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

How can parents encourage outdoor play? In today’s episode, we have Heather Bishop sharing her perspectives of Outdoor Classrooms as both a parent and educator. Heather shares her journey as a teacher, raising two boys outdoors, her family stories from the Secret Gardens Outdoor Classroom, and how she has taken lessons learned from an outdoor classroom and woven them into both her parenting and te...

Many Forest Schools and Nature-Based programs tap into natural rhythms that reflect the different seasons. What if we followed the needs of the children and their interests instead of standards and expectations? In this episode, we will explore the essence of cultivating a rhythm in your program and trusting children’s innate curiosity, wonder, and playful learning by looking at "Rhythm of the Day...

Kestrel is a natural science educational organization connecting young people of all ages with meaningful learning adventures. In this Outdoor Classrooms Tour and Talk episode with Jessica Kagel, we learn the 3 Pillars of Learning Adventures: Sensory Awareness, Imagination, and Systems Thinking. Jessica shares her adventure stories, how we all can become naturalists within our communities, and how...

Last Call! Exploring Nature in Winter Masterclass The doors officially closed last night, but if you are still interested in joining us for the Exploring Nature in Winter Masterclass, I am keeping the back door open for all my listeners. In this Masterclass you’ll discover: How to create a winter curriculum that gets both you and your kids jazzed about going outside. 30+ Nature-Based Winter Activi...

In this episode, we have reflections from our Exploring Nature in Winter Masterclass Alumni. Their reflections not only answer questions, but they also demonstrate how this course has impacted their mindset around teaching outdoors in winter. Learn how our alumni developed routines and systems for teaching outdoors in winter while also asking difficult questions. Doors open on January 29, 2024! CO...

Did you know that the Exploring Nature in Winter Masterclass is one of our most popular online classes? Did you know that the entire class is being revamped for 2024? What makes this course so great? Winter is a tricky month for getting kiddos outdoors, this masterclass will help you change your mindset with amazing winter lesson plans at the ready. Not be a deer caught in headlights when kids wan...

Teacher Tom writes in his blog, “The central purpose of every human community that has ever existed is to care for children.” In the same paragraph, he notes, “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that as many as 20% of American children have been diagnosed with behavior problems, anxiety, depression or some other mental disorder.” In this episode, Teacher Tom and I dive into a...

With the New Year upon us, are you setting your goals to spend more time outdoors with your kiddos? Are you thinking about starting with an outdoor circle time, but don’t know where to start? Finding the perfect icebreaker for your group is a wonderful way to warm up any group to spend more time outdoors. When done correctly, icebreakers, circle time, and group activities can be the ticket to succ...

What if children had the option to get outdoors, and move their bodies to enable them to playfully learn? In today’s episode, we have Author Rae Pica who has penned many books on the importance of movement in early childhood development. In her book, “Preschoolers & Kindergarteners Moving and Learning,” she provides more than 80 developmentally appropriate movement and music activities th...

In this episode, we are welcoming 2024 by introducing a NEW BOOK CLUB. Each month we will be embarking on reading/listening to a new nature-based book that will deepen our discussions within our monthly LIVE Roundtables and LIVE Q&A Sessions within the CIRCLE Membership Community. Books are chosen by CIRCLE members and a list will be determined for the 2024 year. We are kicking off January wit...

How do you license a program without walls that is fully outdoors? Authorized by 2017 legislation, a limited number of pilot programs have been testing licensing standards to better adapt and fit outdoor early childhood education programs. In today’s episode, we have Jess Labbe from Village Nest Cooperative sharing her story about becoming the first fully outdoor program to be licensed in Maine an...

In today's episode, we have Julia Long and Shelley Lee from Green Beverly talking about Sustainable Living. Green Beverly is a response to our climate change and the swift and immediate action we need to take to preserve our planet for future generations. Green Beverly is only one example of how a community can come together to respond to the effects of climate change. Green Beverly's website note...

From leading adventures on the water, on land, or in the air, Nicole has done it all. She has been an adventure racer, a raft guide, a high ropes facilitator, a clinician for kids with Autism, a Waldorf high school teacher, and a mom, Nicole shares her incredible journey into CEO and Director of Education of Wild Med. Discover how the desire for educators to be prepared and feel confident in their...

