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

If you are a public school educator, you are in for a treat! In this episode, we have Peter Dargatz sharing the incredible evolution of his public school kindergarten transformed into a nature kindergarten. HERE'S WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THIS EPISODE: Education Evolution A Radical Redesign The Power and Possibility of Play The Four P's Onward and Upward MEET PETER: While his claim to fame might be as...

This entire month we are enjoying our Author Series. In this episode, we are talking with Rusty Keeler, author of his newest book, The Adventures of Risky Play: What is Your Yes? HERE'S WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THIS EPISODE: What is Risky Play? What do Adventure Playgrounds look like? What about the parents? Risk vs. Hazard Risk and Developmental Ages and Stages MEET RUSTY Rusty Keeler is an artist and...

This entire month we are enjoying our Author Series. In this episode, we are talking with Rachel Tidd, author of Wild Learning: Practical Ideas for Bringing Teaching Outdoors HERE'S WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THIS EPISODE: Rachels Story Forest Pre-Schools Attention, Motivation, & Going Outside Zones of Accessibility Inspiring Simplicity MEET RACHEL: Rachel Tidd is the author of  Wild Learning: P...

This month we are enjoying our first Author Series. When I asked Lauren MacLean, author of Me and My Sit Spot, about what inspires her, she said, "I LOVE to read!" Throughout this podcast episode (27) she highlighted several books. This answer inspired me to go to my bookshelf and pull out 10 books that I want to read and re-read this summer. 1.   Green Teaching: Nature Pedagogies f...

This entire month we are enjoying our Author Series. In this episode, we are talking with Lauren MacLean, author of Me and My Sit Spot. HERE'S WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THIS EPISODE: A wonderful conversation about infusing nature into the curriculum and the amazing story behind authoring Me and My Sit Spot. Resources Lauren included are: Megan Zeni Coyote Guide to Connecting with Nature The Big Book of...

After interviewing Linda McGurk, author of There's No Such Thing as Bad Weather, I was inspired to design my workcation around creating habits to embrace nature every day. HERE'S WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THIS EPISODE: In this mini-episode, we are looking at... Inspiration from a 2-week study that included 5 people who were monitored when working from their usual home office for one week and then at an...

This month we are digging into our Author Series with Linda McGurk and her book, There's No Such Thing As Bad Weather." MEET LINDA: I’m a writer and author who grew up in Sweden, approximately on the same latitude as the Gulf of Alaska but I’ve spent 15 years of my adult life in the US. Since my first daughter was born in 2008, I’ve also spent a large chunk of my time advocating for outdoor play a...

Before we dive into our Author Series this month, today we are priming our outdoor teaching practice with a discussion about fostering a growth mindset. HERE'S WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THIS EPISODE: In this mini-episode, we are looking at... What is an outdoor classroom growth mindset? Fixed Mindset vs. Growth Mindset Five Tips for Creating a Growth Mindset Teaching Culture

This entire month we talking about Teaching and Learning Outdoors. In this episode, we are talking with Laura Delgado from the Montessori Tree. HERE'S WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THIS EPISODE: Transitioning into an Outdoor Classroom Creating a space where children and adults feel seen, heard, and empowered. Building Community through an Art Show Connecting Small Schools through a Tour Empowering Parents T...

This entire month we talking about Teaching & Learning Outdoors. In this episode, we are taking a deep dive into Inquiry-Based Teaching and Learning Outdoors. HERE'S WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THIS EPISODE: In this mini-episode, we are asking LOTS of questions: What does Inquiry-Based Teaching look like? What does Inquiry-Based Teaching look like in Nature? 9 Reasons why you should implement Inquiry-...

This entire month we talking about Teaching and Learning Outdoors. In this episode, we are talking with Rhonda Pollock from the Pollywogs Nature Playschool HERE'S WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THIS EPISODE: What is nature-based programming? What is the forest school model? How did you establish an all-weather immersion program? What is child-led flow learning? What is inquiry-based learning? What is child-i...

This entire month we talking about Teaching & Learning Outdoors. In this episode, we are asking the question, "What makes a confident child?" HERE'S WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THIS EPISODE: In this mini-episode, we are asking LOTS of questions: How does risk play a role in growing self-confidence? Can you grow to be more confident from being in nature? How does community play a role? What causes low...

This entire month we talking about Teaching and Learning Outdoors. In this episode, we are talking with Jessica Labbe from the Village Nest Cooperative Nature School. HERE'S WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THIS EPISODE: The history of The Village Nest Cooperative. KEEP KIDS MUDDY "motto." The Village Nest Cooperative Nature School Forest School Model How they manage preschoolers napping outdoors. How they are...

