Outdoor Classrooms Podcast Victoria Hackett, M.Ed: Learning Gardens and Nature Based Curriculum

Mandy and I discuss the Boston Outdoor Preschool Network's Forest Days Program in this episode. From there, we talk about how important it is for everyone to have equal access to nature, how to start a nature program in the city, and how to connect nature to curriculum! Pour yourself a cup of tea and listen. I promise you, this conversation will motivate you to become a part of the movement and discover how you can contribute to breaking down boundaries to children's access to nature.
Meet Mandy:
Mandy is a mother, yoga teacher, hobby naturalist, outdoors-woman, gardener, and passionate early childhood educator. A spiritual connection to mother earth and becoming a mother brought her to the world of nature-based education.
Mandy has an associate degree in Early Childhood Education and is currently working towards a degree in Social Work. She is passionate about social-emotional learning, mindfulness, empathy, self-expression, movement, creativity, nature, and community building. She weaves her background in dance, yoga, and mindfulness into her teaching. She has an innate curiosity and a love of learning, constantly bringing in new threads of wisdom to weave into her philosophical tapestry.
Mandy has had a variety of roles at BOPN, including Lead Teacher, Forest Day Leader, and Curriculum Coach. In her role as Curriculum Coach, Mandy mentors teachers in developing and implementing their emergent curriculums in a way that balances child-led, play based learning, and intentionally curated experiences and lessons that foster deeper learning. With a focus on social-emotional development and nature connections, she aims to build a strong foundation for learning in all domains. Through supporting each teacher her work strengthens BOPN as a whole.
In her spare time Mandy enjoys dancing, photography, and exploring natural spaces.
CONNECT WITH MANDY:
https://www.bopn.org/meettheteam/mandy-slavikwww.linkedin.com/in/mandy-slavik-179ab3296The Attunement Project
CONNECT WITH VICTORIA:
EMAIL
OUTDOOR CLASSROOM RESOURCES:
The Outdoor Classrooms CIRCLE MembershipThe Outdoor Teaching Bootcamp Seeds of Inspiration for Outdoor Learning Card DeckFREE PDF Library of Nature-Based Children's Books & Weekly Seedling News

Have you ever heard a two year old child announce to you, "I am an artist."? This is exactly the result of Laura Delgado's tireless effort to create an all inclusive art show for young children. Do you want to host an art show, but don't know where to start? Laura discusses her experiences with the Outdoor Classroom Art Show as well as success strategies in this episode. This episode also includes a photo tour for our CIRCLE Members. If you are interested in getting access, please inquire about membership HERE.
Meet Laura:
Laura Delgado is a certified 0-3 Montessori guide with 23 years of experience working with children and their families, with seventeen of those years in a Montessori setting. She is the owner of The Montessori Tree and currently runs and outdoor, home based toddler program called The Nest which integrates nature, art and Montessori. Laura is also a proud mother to an amazing young girl! Before becoming a mother. Laura received a BA in English and Masters in Educational Psychology. Laura is passionate about intentional living, conscious parenting and uplifting other through her work and words.
CONNECT WITH LAURA:
Website: https://themontessoritree.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/themontessoritree/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themontessoritreeCanvas Rebel: https://canvasrebel.com/meet-laura-delgado/
CONNECT WITH VICTORIA:
EMAIL
OUTDOOR CLASSROOM RESOURCES:
The Outdoor Classrooms CIRCLE MembershipThe Outdoor Teaching Bootcamp Seeds of Inspiration for Outdoor Learning Card DeckFREE PDF Library of Nature-Based Children's Books & Weekly Seedling News

