Outdoor Classrooms Podcast

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: [email protected]
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: [email protected]
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!

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 becomes a powerful example of how curiosity, observation, and place-based learning create lasting impact.
This episode is for educators and parents who want to deepen children’s relationship with the natural world—and understand how those small moments become meaningful over time.

In This Episode:
Rethinking legacy in education
The role of attention in outdoor learning
How nature-based education builds connection and care
Why returning to the same place matters
How identity forms through experiences in nature

Key Takeaway:
What children learn to notice, they learn to value.

Reflection:
What are you teaching children to notice?

Closing:
Small moments outdoors can shape how children see—and care for—the world.
🌿 Keep noticing.

🔗 Connect
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: [email protected]
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!

🎧 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 can transform the way children live, learn, and connect—at home and in school.
We talk about why so many children are disconnected from the outdoors—and how small, intentional shifts can bring nature back into daily rhythms. José shares insights on child development, the power of unstructured play, and how outdoor experiences support focus, creativity, and emotional well-being.
This conversation is for parents, caregivers, and educators who want to create meaningful, low-pressure ways for children to learn and thrive outside.

👋 Meet José
Meet José Bergeron, author of Beyond the Front Door: Embracing Nature for a Happier and Healthier Family. He is passionate about helping families and educators reconnect children with the natural world through simple, meaningful everyday experiences. His work centers on the idea that small shifts—stepping outside, slowing down, and making space for unstructured play—can have a powerful impact on children’s well-being, learning, and connection.

🌿 In This Episode, We Explore:
Why nature is essential for children’s growth—at home and in school
Simple, doable ways to bring outdoor learning into everyday routines
The role of unstructured play in both family life and education
How time outside supports focus, creativity, and emotional regulation
Practical ideas for educators to extend learning beyond classroom walls

🔗 Connect with José
Want to learn more from José Bergeron?
Website: https://backwoodsmama.com/
Instagram: @thebackwoodsmama
TikTok: @thebackwoodsmama
Book: Beyond the Front Door: Embracing Nature for a Happier and Healthier Family

You can also explore more of José’s writing and seasonal nature inspiration on her website, where she shares practical ideas for helping families reconnect with the outdoors year-round.

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: [email protected]
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 #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, you’ll learn how to design spaces that invite every child in.
With real stories and simple shifts, you’ll begin to see your outdoor classroom as a place of belonging, curiosity, and meaningful learning.

🌿 In This Episode
What playful personalities are
Why children engage differently outdoors
How to design with multiple entry points
Simple ways to make your space more inclusive

💭 Reflection
Who is your space inviting in… and who might still be waiting at the edge?

🔗 Connect
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: [email protected]
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!