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

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, more engaged, and better able to learn. Drawing on his background in school psychology, photography, and environmental education, Ernesto shares the story behind his innovative work bringing tree canopy imagery into schools and classrooms.
Together, they discuss the science behind our connection to nature, the role of biophilic design in education, and why creating restorative learning environments matters now more than ever.
Whether you're a classroom teacher, outdoor educator, school leader, or parent, this conversation offers practical ideas and fresh inspiration for bringing more nature into children's daily lives.

In This Episode:
The story behind Nature in the Classroom
Why our brains respond so strongly to nature
The research connecting nature and attention
How classroom environments influence learning and behavior
What teachers and students experience after nature-inspired transformations
The relationship between indoor environments and outdoor learning
Simple ways educators can bring more nature into their classrooms
Why nature connection is essential for children's well-being

About Ernesto Rodriguez:
Ernesto Rodriguez is the founder of Nature in the Classroom, a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing the benefits of nature into schools through immersive tree canopy installations and nature-inspired learning environments. His work combines school psychology, photography, and environmental education to help create spaces where children can thrive.

Resources:
Nature in the Classroom
Facebook
Instagram
Contact Ernesto

Connect with Victoria:
For more conversations about outdoor learning, nature-based education, and raising connected, curious children, subscribe to The Outdoor Classrooms Podcast and share this episode with a fellow educator.
Website: www.outdoor-classrooms.com
Email: Victoria@outdoor-classrooms.com
Instagram
Facebook

Outdoor Classroom Resources & Links:
🌿 Our Children's Library: 4 Types of Teaching Gardens Booklist (PDF) (halfway down the page)
🎓 Outdoor Classrooms Teacher Certification Program
🌸 CIRCLE Membership Community

Sponsorship Opportunities:
If you believe in the power of outdoor learning and nature-based education, we'd love to partner with you. Sponsoring the Outdoor Classrooms Podcast helps support educators while connecting your organization with a passionate community of teachers, school leaders, and families.
Contact Victoria at victoria@outdoor-classrooms.com to learn more.

Please take a moment to leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, and rate or comment on Spotify. Your support makes a big difference in helping the show reach more educators!

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, and nature-based learning.
Rather than treating the outdoor space as one general area, this episode introduces a framework for designing outdoor environments that reflect the richness of the summer season.
We explore four teaching garden lenses:
🌿 Gardens that Feed
🐝 Gardens that Attract Wildlife
🎨 Gardens for Art and Beauty
🔍 Gardens as Outdoor Learning Stations
Each one offers a different way to support observation, inquiry, creativity, and connection with the natural world.
This episode invites educators to shift their thinking—from managing outdoor spaces to designing living systems that inspire learning.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
Why summer outdoor learning often feels less structured for educators
How to move from maintaining a garden to designing teaching gardens
Four ways to structure meaningful outdoor learning in summer
How nature becomes a co-teacher in your outdoor classroom
Why small shifts in design can create powerful learning opportunities

Mentioned in This Episode
🌿 Exploring Nature in Summer Masterclass
📅 Opens June 19
A 4-week hybrid experience for educators focused on seasonal outdoor learning:
Week 1: Gardens That Feed in Summer
Week 2: Gardens That Attract Wildlife in Summer
Week 3: Gardens for Art and Beauty in Summer
Week 4: Gardens as Outdoor Learning Stations in Summer

Reflection Question
What would change in your outdoor classroom if it was designed for curiosity instead of maintenance?

Outdoor Classroom Resources & Links:
🌿 Our Children's Library: 4 Types of Teaching Gardens Booklist (PDF) (halfway down the page)
🎓 Outdoor Classrooms Teacher Certification Program
🌸 CIRCLE Membership Community

Connect with Victoria:
Website: www.outdoor-classrooms.com
Email: Victoria@outdoor-classrooms.com
Instagram
Facebook

Sponsorship Opportunities:
If you believe in the power of outdoor learning and nature-based education, we'd love to partner with you. Sponsoring the Outdoor Classrooms Podcast helps support educators while connecting your organization with a passionate community of teachers, school leaders, and families.
Contact Victoria at victoria@outdoor-classrooms.com to learn more.

