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

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!

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!