Nature-Based Director- Preschool | Homeschool | Early Childhood | Nature Play | Outdoor Education

Ade Hofmann M.Ed- Program Founder and Director, Early Childhood Teacher, Child Advocate, Mentor and Leadership Coach to fellow program Directors.
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The Nature-Based Director Podcast is for nature-loving, child-centered educators, founders, and directors who want to build and lead thriving nature- and play-based programs without losing themselves in the process. Whether you're dreaming of starting a nature school, forest school, outdoor preschool, or nature-based early childhood program—or you're already deep in the work of leading one—this podcast offers practical guidance, honest conversations, and encouragement for the real-life challenges of outdoor education and program leadership. Each episode explores topics like how to start a nature-based program, forest school leadership, outdoor learning, child-led play, enrollment, finances, staffing, policies, behavior and big emotions, teacher burnout, sustainable leadership, and navigating the unexpected as a program founder or director. Hosted by Ade Hofmann, M.Ed., founder of Nature Play All Day and an educator and leader with nearly a decade of experience in nature-based schools and programs, this podcast is a place for both the practical questions and the things leaders don't always say out loud. Because building something rooted in nature, play, and community is beautiful—but it can also be lonely, overwhelming, and full of decisions you never expected to make. Here, you'll find tactical next steps, real-world stories, leadership support, and encouragement to help you move forward with greater clarity and confidence. We'll talk about how to transition from the conventional classroom to outdoor learning, how to start and grow a nature-based program, and how to build sustainable rhythms and routines that support your children, your team, your families, and you. This work is not about doing it perfectly. It's about learning to trust the process, steward the program you've been entrusted with, and lead without sacrificing yourself in the name of your mission. If you believe that children belong outside, that play is meaningful learning, and that nature has something powerful to teach us, you're in the right place. 

  1. 2d ago

    Taking Sick Days Without Guilt: Sustainable Leadership in Nature-Based Programs

    Taking Sick Days Without Guilt: Sustainable Leadership in Nature-Based ProgramsFor nature-based program founders and directors, taking a sick day isn't always as simple as calling out. When you're working with a small team, managing a tight budget, and wearing all the hats, it can feel impossible to step away—even when your body is telling you to slow down. In this episode of The Nature-Based Director Podcast, I'm sharing a recent experience that reminded me why sustainable leadership has to include our own well-being. With the help of my staff and families, I learned to be honest about how I was feeling, accept support, adjust my workload, and stop confusing productivity with rest. Because the community we're building with intention, purpose, and love? We get to let it take care of us, too. In this episode, we'll talk about: Why taking sick time can feel so difficult when you're running a small nature-based programThe challenges of finding staff coverage and managing a tight budgetHow to let your staff and families support you without feeling like you have to hold everything togetherWhy answering emails, cleaning the house, or squeezing in a workout isn't necessarily restHow adjusting your expectations can support more sustainable leadershipWhy building a nature school that lasts means caring for the person leading it, tooA question to consider: If you needed to step away from your program for a day or two, what could wait, what could be delegated, and where could you allow yourself to receive support? You don't have to do it all, and you don't have to do it alone. Ready for support with your nature-based program? If you're building or leading a nature-based preschool, forest school, or play-based early childhood program and want support navigating the realities of leadership, visit natureplayallday.com/mentorship to book a free 20-minute discovery call. No pressure or commitment—just a conversation about where you are and what support might help. #NatureBasedEducation #NatureSchool #SustainableLeadership #EarlyChildhoodEducation #ForestSchool

  2. Oct 5

    EP 49: Trusting the Long Game of Relationship-Building

    Episode 49: The Families Who Are Watching: Trusting the Long Game of Relationship-Building Not every family who connects with your nature-based program will enroll right away—and that doesn't mean the relationship wasn't meaningful. In this episode, we’re talking about the long game of enrollment, community-building, and relationship-based marketing for nature-based program founders and directors. We’ll explore what it looks like to nurture relationships without constantly feeling like you're selling, trust families to move at their own pace, and recognize the value of the families who are quietly watching, learning, and waiting for the right season. Because people aren't funnels. They're people. If you're building a nature school, forest school, outdoor preschool, or play-based program, this is your reminder that the work you're doing today may bear fruit much later—and that's okay. In this episode, we talk about: Building genuine relationships with prospective families Taking the pressure off immediate enrollment Relationship-based marketing for nature-based programs Creating community before families are ready to enroll Staying connected without constantly selling Trusting the timing of enrollment and growth Why nurturing relationships is part of sustainable leadership Ready for support as you build and lead your nature-based program? Book a free 20-minute discovery call with me at: natureplayallday.com/mentorship No pressure or commitment—just a chance to talk about where you are, where you want to go, and whether mentorship might be a helpful partnership for you and your program. Keep tending the garden. The things you're nurturing today may bloom much later. 🌿

