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

Episode 222: Vivalina Grows a Gourd! From Garden to Classroom with Graham Ottoson & Ann Kumpf

What if one tiny seed could inspire a world of creativity, curiosity, and outdoor learning?
In this episode of The Outdoor Classrooms Podcast, host Victoria Hackett welcomes Graham Ottoson, artist, author, and founder of Gourdlandia in Ithaca, New York, and Ann Kumpf, outdoor educator and nature-based occupational therapist at Cambridge School in Baltimore, Maryland.
Together, we explore the fascinating world of gourds and how these unique plants can become powerful tools for hands-on learning, storytelling, art, science, and connecting children with nature.
Graham shares her unexpected journey from midwife to gourd artist and the inspiration behind her debut children's book, Vivalina Grows a Gourd! Ann brings the educator's perspective, sharing how growing and crafting with gourds can spark children's curiosity and connect outdoor experiences with classroom learning.

In This Episode, We Explore:
What gourds are, how they grow, and what makes them so unique.
The process of harvesting, drying, and transforming gourds into works of art.
Creative ways to incorporate gourds into outdoor classrooms and school gardens.
Connecting gourds to science, history, art, storytelling, and hands-on learning.
The inspiration behind Vivalina Grows a Gourd! and its message for the next generation.
How educators and families can start small by growing gourds with children.
Gourdlandia's annual free seed giveaway.


Meet Our Guests:
Graham Ottoson is the artist behind Gourdlandia in Ithaca, New York, where she grows gourds and transforms them into beautiful lamps. Her work has been featured on CBS Sunday Morning, CNN, and Atlas Obscura. After 25 years as a midwife, Graham followed her creativity into the wonderful world of gourds. Her debut children's book, Vivalina Grows a Gourd!, invites children and families to discover the joy of growing.
Ann Kumpf, OTR/L, is the Outdoor Education Coordinator at Cambridge School in Baltimore, Maryland. She helps educators connect classroom curriculum with meaningful outdoor experiences. As a nature-based occupational therapist, Ann is passionate about using the natural world to support children's learning, development, and well-being.

Connect with Grahm:
Gourdlandia: https://www.gourdlandia.com
Graham's Book: Vivalina Grows a Gourd! — Learn more through Gourdlandia.
Free Gourd Seeds: Visit Gourdlandia to learn about the annual seed giveaway.
Outdoor Classrooms: https://www.outdoor-classrooms.com


Connect with Ann:
Ann Kumpf, OTR/L, is the Outdoor Education Coordinator at Cambridge School in Baltimore, Maryland, where she helps educators bring curriculum to life through meaningful outdoor experiences.
Outdoor Education at Cambridge School: https://www.cambridgeschool.org/outdoor-education
Read Ann's Article — Outdoor Education: A Rich Environment for Growth and Learning: https://www.cambridgeschool.org/blog/outdoor-education


A Little Inspiration
At Outdoor Classrooms, we believe meaningful change often begins with one small step. Whether you're planting your first gourd seed, exploring natural materials with children, or discovering new ways to bring learning outdoors, the possibilities are endless.

Dream Big. Start Small. Cultivate Change.
If you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe to The Outdoor Classrooms Podcast, share this episode with a fellow educator, and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Your support helps us inspire more educators to bring learning outdoors! Please rate or comment on Spotify.

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!
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 221: Farm School’d: Bringing Forest School to Every Child with Dr. Jean Lomino

What if the principles of forest school weren’t limited to forest schools?

In this episode of the Outdoor Classrooms Podcast, I’m joined by Dr. Jean Lomino, founder of the Forest School Teacher Institute, co-founder of Tennessee’s first forest kindergarten, and a longtime leader in nature-based education.

Jean has helped train more than 1,000 forest school educators and directors from around the world, but what I love most about this conversation is the bigger question behind her work: How can we make meaningful outdoor learning accessible to ALL children?

We talk about Jean’s journey from classroom teacher to forest school leader, what children can teach us when we give them time and freedom outdoors, and how forest school principles can begin finding their way into traditional and public school settings.

We also talk about Jean’s recent appearance in the documentary Farm School’d and what she hopes it will help people understand about children, learning, and our relationship with the natural world.

In this episode, we explore:
• Jean’s journey into forest school education
• Her experience being featured in Farm School’d
• What children teach us when we slow down and follow their lead
• Why outdoor learning doesn’t require a perfect forest or acres of land
• The growing possibilities for forest programs within public schools
• How educators can begin with one small step
• Jean’s vision for the future of children, nature, and education

This conversation is an invitation to think bigger about what education could become—and to remember that meaningful change often begins small.

Dream Big. Start Small. Cultivate Change.

Contact Dr. Jean Lomino
Founder & Director, Forest School Teacher Institute
Email: jean@forestteacher.org
General email: info@forestteacher.org
Website: Forest School Teacher Institute

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: https://www.instagram.com/outdoor_classrooms/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OutdoorClassrooms1

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!

Episode 220: Winter Friends: Cultivating Wonder Through Nature with Peter Dargatz

What happens when we slow down, step outside, and give children time to truly notice the natural world around them?
In this episode of The Outdoor Classrooms Podcast, I’m joined by educator, nature kindergarten teacher, and author Peter Dargatz to celebrate his new children’s book, Winter Friends.

