and video games this summer, Casper resident Laurie Stadtfeld may have an answer.

Stadtfeld has the first Nature Explore Outdoor Classroom in Wyoming, and she's holding an open house this Saturday to share ways for parents and children to get outside and have some fun.

The classroom is part of a program created by the Arbor Day Foundation to encourage youth to include nature in everyday learning. Stadtfeld traveled to Nebraska City, Neb. to attend workshops on creating an outdoor classroom and using the Nature Explore concepts with the children she cares for.

A total of 23 classrooms are spread through the United States. To be certified, Nature Explore Classrooms meet standards for outdoor design, staff development and family involvement.

Saturday's open house will feature several centers for children to work at while parents learn more about the Nature Explore concept. Projects include making butterflies and a bee condo.

"A lot of my parents have taken [these concepts] home and they have little things that they are adding," Stadtfeld said. "It's just a really neat way to get kiddos back outside."

To learn more about the Nature Explore program, log on to arborday.org.

Reach education reporter Jasa Santos at (307) 266-0593 or at jasa.santos@trib.com. Read her education blog at tribtown.trib.com/JasaSantos/blog.

Open house

To see how the Nature Explore program works, visit an open house at Laurie's Inn at 1901 E. 24th. The open house begins at 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 11. To RSVP, contact Laurie Stadtfeld at 333-5406