  3. Sep 7

    EP 48: When Families Un-Enroll: How to Handle the Unexpected Without Spiraling

    🎧 Episode 48: When Families Un-Enroll: How to Handle the Unexpected Without Spiraling  Grace, practical strategies, and trusting God through enrollment changes. What happens when a family un-enrolls from your nature-based program—right before the school year begins or in the middle of the year? For founders and directors, unexpected enrollment changes can bring more than logistical challenges. They can trigger panic, financial stress, self-doubt, and the feeling that somehow, you have done something wrong. In this episode, I’m sharing a recent experience from my own program, where several families un-enrolled just weeks before programming began, and how I’m learning to lead through those unexpected changes without letting fear and shame take over. We’ll talk about how to respond with grace, invite open and honest conversations, prepare practical options for families when possible, and separate what is actually happening from the story fear wants to tell us. In this episode: Why un-enrollment can feel so personal to program foundersCommon reasons families leave a nature-based programHow to pause before reacting from fear or panicWhen and how to invite an open conversationFinancial strategies to consider, including payment plans or tuition flexibilityWhy having options prepared ahead of time can help you lead with clarityHow to recognize the difference between curiosity and shameTrusting God's timing and provision when enrollment changes unexpectedlyKey takeaway: An open space is not always an absence. Sometimes, it is an opening for provision you simply cannot see yet. If you're carrying the invisible weight of enrollment, finances, policies, staffing, and the unexpected challenges of leading a nature- and play-based program, you don't have to figure it all out alone. Learn more about mentorship opportunities and The Nature Play Blueprint at: Explore mentorship with Nature Play All Day

  4. Aug 31

    EP 47: How To Build Sustainable Leadership That Lasts

    The Best Nature-Based Programs Aren't Built Around One Person How to Build Sustainable Leadership That Lasts Leading a nature-based program can feel incredibly rewarding—and incredibly lonely. As founders and directors, we often become the person everyone depends on. We answer the questions, solve the problems, carry the vision, and hold countless details together behind the scenes. But sustainable leadership isn't about becoming indispensable. It's about building a community where children, families, and educators all have room to grow. In this final episode of our August series, we're exploring what stewardship looks like in practice and why the strongest programs are built through shared leadership, trust, and healthy relationships. In this episode, we'll explore: * The difference between ownership and stewardship. * Why healthy programs aren't dependent on one person. * What forests can teach us about shared leadership. * Practical ways to empower your team and cultivate future leaders. * Why asking thoughtful questions is often more powerful than having all the answers. Reflection Questions As you move into this school year, spend a few moments considering: * Where am I carrying responsibilities that could be shared? * How can I invite someone else to grow in confidence this week? * Where might control be limiting collaboration? * Who has encouraged my leadership journey, and who might I encourage in return? * What kind of leadership legacy do I hope to leave in my program? As We Close This Series... Over the past four episodes, we've explored what it means to lead with intention before the school year gains momentum. Together, we've reflected on: * Preparing yourself before preparing your program. * Intentionally cultivating the culture of your community. * Returning to your philosophy when life gets busy. * Building leadership that strengthens others and outlasts any one individual. My hope is that this series encourages you to move into the year with greater confidence, curiosity, and compassion—not only for the children you serve, but also for yourself. If these episodes have encouraged you, I'd love to stay connected. Whether through future podcast episodes, workshops, or one-on-one mentorship, my passion is walking alongside nature-based founders and directors as they build programs that are sustainable, deeply rooted, and true to their vision. You don't have to lead alone. If This Series Encouraged You... Please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing the podcast with another nature-based leader preparing for a new school year. Every conversation shared helps strengthen a growing community of educators committed to raising children with wonder, resilience, and a deep connection to the natural world. Remember: Healthy programs aren't built around one extraordinary leader. They're built by ordinary people who choose, day after day, to grow together.