In this episode, we are talking about an exercise that we do in our CIRCLE Community every year at this time of year. The best part is, each month of the year, our CIRCLE members check-in and become each other accountability partners. Here are 5 ways to choose a word of the year. Reflect on the past year in your outdoor classroom and your outdoor teaching practice. To start, find a notebook or jou...

We are talking with Becca Katz and highlighting her amazing journey that led her to co-found Good Natured Learning. MEET BECCA: Becca has been a nature-based educator for over two decades. She has worked as a classroom teacher, administrator, and wilderness expedition leader in private and public schools. Becca’s many classrooms have included a strip mall storefront, windowless modular units, the...

Do you desire for your children to be healthy during the cold-weather months? Do you seize the opportunities to get outdoors during inclement weather days? Or do you go into hibernation mode? In this episode we are Shifting our Winter Mindset Taking Action Exploring Nature in Winter Instead of saying and getting stuck with a negative mindset: “I don’t know what to do when we get outdoors.” “We can...

Leadership buy-in refers to the authentic agreement and active support from your school's leadership team towards a shared goal or vision. In this case, your Outdoor Classroom. In this episode, we are defining a school's leadership team as Principals, Stakeholders, Community members, Parents….even educators. In this episode, we ask: Why is leadership buy-in so important when creating an Outdoor Cl...

The mission of The Garden School  is to pass on the essential skills of life to the next generation, starting with horticulture. Much of the experience of young people today is an abstraction—viewed through a screen. The Garden School seeks to remedy this by actual experience in the dirt. To plant a seed and watch it grow is an experience you will never forget. Working the land cultivates vir...

In this mini-episode, we asking some really important questions about getting outdoor classrooms into our public schools. Why do educators opt out of teaching outdoors? What are the barriers to teaching outdoors? How can we support our public school teachers? In this episode, we are also talking about general words of advice and additional tips for taking action. CONNECT WITH VICTORIA: FREE Seedli...

We are visiting Kind Roots Early Learning and Care with an Outdoor Classroom Tour and Talk with Annie Berres. Please note members can view the visual tour in our membership dashboard. Not a member? Join today. This episode is a conversation that includes: A peek into Annie's journey in transforming her backyard outdoor space into a nature-based preschool. How teaching outdoors has changed your tea...

When I was asked, "Who is hosting a Lantern Walk this year?" One of our members asked, “What is a Lantern Walk?” In this mini-episode, we are taking a look at: How the seasons change and losing daylight in Winter can lead us into hibernation not celebration. How meeting darkness with lightness is happening around the world. Tips for tapping into power, hope, and community with a Lantern Walk. How...

We are visiting Wild Earth Wonder with an Outdoor classroom tour and talk with CIRCLE Member, Bridger Hahn. Please note members can view the visual tour in our membership dashboard. Not a member? Join today. This episode is a conversation that includes: A peek into Bridger's journey BEFORE becoming a Nature-Based Educator. How teaching outdoors has changed her teaching practice. An overview descri...

“Never doubt that a thoughtful, committed group of citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” ~ Margaret Mead In this episode, we are asking the following questions: What does it mean to become an advocate for nature-based education? What is the purpose of nature advocacy? What is an example of environmental advocacy? How to get involved with environmental advocacy?...

Take a closer look inside The Big Book of Nature Activities with authors Drew Monkman and Jacob Rodenburg. This episode is a conversation that includes: Jacob and Drew's journey BEFORE meeting each other and co-authoring together. An overview of The Big Book of Nature Activities. Why nature and getting outdoors is important in a child's life. How to apply nature as a teaching tool. How nature educ...

"The first breath of autumn was in the air, a prodigal feeling, a feeling of wanting, taking, and keeping before it is too late." This episode is a conversation that was sparked by many "seeds of inspiration" from the week around Autumn Light, Rituals, Curiosity, and Anticipation. It includes: The gentle shift into Autumn and the darker months The variety of Autumn themes can inspire seasonal ritu...