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

Episode 210: Inside Nature Forward Nature Preschool:
Carlos Duque on Curiosity, Confidence & Belonging

What happens when we give children the time, space, and freedom to follow their curiosity?
In this episode of the Outdoor Classrooms Podcast, Victoria Hackett sits down with Carlos Duque, Preschool Director at Nature Forward, to explore how nature-based education helps children develop confidence, empathy, resilience, and a deep sense of belonging.
Drawing on his experience as a teacher, librarian, camp counselor, and school leader, Carlos shares how child-led learning comes to life in a nature preschool. Together, they discuss balancing freedom with safety, building strong relationships with families, mentoring educators, and creating learning environments where children can truly thrive.
Whether you're an educator, parent, or school leader, this conversation offers practical insights and a hopeful vision for what early childhood education can become when nature is at its heart.

In This Episode:
Why nature-based education matters now more than ever
The power of curiosity and child-led learning
Supporting healthy risk-taking and resilience
Building confidence and belonging outdoors
Partnering with families in nature-based education
Leading a thriving nature preschool
What the future of outdoor learning could look like

Key Takeaway
When children are trusted to explore, wonder, and learn in nature, they develop far more than academic skills—they grow into confident, compassionate, and resilient human beings who feel deeply connected to the world around them.

Connect with Nature Forward:
https://natureforward.org

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.

Subscribe to the Outdoor Classrooms Podcast
If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the podcast, leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts, and share this conversation with a fellow educator or parent. Your support helps more people discover the transformative power of nature-based education.
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!

Raising Wild Little Wonderers: How Nature Shapes Curious, Confident Children with Sophie O'Borne

What if the greatest gift we can give children isn't another activity—but the freedom to wonder?

In this episode of the Outdoor Classrooms Podcast, Victoria Hackett welcomes Sophie O'Borne, founder of Wild Little Wonderers, for a heartfelt conversation about raising children who are deeply connected to the natural world.
Sophie shares the story behind Wild Little Wonderers and the experiences that inspired her work. Together, Victoria and Sophie explore how unhurried time outdoors nurtures curiosity, resilience, creativity, and a lifelong love of learning. They discuss the importance of stepping back as adults, trusting children to explore, and creating environments where wonder can flourish.
Whether you're an educator, parent, caregiver, or simply someone who believes childhood should include muddy boots, open skies, and endless questions, this conversation offers both inspiration and practical ideas for bringing more nature into children's everyday lives.

In This Episode:
Sophie's journey to founding Wild Little Wonderers
Why wonder is essential to healthy childhood development
The power of unstructured outdoor play
Helping children develop confidence through nature
Supporting curiosity without controlling the experience
Practical ways families and educators can reconnect children with the natural world
Why slowing down creates deeper learning
Building lifelong relationships with nature

Key Takeaway:
Children don't need perfect outdoor classrooms or elaborate activities to thrive. They need time, trust, and opportunities to experience the natural world for themselves. When we create space for wonder, children become more curious, capable, and deeply connected—to nature, to others, and to themselves.

A Quote from This Episode:
"Wonder isn't something we teach children. It's something we protect."

Connect with Sophie O'Borne:
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wild_little_wonderers/

Connect with Outdoor Classrooms:
🌿 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.

If you enjoyed this episode...
Please follow the Outdoor Classrooms Podcast, leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts, and share this episode with an educator, parent, or friend who believes childhood is best experienced outdoors. Every review helps us reach more people who are passionate about reconnecting children with nature. 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!

"When children are given the freedom to wonder, they discover far more than the world around them—they begin to discover who they are." 🌿

Episode 208: The Life We Model: What Children Learn from the Way We Live

As outdoor educators, we spend a great deal of time thinking about what children need—but how often do we pause to consider what they are learning simply by watching us?
In this reflective episode, I explore the quiet lessons we teach through the way we live. As I prepare for an upcoming hut-to-hut trek through the Swedish Highlands and put the finishing touches on my new book, Outdoor Classrooms Unlocked, I've been thinking about growth, discomfort, curiosity, and the importance of continuing to learn throughout our lives.
Children notice far more than our lesson plans. They watch how we respond to challenges, whether we embrace new experiences, and how we connect with the natural world. The life we model may be one of the most powerful forms of teaching we offer.

