Outdoor Classrooms: Nature-Based Teaching and Learning for Educators and Parents

Nature According to Children: Voices from the Secret Gardens Outdoor Classroom What do children really think about nature? In this special episode of the Outdoor Classrooms Podcast, we turn the microphone over to the children of Secret Gardens Outdoor Classroom. Through a series of mini-interviews, children share their thoughts about being outdoors, their favorite nature experiences, and what they...

Episode # 205: Nature, Neuroscience & Meaning: What We’re Learning About Connection, Awe & the Developing Brain In this episode, I explore the connection between nature, neuroscience, and meaning-making in early childhood education . Inspired by Dr. Lisa Miller’s work, I reflect on what research is beginning to show about how nature supports regulation, attention, and a sense of connection...

Nature in the Classroom with Ernesto Rodriguez: Creating Calmer, More Focused Learning Spaces What if supporting children's focus, well-being, and learning could begin with the spaces where they spend their day? In this episode, Victoria Hackett sits down with Ernesto Rodriguez, founder of Nature in the Classroom, to explore how nature-inspired learning environments can help children feel calmer,...

Episode 203: Summer Outdoor Classroom Ideas Across Four Teaching Gardens Summer brings a powerful shift in the outdoor classroom—but many educators find themselves wondering how to move beyond maintenance into intentional, meaningful outdoor learning. In this episode, we explore how to reimagine your outdoor classroom for summer through four “teaching gardens” that support curiosity, exploration,...

From Mud Kitchens to College Graduation Outdoor Learning, Childhood & the Growth We Don’t Always See This episode connects a deeply personal moment—watching a son graduate from Cornell University—with reflections on childhood, parenting, and the long arc of development. From mud kitchens to outdoor classrooms, it explores how children grow in ways that are often invisible in the moment—but und...

Episode #201: Turn Back Time with Lisa Burris: Reclaiming Childhood Through Outdoor Learning What happens when children are given time, space, and freedom to connect deeply with nature? In this inspiring episode, I sit down with Lisa Burris, founder of Turn Back Time, to explore the transformative power of outdoor learning, connection, and childhood wonder. Lisa shares the story behind Turn Back T...

Episode #200: Aging Well Through Nature: Lessons from My 93-Year-Old Mother’s Garden This Mother’s Day, I visited my 93-year-old mother and spent time in her garden—a living, breathing oasis filled with flowers, birds, sunlight, and the quiet rhythm of seasonal change. As I watched her move through this familiar space, I found myself reflecting on something we often overlook: nature is not just fo...

The Legacy You’re Already Living: Nature-Based Education, Outdoor Learning & the Power of Attention What if legacy isn’t something we leave behind—but something we build every day? In this episode, we explore how nature-based education shapes children through attention, connection, and repeated experiences outdoors. Through a story from the Secret Gardens Outdoor Classroom, a simple puddle bec...

🎧 Beyond the Front Door with José Bergeron: Small Shifts That Transform Family & Classroom Life Outdoors What if the most meaningful learning—for both families and classrooms—begins just beyond the front door? In this episode, I’m joined by José Bergeron , author of Beyond the Front Door: Embracing Nature for a Happier and Healthier Family , to explore how simple, everyday moments in nature c...

Episode #197: Playful Personalities: Designing Outdoor Classrooms that Invite Every Child In What if engagement in your outdoor classroom isn’t about better activities—but better design? In this episode, we explore playful personalities —the natural ways children engage with the world—and how they can become powerful on-ramps to learning. From builders and explorers to observers and storytellers,...

Episode 196: Growing Outside with Ellen Grudzien: Trusting Children, Nature, and the Process What if the most meaningful learning doesn’t happen inside a classroom—but outside? In this episode, I’m joined by Ellen Grudzien , founder of Let’s Grow Outside NH, to explore the power of child-led learning in nature. With decades of experience in early childhood education, Ellen shares how outdoor class...

🌿 How Outdoor Classrooms Are Rewiring the Way We Think: The Nature Embedded Mind with Julie Brams What if the way we think—and teach—could actually heal both ourselves and the planet? In this episode, I sit down with Julie Brams, author of The Nature Embedded Mind , to explore how a “nature embedded mind” can transform education, outdoor classrooms, and the way children—and adults—relate to the w...

