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

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!

Episode # 205: Nature, Neuroscience & Meaning:
What We’re Learning About Connection, Awe & the Developing Brain

In this episode, I explore the connection between nature, neuroscience, and meaning-making in early childhood education. Inspired by Dr. Lisa Miller’s work, I reflect on what research is beginning to show about how nature supports regulation, attention, and a sense of connection—without drifting into “woo woo,” but staying grounded in science and classroom practice.

In this episode, you will learn...
...how nature impacts the developing brain through stress regulation and attention systems.
...what neuroscience says about calm, focus, and emotional regulation in outdoor environments.
...how emerging research connects nature experiences to meaning-making and resilience.
...how Dr. Lisa Miller’s work informs our understanding of connection and awareness.
...how educators can stay grounded in science while honoring moments of awe and connection 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 in the Classroom with Ernesto Rodriguez: Creating Calmer, More Focused Learning Spaces

What if supporting children's focus, well-being, and learning could begin with the spaces where they spend their day?
In this episode, Victoria Hackett sits down with Ernesto Rodriguez, founder of Nature in the Classroom, to explore how nature-inspired learning environments can help children feel calmer, more engaged, and better able to learn. Drawing on his background in school psychology, photography, and environmental education, Ernesto shares the story behind his innovative work bringing tree canopy imagery into schools and classrooms.
Together, they discuss the science behind our connection to nature, the role of biophilic design in education, and why creating restorative learning environments matters now more than ever.
Whether you're a classroom teacher, outdoor educator, school leader, or parent, this conversation offers practical ideas and fresh inspiration for bringing more nature into children's daily lives.

In This Episode:
The story behind Nature in the Classroom
Why our brains respond so strongly to nature
The research connecting nature and attention
How classroom environments influence learning and behavior
What teachers and students experience after nature-inspired transformations
The relationship between indoor environments and outdoor learning
Simple ways educators can bring more nature into their classrooms
Why nature connection is essential for children's well-being

About Ernesto Rodriguez:
Ernesto Rodriguez is the founder of Nature in the Classroom, a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing the benefits of nature into schools through immersive tree canopy installations and nature-inspired learning environments. His work combines school psychology, photography, and environmental education to help create spaces where children can thrive.

Resources:
Nature in the Classroom
Facebook
Instagram
Contact Ernesto

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!

Episode 203: Summer Outdoor Classroom Ideas Across Four Teaching Gardens

Summer brings a powerful shift in the outdoor classroom—but many educators find themselves wondering how to move beyond maintenance into intentional, meaningful outdoor learning.
In this episode, we explore how to reimagine your outdoor classroom for summer through four “teaching gardens” that support curiosity, exploration, and nature-based learning.
Rather than treating the outdoor space as one general area, this episode introduces a framework for designing outdoor environments that reflect the richness of the summer season.
We explore four teaching garden lenses:
🌿 Gardens that Feed
🐝 Gardens that Attract Wildlife
🎨 Gardens for Art and Beauty
🔍 Gardens as Outdoor Learning Stations
Each one offers a different way to support observation, inquiry, creativity, and connection with the natural world.
This episode invites educators to shift their thinking—from managing outdoor spaces to designing living systems that inspire learning.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
Why summer outdoor learning often feels less structured for educators
How to move from maintaining a garden to designing teaching gardens
Four ways to structure meaningful outdoor learning in summer
How nature becomes a co-teacher in your outdoor classroom
Why small shifts in design can create powerful learning opportunities

Mentioned in This Episode
🌿 Exploring Nature in Summer Masterclass
📅 Opens June 19
A 4-week hybrid experience for educators focused on seasonal outdoor learning:
Week 1: Gardens That Feed in Summer
Week 2: Gardens That Attract Wildlife in Summer
Week 3: Gardens for Art and Beauty in Summer
Week 4: Gardens as Outdoor Learning Stations in Summer

Reflection Question
What would change in your outdoor classroom if it was designed for curiosity instead of maintenance?

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!