    EP 47: How To Build Sustainable Leadership That Lasts

  5. Aug 24

    EP 46: How Nature-Based Leaders Stay Grounded When the School Year Gets Busy

    Don't Lose Your Philosophy in September How Nature-Based Leaders Stay Grounded When the School Year Gets Busy Every August, we begin the school year with fresh vision and renewed purpose. But by mid-September, it's easy to find ourselves swept up in schedules, paperwork, unexpected challenges, and the daily demands of leadership. In this episode, we're talking about how to protect the values that inspired your work in the first place. Because your philosophy isn't something you establish once—it's something you practice every day through small, intentional choices. Whether you lead a forest school, nature preschool, homeschool enrichment program, or another child-centered learning community, this conversation is an invitation to notice when you've drifted and gently return to what matters most. In this episode, we'll explore: * Why even the most intentional leaders experience "drift." * How busyness can quietly pull us away from our philosophy. * The difference between leading from your calendar and leading from your values. * Why curiosity is one of the best indicators of healthy leadership. * Simple ways to reconnect with your purpose during the busiest weeks of the school year. Reflection Questions As the school year unfolds, spend a few moments considering: * Where have I felt most connected to my purpose this week? * What signs tell me I'm leading from pressure instead of presence? * Am I still curious about the children, my team, and my own leadership? * Which daily rhythms help me return to my values? * What is one small choice I can make tomorrow that better reflects the leader I want to be? If this episode encouraged you... Please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing this conversation with another nature-based founder or educator who needs the reminder that they don't have to lead perfectly—they simply need to keep returning to what matters most. If you're longing for a place to process leadership challenges with someone who understands the unique realities of nature-based education, I'd love to support you through mentorship. Sometimes the greatest gift isn't another strategy—it's having someone help you stay rooted in your vision. Remember: Your philosophy isn't something you write once. It's something you practice, return to, and live—one ordinary moment at a time.

    EP 46: How Nature-Based Leaders Stay Grounded When the School Year Gets Busy

  6. Aug 17

    EP 45: How Nature-Based Leaders Create a Strong School Culture from Day One

    The Culture You're Hoping For Won't Happen by Accident. How Nature-Based Leaders Create a Strong School Culture from Day One The first weeks of school are about so much more than establishing routines. They're about establishing culture. As nature-based founders and directors, we spend time preparing our environments, organizing materials, and planning our days. But the strongest programs aren't remembered because of perfectly labeled shelves or polished lesson plans. They're remembered because of how people felt. In this episode, we're exploring how school culture is intentionally cultivated through the everyday interactions we have with children, families, and staff. Together, we'll look at what nature teaches us about creating the conditions for trust, belonging, curiosity, and joy to grow. In this episode, we'll explore: * Why culture is one of your most important leadership responsibilities. * The difference between creating rules and cultivating belonging. * What nature can teach us about healthy communities. * How children and staff experience culture through everyday interactions. * Practical ways to build trust and connection from the very first day of school. Reflection Questions As you prepare for opening day, consider: * What do I want children to feel when they arrive? * What do I want families to experience when they entrust us with their children? * What do I want my staff to believe about working here? * Which three words best describe the culture I'm hoping to cultivate? * What can I intentionally do this week to bring those words to life? If this episode encouraged you... Please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with another nature-based founder or early childhood leader preparing for a new school year. And if you're looking for support as you build a thriving, sustainable nature-based program, I'd love to walk alongside you through mentorship. Sometimes the greatest gift a leader can have is someone to ask thoughtful questions, offer perspective, and help them stay rooted in what matters most. Remember: Culture isn't something that happens by accident. It's cultivated—one relationship, one interaction, and one intentional choice at a time.

    EP 45: How Nature-Based Leaders Create a Strong School Culture from Day One

  7. Aug 10

    EP 44: How Nature-Based Directors Can Prepare for a New School Year

    Show Notes Your Children Don't Need a Perfect Program. They Need a Present Leader. How Nature-Based Directors Can Prepare for a New School Year It's August, and if you're anything like me, your mind is already racing ahead to opening day. The supply lists. Staffing. Enrollment. Curriculum. Systems. The projects you've been hoping to finish before children arrive. Preparation matters. But over the years, I've realized that the most important thing I prepare each August isn't my classroom or our basecamp. It's myself. In this first episode of our August series, we're talking about what it means to prepare your heart, your attention, and your leadership before preparing your program. Because the foundation you build as a leader will shape every relationship, rhythm, and routine that follows. If you're a forest school founder, nature-based preschool director, outdoor educator, or anyone leading a child-centered program this fall, this conversation is for you. In this episode, we'll explore: * Why preparing yourself is just as important as preparing your environment. * How to recognize the subtle signs that you're slipping into hurry and survival mode. * The difference between building a perfect program and building a present leadership practice. * Why new ideas, traditions, and programs need time to build their foundation. * How slowing down allows you to become more available to children, families, and your team. Reflection Questions Before opening day, spend a little quiet time with these questions: * Who do I want the first child to meet? * Who do I want my staff to work beside? * Who do I want families to experience? * What does hurry sound like in my own mind? * What helps me return to presence when I feel myself slipping into survival mode? If this episode resonated with you... I'd love for you to subscribe, leave a review, or share this episode with another nature-based leader who's preparing for a new school year. And if you're looking for a thought partner as you build a sustainable, child-centered program, I'd love to connect. Through mentorship, I walk alongside founders and directors who want to lead with greater clarity, confidence, and intention. **Remember: Your children don't need a perfect program. They need a present leader.

