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

Victoria Hackett, M.Ed: Learning Gardens and Nature Based Curriculum
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The Outdoor Classrooms Podcast is the podcast for teachers and parents and anyone interested in cultivating learning gardens and nature-based curricula for children. It’s a show that will help you transform your outdoor space and will offer “seeds of inspiration” for playful learning outdoors. Each week, Victoria Hackett and her guests will share tips and actionable strategies that you will need in order to set in motion, manage and grow your Outdoor Classroom. You’ll learn how to implement the 5 Phases of Teaching Outdoors, all while providing a new way of learning for your children! Studies have shown that children who learn outdoors in all seasons “develop a sense of self, independence, confidence, creativity, decision-making, problem-solving skills, empathy towards others, motor skills, self-discipline, and initiative.” Victoria Hackett is the founder of Outdoor-Classrooms.com, The CIRCLE Membership community, and The Secret Gardens Demonstration Outdoor Classroom. You can follow her on Instagram and Facebook. To learn more, head on over to our virtual playground at outdoor-classrooms.com.

  1. 2d ago

    215: Look Up: What Teaching Outdoors Can Teach Us About Attention, Screens & the Culture We Create

    Episode #215: Look Up: What Teaching Outdoors Can Teach Us About Attention, Screens & the Culture We Create What if one of the greatest gifts of teaching outdoors is simply learning to pay attention again? In this episode, Victoria begins with an ordinary moment: sitting on the couch, surrounded by screens, and feeling frustrated that "together time" didn't actually feel very together. Then came the uncomfortable realization: she was looking at a screen too. That small moment opened a much bigger question: What culture are we participating in - and is it the culture we actually want to create? With nearly half of American teens reporting that they are online almost constantly, our relationship with screens, attention, and connection is worth examining. But this isn't an episode about blaming technology - or anyone else. It's about looking at what we model. Victoria explores how our everyday habits shape the culture children experience and why outdoor classrooms offer something increasingly valuable: a place to slow down, look up, notice, wonder, and practice paying attention to the world around us. In this episode, you'll explore: What our frustrations can reveal about what we valueThe connection between screens, attention, and presenceWhat children learn by watching the adults around themHow everyday routines quietly create classroom cultureWhy outdoor classrooms can become places to practice attentionThe difference between telling children nature matters and modeling itHow to do a simple "culture audit" of your outdoor teaching practiceWhy meaningful change can begin by changing just one thing You don't have to eliminate screens or completely reinvent your classroom. Start by noticing. Look up. Pay attention. Change one thing. Because the small choices we repeat become our habits. Our habits create our culture. And we create the culture. 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 PodcastIf 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!

  2. Sep 1

    214: The Power of Being in the Room: Why Nature-Based Educators Need Each Other

    The Power of Being in the Room: Why Nature-Based Educators Need Each Other Have you ever felt like you’re swimming upstream as a nature-based educator? You believe in getting children outside. You see the learning, confidence, curiosity, and connection that happen there. But when you’re constantly explaining—or even defending—why this work matters, it can be easy to start questioning yourself. In this episode of the Outdoor Classrooms Podcast, I’m exploring the power of being in the room with people who understand the work you’re trying to do. Inspired by conversations in our Teaching Beyond Walls Capstone Course, we’ll talk about finding the language to articulate the value of nature-based education, moving from defending our practice to advocating for it, and the idea of borrowing courage from others when our own confidence wavers. Because maybe the answer isn’t to swim harder. Maybe it’s time to find your people. In this episode, we explore: Why nature-based educators can feel isolated and begin questioning their practiceHow being in the right room changes what we believe is possibleFinding the words to communicate the value of outdoor learningMoving from defending your practice to advocating for itThe power of “borrowed courage”Why community is essential for sustaining this workHow the CIRCLE Community creates space for nature-based educators to learn, share, question, and grow together If you’ve been feeling like you’re doing this work alone, this episode is your invitation to get in the room. You don’t have to have all the answers. You don’t have to be the expert. And you don’t have to swim upstream alone. Find your people. Get in the room. And when you do, hold the door open for the next educator. 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 PodcastIf 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!