🎙️ The Outdoor Classroom Is Already Beautiful: Noticing & Using What’s Around You 🌿 After a trip to Ithaca, New York and its stunning waterfalls, I found myself reflecting on why nature feels so powerful when we travel—but so easy to overlook at home. In this episode, I explore how to bring that same sense of awe into our outdoor classrooms, no matter where we are. Because meaningful outdoor...

🎙️ What If? Reimagining Education Through Play, Nature, and Possibility 🌿 Episode Description What if we let children be children… a little longer? After returning from a guest speaking experience at Endicott College, this episode reflects on the power of play—not just in early childhood, but across all ages. Through storytelling, real classroom experiences, and thought-provoking questions, we ex...

Episode 192: Behind the Pages: The Making of Outdoor Classrooms Unlocked Ever wonder what it takes to bring a book to life? In this episode, I take you behind the pages of my upcoming book,  Outdoor Classrooms Unlocked:&...

Over the past few months, I’ve been playing a lot of Sudoku. What began as a simple puzzle quickly became something much more meaningful. As I struggled through Easy puzzles and eventually unlocked the Master level, I began to notice something fascinating: the mindset needed to solve Sudoku is remarkably similar to the mindset needed to teach outdoors. Episode 191: Finding the Openings: What Sudok...

Growing Wins: Celebrating Success in the Outdoor Classroom In this episode, we explore the importance of celebrating our wins—big and small—and why pausing to acknowledge accomplishments can transform the way we approach life, learning, and growth. Drawing inspiration from outdoor classrooms, we reflect on how children celebrate curiosity, effort, and discovery, and how we can do the same in our o...

Episode 189: CIRCLE Roundtable Reflections: What Happens When Educators Truly Belong In the middle of an East Coast blizzard, our monthly CIRCLE Roundtable began. Some logged in right on time. Others arrived late. One joined after watching a tree fall on her outdoor classroom. And still… they showed up. This episode reflects on that unusual night — and what it revealed about community, commitment,...

Episode 188: Follow the Water: Story, Survival & Science in the Outdoor Classroom with Ellen Cochrane What happens when a true survival story becomes a doorway into science, resilience, and deep connection to the natural world? In this episode, I’m joined by Ellen Cochrane, author of Follow the Water—the gripping true story of Juliane Koepcke, a 17-year-old who survived alone in the Amazon rai...

From Seed to Sanctuary: Cultivating Garden-Centered Classrooms with Sara Rubens What if your classroom didn’t just have a garden… but was shaped by one? In this episode of the Outdoor Classrooms Podcast, Victoria sits down with Sara Rubens , author of A Love Letter for a Garden-Centered Life , to explore how gardens can become living, breathing learning environments for children. Together, they di...

🌱 Episode 186: Growing a Greener Future with CitySprouts: Pubic School Gardens for Teaching & Learning In this episode, Victoria talks with Alex Frank of CitySprouts about how school gardens function as both science labs and creative spaces. Together, they explore how urban school gardens cultivate curiosity, connection, and meaningful learning experiences for students and educators alike—whi...

In Sync with Nature: Lessons in Rhythm, Pause, and Presence In this reflective episode, we explore what the natural world can teach us about staying in sync—especially for educators and caregivers who spend their days responding to the needs of others. Nature is not balanced because it avoids disruption, but because it integrates it. Through seasons, storms, rest, and regeneration, the natural wor...

184: Imperfect Sustainability: Building Environmental Literacy in the Outdoor Classroom with Alexa Pavan What does sustainability look like in the outdoor classroom—without the pressure to be perfect? In this episode, Victoria talks with sustainability advocate and content creator Alexa Pavan about weaving environmental and sustainability literacy into outdoor classrooms in meaningful, accessible...

January is a hard month in education—and winter often takes the blame. When directors call asking for ideas, strategies, or professional development, what they’re often really asking is: How do we support educators through this season? In this episode, we explore what sits beneath those January phone calls and why winter isn’t the problem it’s made out to be. Rather than offering quick fixes, this...

Episode 182: "Oh, The Places You Will Go" – Ocean State Kids with Marial Leisge Join us for a behind-the-scenes tour with Marial Leisge, founder of Ocean State Kids, a nonprofit supporting parents as their child’s most influential teacher. In this Circle Member Tour & Talk, we explore the many programs Ocean State Kids offers across Rhode Island, from outdoor learning spaces to hands-on experi...