Please take a moment to leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, and rate or comment on Spotify. Your support makes a big difference in helping the show reach more educators!

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 undeniable over time.

In This Episode
Why the most important learning is often invisible while it’s happening
How outdoor play builds resilience, curiosity, and problem-solving
The connection between early childhood experiences and later life skills
Why mud kitchens and loose parts are far more than “just play”
How outdoor learning shapes both children and the adults who guide them

Key Idea
Childhood is not a checklist of achievements—it is a long, unfolding process of becoming.
And outdoor learning asks us to trust what we cannot yet measure.

Episode Takeaway:
From mud kitchens to college graduation - growth is always happening, even when we cannot see it yet.

Outdoor Classroom Resources & Links:
🌿 Our Children's Library: 4 Types of Teaching Gardens Booklist (PDF) (halfway down the page)
🎓 Outdoor Classrooms Teacher Certification Program
🌸 CIRCLE Membership Community

Connect with Victoria:
Website: www.outdoor-classrooms.com
Email: Victoria@outdoor-classrooms.com
Instagram
Facebook

Please take a moment to leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, and rate or comment on Spotify. Your support makes a big difference in helping the show reach more educators!

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 Time and how her work has created meaningful experiences for children and families through nature-based education, farm experiences, and relationship-centered learning. Together, we discuss what children truly need to thrive, the importance of unstructured outdoor play, and how nature helps children build confidence, resilience, and belonging.
This conversation is a beautiful reminder that childhood was never meant to happen only indoors.

In This Episode, We Explore:
The story behind Turn Back Time
Why nature-based learning matters now more than ever
Supporting children through connection and outdoor experiences
The role of risk, wonder, and freedom in childhood
How outdoor learning transforms both children and educators
The healing power of slowing down and reconnecting with nature
What gives Lisa hope for the future of education

Whether you are a parent, educator, or advocate for children, this episode will leave you inspired to see outdoor learning in a whole new way.

Connect & Learn More from Turn Back Time
www.tbtinc.org
www.facebook.com/turnbacktimeinc
Instagram: @tbtfarm

Call to Action
If this episode inspired you, share it with an educator, parent, or friend who believes in the power of childhood, nature, and connection.

🔗 Connect with Outdoor Classroom Resources & Links:
🌿 Our Children's Library: 4 Types of Teaching Gardens Booklist (PDF) (halfway down the page)
🎓 Outdoor Classrooms Teacher Certification Program
🌸 CIRCLE Membership Community

Connect with Victoria:
WEBSITE: www.outdoor-classrooms.com
EMAIL: Victoria@outdoor-classrooms.com
Instagram: instagram.com/outdoor_classrooms/
Facebook: Facebook.com/OutdoorClassrooms1

⭐️ Enjoying the podcast?
Follow, rate, and review to help others discover outdoor learning. Please take a moment to leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, and rate or comment on Spotify. Your support makes a big difference in helping the show reach more educators!

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 for children.
In this episode, I share a personal story alongside research and reflection on how nature supports healthy aging, emotional wellbeing, memory, purpose, and quality of life in older adults. From gardening to sunlight to sensory connection, we explore why outdoor spaces matter deeply across the entire lifespan.
We also consider what it means to age in place surrounded by nature—and why beauty, rhythm, and connection remain essential at every age.

In This Episode
A visit to my 93-year-old mother’s garden
What nature offers in aging and elderhood
Research on nature and healthy aging
Emotional and cognitive benefits of gardens
Why nature matters across the lifespan

Key Takeaway
Nature is not optional in later life—it is essential to wellbeing, connection, and how we continue to feel alive.

Outdoor Classroom Resources & Links:
🌿 Our Children's Library: 4 Types of Teaching Gardens Booklist (PDF) (halfway down the page)
🎓 Outdoor Classrooms Teacher Certification Program
🌸 CIRCLE Membership Community

Connect with Victoria:
Website: www.outdoor-classrooms.com
Email: Victoria@outdoor-classrooms.com
Instagram
Facebook

Please take a moment to leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, and rate or comment on Spotify. Your support makes a big difference in helping the show reach more educators!