Outdoor Classrooms Podcast

🎧 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!

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 classrooms can transform the way children learn, grow, and connect.
We talk about what it really looks like to trust children, embrace all-weather learning, and create space for curiosity to lead.

✨ In This Episode:
The story behind Let’s Grow Outside NH
What child-led learning looks like in practice
The impact of outdoor education on confidence and independence
Navigating concerns around safety, weather, and academics
Simple ways to bring more nature-based learning into your day

🌱 Takeaway
You don’t need a forest to get started—just a shift in mindset, a willingness to slow down, and trust in the process.

🔗 Learn More from Let's Grow Outside
https://www.letsgrowoutsidenh.com/
email to [email protected]

🌼 Share
If you enjoyed this episode, follow the show and share it with an educator or parent who believes in the power of learning beyond the classroom.

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!

🌿 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 world around them.
We dive into why outdoor classrooms aren’t just a nice-to-have—they’re a powerful tool for reshaping thinking, fostering connection, and inspiring curiosity. Julie shares insights on how reconnecting with nature influences how we learn, play, and solve problems, and why this matters now more than ever.

✨ In this episode, you’ll discover:
What a “nature embedded mind” really means and why it matters
How outdoor classrooms can shape not just learning, but thinking itself
How children naturally understand connection—and how educators can nurture it
Simple ways teachers can bring this mindset into daily practice
Why reconnecting with nature is key to healing ourselves and our planet

This conversation is an invitation to step outside—literally and metaphorically—and see how thinking differently can open up new possibilities for teaching, learning, and living.

🌱 Julie Brams Resources & Links
Learn more about Julie Brams and The Nature Embedded Mind HERE
www.experienceelemental.com
IG @juliebramslmft
FB Julie Brams LMFT- Psychotherapy & Insight Meditation
[email protected]


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

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 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 learning isn’t about the location—it’s about how we help students notice, slow down, and connect.

✨ In This Episode:
Why awe matters in learning
How to reframe everyday outdoor spaces
Simple ways to build noticing and wonder with students

💭 Key Takeaway
The magic isn’t in the place—it’s in the noticing.

⭐ Enjoyed This Episode?
Follow, rate, and share to help more educators bring learning outside.

Join the Outdoor Classrooms Community:
Want to continue the conversation, access our workshop library, or collaborate with like-minded educators?

👉 Join the CIRCLE Membership and grow into a more confident, connected outdoor classroom leader.

FREE Outdoor Classroom Resources:
🌿 Our Children's Library: 4 Types of Teaching Gardens Booklist (PDF) (halfway down the page)

Outdoor Classroom Resources & Links:
🎓 Outdoor Classrooms Teacher Certification Program
🎓 Outdoor Teaching Bootcamp
🎓 Seasonal Masterclass Bundle
🎓 Teaching Beyond Walls Capstone Course
🌸 CIRCLE Membership for Educators
🌿 30-Day Gratitude in Nature Challenge
🌸 1-hour Online Workshop Library

Connect with Victoria:
WEBSITE: www.outdoor-classrooms.com
EMAIL: [email protected]
Instagram: instagram.com/outdoor_classrooms/
Facebook: Facebook.com/OutdoorClassrooms1

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!