    EP 44: How Nature-Based Directors Can Prepare for a New School Year

  8. Aug 3

    EP 43: Stop Building a Program That Depends On You

    The Summer Reset Series – Episode 3 As founders and directors, it's easy to become the person who holds everything together. We answer every question. We solve every problem. We carry the vision, the logistics, the relationships, and the responsibility. While that may feel like good leadership, over time it can also become one of the biggest barriers to building a healthy, sustainable program. In this final episode of The Summer Reset Series, we're exploring what it means to move from being indispensable to becoming a leader who equips others, builds trust, and creates a program that can flourish long into the future. Because sustainable leadership isn't about doing everything yourself—it's about creating the conditions where children, educators, and your program can all thrive. In this episode, we'll explore: * Why founders often become the "keeper of everything." * The difference between being indispensable and building something that lasts. * What healthy ecosystems can teach us about leadership. * How empowering your team creates stronger programs. * Small shifts that help you move from carrying everything to cultivating shared leadership. Reflection Questions Take a few quiet moments this week and consider: * Where am I holding on more tightly than I need to? * What responsibilities could I begin sharing with someone else? * Where am I unintentionally becoming a bottleneck in my own program? * How can I create opportunities for my team to grow in confidence and leadership? * If I stepped away for a day, what systems or relationships would continue to support the program? Remember, sustainable leadership isn't about letting go of your vision—it's about creating a culture where that vision can thrive beyond your own capacity. As We Close the Summer Reset Series... Over the past four episodes, we've explored what it looks like to slow down, pay attention, and lead with greater intention. Together, we've reflected on: * Why leadership begins with paying attention. * The questions worth asking before planning your next season. * What your program might be trying to teach you. * How to build a program that doesn't depend entirely on you. My hope is that you move into this next season not with a longer to-do list, but with greater clarity, curiosity, and confidence in the leader you're becoming. Want to Keep the Conversation Going? If these episodes have resonated with you, I'd love to invite you to continue the journey. Through one-on-one mentorship, I work alongside nature-based founders and directors who are building child-centered, play-based programs and want support navigating leadership, sustainable growth, enrollment, staffing, and the everyday realities of running a thriving nature-based program. You don't have to figure it all out alone. You can learn more by connecting with me on Instagram, visiting my website, or reaching out to start a conversation. I'd love to hear your story. www.natureplayallday.com/mentorship If this series encouraged you... Please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing the podcast with another founder or educator who could use a little encouragement as they prepare for the season ahead. Your support helps more nature-based leaders discover these conversations and strengthens a growing community of educators committed to raising children with wonder, resilience, and connection to the natural world. Remember: Don't just make time to work *on* your program. Make time to listen to what it's trying to teach you. Because healthy programs grow from healthy leaders.

    EP 43: Stop Building a Program That Depends On You
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The Nature-Based Director Podcast is for nature-loving, child-centered educators, founders, and directors who want to build and lead thriving nature- and play-based programs without losing themselves in the process. Whether you're dreaming of starting a nature school, forest school, outdoor preschool, or nature-based early childhood program—or you're already deep in the work of leading one—this podcast offers practical guidance, honest conversations, and encouragement for the real-life challenges of outdoor education and program leadership. Each episode explores topics like how to start a nature-based program, forest school leadership, outdoor learning, child-led play, enrollment, finances, staffing, policies, behavior and big emotions, teacher burnout, sustainable leadership, and navigating the unexpected as a program founder or director. Hosted by Ade Hofmann, M.Ed., founder of Nature Play All Day and an educator and leader with nearly a decade of experience in nature-based schools and programs, this podcast is a place for both the practical questions and the things leaders don't always say out loud. Because building something rooted in nature, play, and community is beautiful—but it can also be lonely, overwhelming, and full of decisions you never expected to make. Here, you'll find tactical next steps, real-world stories, leadership support, and encouragement to help you move forward with greater clarity and confidence. We'll talk about how to transition from the conventional classroom to outdoor learning, how to start and grow a nature-based program, and how to build sustainable rhythms and routines that support your children, your team, your families, and you. This work is not about doing it perfectly. It's about learning to trust the process, steward the program you've been entrusted with, and lead without sacrificing yourself in the name of your mission. If you believe that children belong outside, that play is meaningful learning, and that nature has something powerful to teach us, you're in the right place. 

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