In This Episode You'll Discover:
Why children learn as much from our actions as our words.
How lifelong curiosity shapes the educators we become.
The difference between observing life and fully participating in it.
Why stepping outside our comfort zone helps us grow alongside the children we teach.
How outdoor classrooms invite both children and adults to reconnect with nature, wonder, and themselves.

Key Takeaway
The most meaningful lessons we teach often happen without saying a word. When we choose curiosity, embrace challenge, and remain connected to the natural world, we show children what a life of lifelong learning and wonder can look like.

Connect with Victoria: Resources & Links
🌿 Outdoor Classrooms: https://www.outdoor-classrooms.com
Email: Victoria@outdoor-classrooms.com
Instagram
Facebook

🌿 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!

If this episode resonated with you, I'd be grateful if you left a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Your support helps more educators, parents, and caregivers discover the Outdoor Classrooms Podcast and continue building meaningful connections with children through nature.

What happens when we trust children, trust nature, and trust ourselves enough to do education differently?
In this episode of the Outdoor Classrooms Podcast, Victoria Hackett sits down with Mel Merchand, founder of Oro-Medonte Forest School, to explore what it really takes to build a thriving forest school and nature-based learning community.
Going beyond the basics, Mel shares the behind-the-scenes realities of leading a forest school—from mentoring educators and building a strong culture to partnering with families, embracing thoughtful risk, and continually evolving as a nature-based educator.

In this episode, we discuss:
What most people misunderstand about forest schools
The behind-the-scenes work that creates meaningful outdoor learning
Hiring and mentoring exceptional forest school educators
Helping families embrace child-led learning and risky play
How nature continues to shape Mel's own journey as an educator
The future of forest schools and outdoor education

Whether you're just beginning your outdoor teaching journey or have been leading outdoor classrooms for years, this conversation will inspire you to think more deeply about what it means to trust children, trust nature, and grow alongside both.

Learn more about Oro-Medonte Forest School: https://oromedonteforestschool.ca

Explore professional development, certification, workshops, and the CIRCLE Membership at: https://www.outdoor-classrooms.com

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the Outdoor Classrooms Podcast, leave a review, and share it with another educator who believes children thrive when they learn in nature.

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!

Nature According to Children: Voices from the Secret Gardens Outdoor Classroom

What do children really think about nature?
In this special episode of the Outdoor Classrooms Podcast, we turn the microphone over to the children of Secret Gardens Outdoor Classroom. Through a series of mini-interviews, children share their thoughts about being outdoors, their favorite nature experiences, and what they love most about learning and playing in natural spaces.
Their answers are heartfelt, humorous, insightful, and often surprising. From discovering insects and building forts to making friends and finding peaceful places to explore, these young voices remind us why nature matters.
As educators, parents, and caregivers, we often talk about what children need. In this episode, we simply listen.
Join host Victoria Hackett as she shares these authentic conversations and invites us to see the natural world through the eyes of a child.

In This Episode:
What children enjoy most about being outdoors
Favorite activities in nature
How outdoor play sparks curiosity and imagination
Children's perspectives on learning beyond classroom walls
The simple joys and wonders that nature provides

Key Takeaway:
When we take the time to listen, children remind us that nature offers more than learning opportunities—it provides wonder, freedom, connection, and joy.

Connect with Outdoor Classrooms:
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with educators, parents, and anyone passionate about helping children thrive through nature-based learning.
Learn more about Outdoor Classrooms and Victoria Hackett at Outdoor Classrooms

Follow the Podcast:
Subscribe for weekly conversations, practical ideas, and inspiration to help children learn, grow, and thrive outdoors. 🌿

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!