Outdoor Classrooms Podcast

🌿 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!

🎙️ What If? Reimagining Education Through Play, Nature, and Possibility

🌿 Episode Description
What if we let children be children… a little longer?
After returning from a guest speaking experience at Endicott College, this episode reflects on the power of play—not just in early childhood, but across all ages.
Through storytelling, real classroom experiences, and thought-provoking questions, we explore what might be possible if we reimagined education through play, nature, and trust in development.
What if reading instruction didn’t begin so early?
What if every child had access to an outdoor classroom?
What if future teachers were trained to teach beyond four walls?
This is an invitation to pause, reflect, and consider a different path forward—one rooted in curiosity, connection, and the simple, powerful act of play.

🌱 In This Episode, We Explore:
The experience of bringing play into a college classroom
Why play matters for older elementary students, adolescents, and adults
The hesitation—and transformation—when adults are invited to play
What we can learn from education systems in Norway and Finland
The connection between outdoor learning, mental health, and engagement
How small shifts in teaching can create meaningful change
Why play is not a break from learning—but the learning itself

🌍 Key Takeaways
Play does not have an age limit—it is a lifelong human need
Outdoor learning supports focus, resilience, and well-being
Delaying formal academics does not mean delaying success
Educators don’t need to change everything—small moments matter
Reconnecting with play can transform both teaching and learning

🌼 Reflection Questions
Take a moment to pause and reflect:
What is one memory you have of playing outdoors as a child?
When was the last time you experienced unstructured play?
What might shift if you brought one small moment of play into your day?
What is one “What if?” question you are holding about education?

🌿 Try This
This week, try one small step:
Take a lesson or moment outside
Offer open-ended materials (sticks, stones, leaves)
Allow space for curiosity to lead
Observe what changes—both in yourself and others

Subscribe & Share
If you enjoyed this episode of Outdoor Classroom Podcast, be sure to subscribe and share it with a fellow educator, parent, or nature-loving friend.

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!

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 Resource:
🌿 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 (includes Exploring Nature in Winter Masterclass)
🎓 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

Episode 192: Behind the Pages: The Making of Outdoor Classrooms Unlocked
Ever wonder what it takes to bring a book to life? In this episode, I take you behind the pages of my upcoming book, Outdoor Classrooms Unlocked: The 5 Phases of Confident Outdoor Teaching Across 4 Types of Teaching Gardens.

I share the full journey—from the first spark of an idea, to writing and editing the manuscript, gathering feedback from early readers, and even selecting a cover that captures the heart of teaching outdoors. Along the way, you’ll hear stories, surprises, and reflections from my experience as an outdoor educator and author.

We also explore how the 5 Phases of outdoor teaching and 4 types of teaching gardens shaped the structure and vision of the book, giving insight into not just what the book is, but how it grew and evolved over time.

Whether you’re an educator, aspiring author, or just curious about the creative process, this episode offers a story-driven look at the making of a book, with lessons, reflections, and inspiration for anyone bringing an idea to life.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:
How the book concept came to life and evolved over time
Reflections on the manuscript editing process
Stories and feedback from early readers
The journey of designing the book cover and illustrations
Insights from the 5 Phases and 4 Teaching Gardens framework
Lessons learned as a teacher and author

Links & Resources:
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 Resource:
🌿 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 (includes Exploring Nature in Winter Masterclass)
🎓 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

Over the past few months, I’ve been playing a lot of Sudoku. What began as a simple puzzle quickly became something much more meaningful. As I struggled through Easy puzzles and eventually unlocked the Master level, I began to notice something fascinating: the mindset needed to solve Sudoku is remarkably similar to the mindset needed to teach outdoors.
Episode 191: Finding the Openings: What Sudoku Taught Me About Teaching Outdoors
In this episode of Outdoor Classroom News, I explore the surprising parallels between solving puzzles and guiding children in nature. Both require patience, curiosity, experimentation, and the willingness to keep trying even when things don’t immediately make sense.
Drawing from real moments in our Secret Gardens Outdoor Classroom Nature Classes, I share how children naturally approach learning the same way we approach puzzles—by noticing openings, testing ideas, and persisting through challenges.
If you’ve ever felt stuck trying to bring more outdoor learning into your work with children, this episode offers a refreshing reminder: sometimes the solution appears when we shift our perspective and take the next small step.
In This Episode
How a simple Sudoku puzzle became a lesson in mindset and persistence
Why “looking for openings” is a powerful strategy in outdoor education
Stories from Secret Gardens Outdoor Classroom Nature Classes
How experimentation and curiosity fuel children’s learning in nature
Why persistence is one of the most valuable skills children develop outdoors
How shifting perspective can unlock new possibilities in teaching and learning

Reflection Questions
As you listen, consider these questions:
Where are the “openings” in your classroom or outdoor space right now?
What small experiment could you try with children this week?
When have you seen persistence lead to a breakthrough in learning?

Listener Challenge
This week, try this simple practice:
Notice an opening — a child’s curiosity, a seasonal change, or a moment of wonder in nature.
Experiment — follow that curiosity and see where it leads.
Persist — allow time for discovery and growth.

Just like solving a puzzle, meaningful learning often happens one small step at a time.

Subscribe & Share
If you enjoyed this episode of Outdoor Classroom News, be sure to subscribe and share it with a fellow educator, parent, or nature-loving friend.
And remember:
The next breakthrough—whether in a puzzle or an outdoor classroom—may be just one opening away.

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 Resource:
🌿 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 (includes Exploring Nature in Winter Masterclass)
🎓 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