  3. Aug 25

    213: The Messy Middle of Your Outdoor Classroom: Permission to Start Small

    The Messy Middle of Your Outdoor Classroom: Permission to Start SmallWhat if your outdoor classroom doesn’t need to be finished—or even close to perfect—to be meaningful? In this episode, we’re talking about two permissions every outdoor educator needs: permission to start small and permission to embrace the messy middle. It’s easy to look at a beautiful, established outdoor classroom and think you need the budget, materials, master plan, and perfect space before you can begin. But meaningful outdoor classrooms rarely happen all at once. They grow one idea, one experiment, and one small step at a time. And once you start? Things get messy. Children use materials in ways you never expected. Plants die. Plans change. Carefully designed spaces get rearranged. Something you thought children would love gets ignored—while the simplest addition captures their attention for weeks. That messy middle isn’t a sign that you’re doing it wrong. It’s where the learning happens. In this episode, we explore: Why starting small is not the same as thinking smallHow to begin with what you already haveWhy your outdoor classroom doesn’t need to look like anyone else’sWhat children’s unexpected use of a space can teach usHow to view the “mess” as information instead of failureWhy outdoor classrooms should evolve alongside the children who use themHow to recognize progress that has nothing to do with how beautiful your space looksWhen to keep going, change direction, or let an idea go Whether you’re dreaming about your first outdoor classroom, taking your first few steps, or standing right in the middle wondering if any of it is working, this conversation is for you. You don’t need the whole plan to begin. Start small. Stay curious. Let it be messy. Then take the next small step. 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 PodcastIf 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!

  4. Aug 18

    212: Taking the Leap: What a Hut-to-Hut Trek in Sweden Taught Me About Outdoor Classrooms & Community

    Taking the Leap: What a Hut-to-Hut Trek in Sweden Taught Me About Outdoor Classrooms & Community What happens when you say yes before you feel completely ready? In this episode, I’m taking you along on my hut-to-hut trek through Sweden—and sharing the unexpected lessons I brought home about courage, Outdoor Classrooms, and community. Along the trail, I was reminded that we don't need to see the entire path before taking the first step. Whether you're trekking through Sweden or growing an Outdoor Classroom, sometimes you simply need to focus on the next hut. In this episode, we explore: Saying yes before you feel completely readyTaking your Outdoor Classroom one step at a timeLearning to embrace uncertainty and discomfortWhy who you walk with mattersHow the CIRCLE can be the community that walks alongside you So, what's your next hut? You don't need to have the whole trail mapped out—and you don't have to walk it alone. 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 PodcastIf 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!

  5. Aug 13

    211: Clara’s Curiosity: Foxy Friends, Nature & Wonder with Karen Belanger-Richmond

    Clara’s Curiosity: Foxy Friends, Nature & Wonder with Karen Belanger-Richmond What happens when a child’s curiosity leads her outside—and she discovers a family of foxes? In this episode of the Outdoor Classrooms Podcast, I’m joined by children’s author Karen Belanger-Richmond, author of Clara’s Curiosity & Her Foxy Friends. Karen shares the inspiration behind Clara’s story and how a real-life experience grew into a children’s book celebrating curiosity, observation, wildlife, and the simple magic of spending time outdoors. Together, we explore what can happen when children are given the time and space to slow down, notice what’s around them, ask questions, and follow their curiosity. In this episode, we talk about: The story behind Clara’s Curiosity & Her Foxy FriendsHow Karen’s family and experiences in Maine inspired her writingWhy curiosity is such a powerful starting point for outdoor learningHelping children observe and appreciate wildlife safely and respectfullyNature journaling, noticing, and asking, “What do you see?”Simple ways teachers and families can encourage children to become outdoor investigatorsWhat’s next for Clara and her adventures Whether you’re an early childhood educator, teacher, parent, grandparent, or simply someone who believes children need more opportunities to wonder outdoors, this conversation is an invitation to look a little closer at the nature right outside your door. A Special Thank YouA special thank-you to Karen Belanger-Richmond and Clara’s Curiosity & Her Foxy Friends for sponsoring the Outdoor Classrooms Podcast during August, September, and October. We are grateful for Karen’s support of the Outdoor Classrooms Podcast and our mission to inspire more outdoor learning, curiosity, and connection with the natural world. 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 PodcastIf 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!