This entire month we talking about Teaching & Learning Outdoors. In this episode, we are asking the question, "What If?" and "Imagine." HERE'S WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THIS EPISODE: In this mini-episode, we are asking questions: What is the Scandinavian philosophy of outdoor life? What if every school made using outdoor space a substantial part of every day? What if every school had an Outdoor Clas...

This entire month we talking about Teaching and Learning Outdoors. HERE'S WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THIS EPISODE: In this episode, we are talking with April Zakjo, founder of April's Teaching Tree and faculty member of Comunity College of Vermont. The focus of this important conversation centers around rethinking Nature Pedagogy in Higher Education. Why April shifted from beginning her career as a publi...

This entire month we talking about Teaching & Learning Outdoors. In this episode, we are talking about how Nature Study can inspire patience, wonder, curiosity, and joy. "Adopt the pace of nature; her secret is patience." Ralph Waldo Emerson HERE'S WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THIS EPISODE: In this episode, we are talking about: Why SIT SPOTS make a difference in our lives as educators. Prompt curiosit...

This entire month we talking about Teaching and Learning Outdoors. HERE'S WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THIS EPISODE: In this episode, we are talking with Clare Nugent, founder, and owner of Ferntop Nature Preschool in Tennessee. The focus of this important conversation centers around... The Ferntop School Story The integration of How Empathy, Wonder, Community, and Play Elements & activities that inspi...

This entire month we talking about Getting Outdoors. We are also collaborating with The Outdoor School Shop ! Are you looking for Outdoor Gear? Check out the Outdoor School Shop for all you need to keep you and your kiddos dry and outside. Get your waterproof on and jump in the mud with 20% off the entire full-price RAIN category at The Outdoor School Shop. Use code: PODCAST at check out. HERE'S W...

This entire month we talking about Getting Outdoors. In this episode, we are talking about MUD which also makes it the perfect time to be collaborating with The Outdoor School Shop ! The proper Outdoor Gear can make all the difference in the world when kids are invited to play in the Mud. Make sure you get your waterproof on and jump in the mud with 20% off the entire full-price RAIN category at T...

This entire month we talking about Getting Outdoors. We are also collaborating with The Outdoor School Shop ! Are you looking for Outdoor Gear? Check out the Outdoor School Shop for all you need to keep you and your kiddos dry and outside. Get your waterproof on and jump in the mud with 20% off the entire full-price RAIN category at The Outdoor School Shop. Use code: PODCAST at check out. HERE'S W...

This month we talking about Getting Outdoors and collaborating with The Outdoor School Shop. "There's no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing." HERE'S WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THIS EPISODE: In this episode, we are talking with Alyssa Marsh, founder and owner of The Outdoor School Shop. The focus of this important conversation centers around how to create pathways for getting gear onto...

HERE'S WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THIS EPISODE: This month we have been exploring the Infrastructure of an Outdoor Classroom. In this episode, we dig into how to design your outdoor space using the Four Types of Teaching Gardens. TOPICS COVERED: Four Types of Outdoor Classroom Teaching Gardens: Gardens that Feed Gardens as Outdoor Learning Stations Gardens for Art and Beauty Gardens that Attract Wildlife...

HERE'S WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THIS EPISODE: MEET VALERIE: Valerie Bang-Jensen is a Professor of Education at Saint Michael's College, where she has earned the college’s Rathgeb Teaching Award. She received her A.B. at Smith College and MA, M.Ed., and Ed. D. degrees from Teachers College, Columbia University. Valerie has taught in K-6 classrooms and library programs in public and independent schools i...

HERE'S WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THIS EPISODE: I am often asked by directors, " We want to transform our outdoor space and move all our educators into a model of teaching outdoors. Where the heck do we start?" Today we are going to explore how to begin bringing your Outdoor Classroom vision to life by beginning with the child in mind. TOPICS COVERED: What is your WHY? How to discover your children’s out...

BUCKLE UP AS WE TRAVEL TO FIND "SEEDS OF INSPIRATION" FROM OUTDOOR CLASSROOMS ALL OVER THE WORLD. Each month, we visit a new Outdoor Classroom and celebrate the power and purpose of Teaching Gardens. We also highlight the brilliant creative work of the many educators who have taken their outdoor space from an unproven concept to an engaging Outdoor Classroom. Many are graduates from our Outdoor Te...