Peter is also the author of Teaching Off Trail and has spent years helping children learn through play, exploration, curiosity, and connection with nature. We talk about how those experiences inspired Winter Friends and what it means for Peter to fulfill a longtime dream of becoming a children’s book author.

We also explore the power of slowing down and noticing, the unique opportunities winter offers for outdoor learning, and how children’s literature can become a bridge between reading about nature and actually experiencing it.

In this episode, we explore:
• The inspiration behind Winter Friends
• Peter’s journey from nature kindergarten teacher to children’s book author
• Helping children notice, wonder, and connect with nature
• Why winter is rich with opportunities for outdoor learning
• Using children’s books as a springboard for outdoor exploration
• Giving educators permission to start small

This conversation is a beautiful reminder that cultivating wonder doesn’t require a perfect outdoor space or an elaborate lesson.

Sometimes it simply begins when we open the door, step outside, and notice what’s already there.

Dream Big. Start Small. Cultivate Change.

Meet Peter:
Peter Dargatz is a nature-loving kindergarten teacher and retired racing sausage. In 2016, he created an outdoor classroom at his public school in Wisconsins and has since further developed it into a school-wide collaboration with a local nature center and a district-wide family nature club. He has written two books so far. TEACHING OFF TRAIL focuses on his unique teaching style and his debut picture book, WINTER FRIENDS, will be released Tuesday, October 27th. When he's not writing, he is enjoying time on his family farm with his wife, kids, cats, and chickens.

Learn more about Peter Dargatz at PeterDargatz.com and look for Winter Friends wherever books are sold.

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!

Episode 219: What Becomes Possible:
Celebrating Our Outdoor Classrooms Teacher Certification Graduates

What happens when educators are given a framework, a community, and permission to see their outdoor spaces through a different lens?

In this special episode of The Outdoor Classrooms Podcast, we’re celebrating the newest graduates of the Outdoor Classrooms Teacher Certification Program and the incredible work that grew from their journey.

Beginning with the 5 Phases of Teaching Outdoors and Four Types of Teaching Gardens, educators learned to look at their existing outdoor spaces differently. Through the Seasonal Masterclasses, they dug deeper into teaching and learning outdoors. And finally, in the Teaching Beyond Walls Capstone, they chose a project they were passionate about and brought it to life.

The results were as unique as the educators themselves—from creating a new business and writing a children’s book to developing a Protecting Play toolkit, growing a Garden that Feeds, transforming outdoor spaces, and bringing a community together to create an outdoor classroom.
Different projects. Different paths. One common thread: more meaningful time outside for children.
Along the way, these educators discovered new confidence, new ways of seeing possibilities, and a community of people who share their WHY.

As one graduate beautifully put it:
“Less prep, more presence.”
Join me as we celebrate what happens when educators take what they learn, make it their own, and begin creating ripples of change.
Dream Big. Start Small. Cultivate Change.

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: https://www.instagram.com/outdoor_classrooms/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OutdoorClassrooms1

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!

From Overgrown Land to Outdoor Learning: Inside W.I.S.E. Forest School in Japan

What happens when you look at an overgrown piece of land and see possibility?
In this special Tour & Talk episode of The Outdoor Classrooms Podcast, I’m joined by Robert from W.I.S.E. Forest School in Wakayama, Japan, for a conversation about creating a place where children can learn, explore, take risks, and build a relationship with the natural world.
Through photographs of the W.I.S.E. environment, Robert takes us behind the scenes of the space—sharing how it began, how it has evolved, and how the children themselves continue to shape it.
We talk about child-led learning, Forest School philosophy, sustainability, appropriate risk, learning through the seasons, and the intersection of Robert’s British roots with his work in Japan.

Most importantly, we explore a question at the heart of every outdoor classroom:
How do we create spaces that aren't simply made for children—but can truly become theirs?
Whether you have access to a forest, a playground, a courtyard, or one small patch of green, Robert's story is a beautiful reminder that outdoor learning doesn't begin with having the perfect space.
It begins with seeing possibility.

W.I.S.E. Forest School
W.I.S.E. (Wakayama International School of English) Forest School opened in spring 2024 in Kimiidera, Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture, as Japan's first and only all-English "British International Forest School" incorporating a British curriculum.
Based on W.I.S.E.'s philosophy of "high-quality English education at an affordable price," we go beyond the boundaries of an English school to learn English not just by learning English itself, but by broadening our perspective globally and learning many things practically through English.
In a nature-immersed environment, you can be free and true to yourself. We aim to be a "one-of-a-kind" presence that nurtures not only English proficiency but also individuality, confidence, the ability to survive in modern society, and independence.

Meet Rob Sensei
Rob is from England, the UK, and has travelled the world extensively since 2009. He has taught English and Geography in UK primary schools and various other countries.
He majored in BA Geography with honors at university and earned a Master's degree in Environmental Science from graduate school in England.
From childhood to now, Rob has loved nature through fishing, camping, mountain climbing, conservation and education. He chose "Forest School" as a place to pass on his extensive knowledge and experience to the next generation.

Connect with Robert & W.I.S.E.
Website: W.I.S.E. Forest School
Instagram: @w.i.s.e._english_wakayama


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!