  6. Aug 4

    210: Inside Nature Forward Nature Preschool: Carlos Duque on Curiosity, Confidence & Belonging

    Episode 210: Inside Nature Forward Nature Preschool: Carlos Duque on Curiosity, Confidence & Belonging What happens when we give children the time, space, and freedom to follow their curiosity? In this episode of the Outdoor Classrooms Podcast, Victoria Hackett sits down with Carlos Duque, Preschool Director at Nature Forward, to explore how nature-based education helps children develop confidence, empathy, resilience, and a deep sense of belonging. Drawing on his experience as a teacher, librarian, camp counselor, and school leader, Carlos shares how child-led learning comes to life in a nature preschool. Together, they discuss balancing freedom with safety, building strong relationships with families, mentoring educators, and creating learning environments where children can truly thrive. Whether you're an educator, parent, or school leader, this conversation offers practical insights and a hopeful vision for what early childhood education can become when nature is at its heart. In This Episode:Why nature-based education matters now more than everThe power of curiosity and child-led learningSupporting healthy risk-taking and resilienceBuilding confidence and belonging outdoorsPartnering with families in nature-based educationLeading a thriving nature preschoolWhat the future of outdoor learning could look like Key TakeawayWhen children are trusted to explore, wonder, and learn in nature, they develop far more than academic skills—they grow into confident, compassionate, and resilient human beings who feel deeply connected to the world around them. Connect with Nature Forward:https://natureforward.org 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 PodcastIf 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!

  7. Jul 28

    209: Raising Wild Little Wonderers: How Nature Shapes Curious, Confident Children with Sophie O'Borne

    Raising Wild Little Wonderers: How Nature Shapes Curious, Confident Children with Sophie O'Borne What if the greatest gift we can give children isn't another activity—but the freedom to wonder? In this episode of the Outdoor Classrooms Podcast, Victoria Hackett welcomes Sophie O'Borne, founder of Wild Little Wonderers, for a heartfelt conversation about raising children who are deeply connected to the natural world. Sophie shares the story behind Wild Little Wonderers and the experiences that inspired her work. Together, Victoria and Sophie explore how unhurried time outdoors nurtures curiosity, resilience, creativity, and a lifelong love of learning. They discuss the importance of stepping back as adults, trusting children to explore, and creating environments where wonder can flourish. Whether you're an educator, parent, caregiver, or simply someone who believes childhood should include muddy boots, open skies, and endless questions, this conversation offers both inspiration and practical ideas for bringing more nature into children's everyday lives. In This Episode:Sophie's journey to founding Wild Little WonderersWhy wonder is essential to healthy childhood developmentThe power of unstructured outdoor playHelping children develop confidence through natureSupporting curiosity without controlling the experiencePractical ways families and educators can reconnect children with the natural worldWhy slowing down creates deeper learningBuilding lifelong relationships with nature Key Takeaway:Children don't need perfect outdoor classrooms or elaborate activities to thrive. They need time, trust, and opportunities to experience the natural world for themselves. When we create space for wonder, children become more curious, capable, and deeply connected—to nature, to others, and to themselves. A Quote from This Episode:"Wonder isn't something we teach children. It's something we protect." Connect with Sophie O'Borne:📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wild_little_wonderers/ Connect with Outdoor Classrooms:🌿 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. If you enjoyed this episode...Please follow the Outdoor Classrooms Podcast, leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts, and share this episode with an educator, parent, or friend who believes childhood is best experienced outdoors. Every review helps us reach more people who are passionate about reconnecting children with nature. 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! "When children are given the freedom to wonder, they discover far more than the world around them—they begin to discover who they are." 🌿

  8. Jul 21

    208: The Life We Model: What Children Learn from the Way We Live

    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 TakeawayThe 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.comInstagramFacebook 🌿 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.

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About

The Outdoor Classrooms Podcast is the podcast for teachers and parents and anyone interested in cultivating learning gardens and nature-based curricula for children. It’s a show that will help you transform your outdoor space and will offer “seeds of inspiration” for playful learning outdoors. Each week, Victoria Hackett and her guests will share tips and actionable strategies that you will need in order to set in motion, manage and grow your Outdoor Classroom. You’ll learn how to implement the 5 Phases of Teaching Outdoors, all while providing a new way of learning for your children! Studies have shown that children who learn outdoors in all seasons “develop a sense of self, independence, confidence, creativity, decision-making, problem-solving skills, empathy towards others, motor skills, self-discipline, and initiative.” Victoria Hackett is the founder of Outdoor-Classrooms.com, The CIRCLE Membership community, and The Secret Gardens Demonstration Outdoor Classroom. You can follow her on Instagram and Facebook. To learn more, head on over to our virtual playground at outdoor-classrooms.com.

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