There has to be a good reason for the change because it is difficult. Usually, change is reactive.
A scarcity attitude is one of the main obstacles I hear from educators who are reluctant to switch to an outdoor teaching paradigm.
Not Enough TimeWhy does it lack?The response from the studentsThe anticipation of out-of-control behaviorAbsence of relevance to the curriculum
During a strategy session for an Outdoor Classroom, I asked a group of educators, "What is changing in your environment?" and their responses were insightful:
"The mental health of our students is evolving. Youngsters worry about the world we are leaving behind. There is an increase in our students who are experiencing depression, obesity, and attention deficit disorder."
Hearing directly from the front-line educators was incredibly insightful and true. In this episode, we recognize these shifts, marking the first step in the Outdoor Classrooms Readiness for Change Model.
CONNECT WITH VICTORIA:
EMAIL
OUTDOOR CLASSROOM RESOURCES:
The Outdoor Classrooms CIRCLE MembershipThe Outdoor Teaching Bootcamp Seeds of Inspiration for Outdoor Learning Card DeckFREE PDF Library of Nature-Based Children's Books & Weekly Seedling News

Have you been keeping up with my stories on Instagram? This year, I decided to try something entirely different after nearly giving up on planting and maintaining my edible garden. In this episode, listen to the story that inspired me to test out a new system in my Secret Gardens that Feeds. I've been using photos to record the process so far, but now that a month has passed, I wanted to provide you with an update on this mini-episode.
CONNECT WITH VICTORIA:
EMAIL
OUTDOOR CLASSROOM RESOURCES:
The Outdoor Classrooms CIRCLE MembershipThe Outdoor Teaching Bootcamp Seeds of Inspiration for Outdoor Learning Card DeckFREE PDF Library of Nature-Based Children's Books & Weekly Seedling News

This episode is an Outdoor Classrooms Tour and Talk with Tamara Wineland from AdventureME and Trek Outdoors. A licensed micro-forest and nature school serving children ages 3-5 in Black Forest, CO. Their approach is not an unsupervised free-for-all, but a behind-the-scenes facilitation of exploration and learning. They use a blended pedagogy that allows children to form their own understanding of their world and their place in it with a focus on healthy and authentic development which builds self-confidence and teaches them to be respectful of themselves and others. In this episode learn why they are really proud to be a part of the Black Forest and how they take every advantage to develop socially, emotionally, and academically within this community. So while they have 10 acres to play on, they will occasionally venture out for a field trip to continue to make connections across these developmental areas in their traveling classroom BUS.
Meet Tamara:
As a mom of 3 boys, one with a rare congenital heart defect, Tamara Wineland sought alternative approaches to education, health, and well-being early on. She stumbled upon the forest school model in 2009 during her research in her Master’s studies and was immediately drawn to the pedagogy. In 2020, she started AdventureMe Forest and Nature School in Colorado Springs, CO. upon completing immersive experiences and training with various programs throughout the United States. The noticeable benefits of time spent in nature for ALL children, and especially those identifying with additional needs, led her on a path of discovery as she trained and worked to launch a program in 2022 integrating therapies and play in a peer-supported outdoor environment. Today, Tamara serves as founder and visionary of TREK Outdoors and continues her work with the AdventureMe Forest School.
Contact Tamara:
AdventureMeTrek Outdoors
CONNECT WITH VICTORIA:
EMAIL
OUTDOOR CLASSROOM RESOURCES:
The Outdoor Classrooms CIRCLE MembershipThe Outdoor Teaching Bootcamp Seeds of Inspiration for Outdoor Learning Card DeckFREE PDF Library of Nature-Based Children's Books & Weekly Seedling News

For most schools, the 100th day falls sometime in February or early March. Many teachers use the countdown in their lessons by having children tally the days on a whiteboard or by filling a countdown chart with numbers or stickers. Many wear special t-shirts to celebrate the 100th day of school.
In looking back at the most listened to Outdoor Classroom Podcast episodes, I found a mixture of mini-episodes, outdoor classroom Tour and Talks, and interviews with incredible leaders in the field. I smile just looking at the titles, as I believe this mixture to be the essence of the Outdoor Classrooms podcast and speaks to my 100 lessons learned.
CELEBRATE 100 OUTDOOR CLASSROOM PODCAST EPISODES WITH OUR TOP 10!
CONNECT WITH VICTORIA:
EMAIL
OUTDOOR CLASSROOM RESOURCES:
The Outdoor Classrooms CIRCLE MembershipThe Outdoor Teaching Bootcamp Seeds of Inspiration for Outdoor Learning Card DeckFREE PDF Library of Nature-Based Children's Books & Weekly Seedling News