In this heartfelt and reflective episode, we dive deep into what it really means to nurture resilience, perseverance, and empathy in outdoor learning spaces.

We explore how small steps – like starting with just 30 seconds at a sit spot – build stamina and belief in our ability to do hard things. Using learning continuums from Natural Curiosity (2nd Edition), we look at what growth looks like when learning is messy, nonlinear, and rooted in the land. Success doesn’t always look like neat checkboxes — sometimes, it looks like muddy boots and quiet confidence.

We unpack the power of the butterfly metaphor — a reminder that we can't rush the process or rescue too soon. Struggle is part of the learning, and nature offers the perfect environment for students (and educators!) to stretch, grow, and trust themselves.

Through stories, questions, and practical reflections, we talk about how outdoor learning grows empathy — for self, for others, and for the land. What does it mean to truly support a child through challenge without fixing everything? How does nature teach us that?

Tune in to reflect, recharge, and reimagine what learning can look like — when we let it grow at its own pace.

🌿 This episode is for anyone building strength in small moments, one outdoor step at a time.

What does it mean to regulate with our students instead of for them? In this episode, I sit down with educators Alisa Paul and Elsa Medina to explore co-regulation through a social-emotional learning lens—grounded in nature.

We share real stories about feeling dysregulated as teachers, what it means to model honesty with students, and how the land itself can become a co-regulator. Together, we reflect on:

🌿 Why naming our own nervous system state matters
🌿 How outdoor routines can build safety, trust, and connection
🌿 Ways that nature can calm students when adults can't
🌿 Practical strategies a TTOC or classroom teacher can lead—starting tomorrow
🌿 What we wish more teachers understood about managing emotions outside

Whether you're new to outdoor learning or simply feeling stretched thin, this episode offers simple, powerful ways to bring co-regulation to life—step by step, and breath by breath.

When a generous donation of mystery plants arrived at our school — unlabeled and unidentifiable — our outdoor classroom turned into a full-blown botanical detective case. In this episode of the Teach Outdoors Podcast, I share the hilarious, humbling, and deeply rewarding journey our students and I took to figure out: What exactly is growing in our garden?

From digging into field guides and sketching garden maps, to daily replantings thanks to curious crows (yes, really), and eventually calling in gardening expert Megan Zeni for backup — this story is full of inquiry, problem-solving, and lots of muddy hands.

We talk about:

• What real-world inquiry looks like outdoors
• How students designed crow-proof garden netting
• What it means to be a teacher who learns alongside your students
• And why not knowing all the answers might be the best thing for your classroom

This garden mystery reminded us what it means to be observers, stewards, and curious participants in an ever-changing ecosystem. Tune in for a mix of laughter, learning, and leafy green chaos.

🎧 Whether you're a seasoned outdoor educator or just planting your first school garden, this episode will leave you feeling inspired (and maybe slightly suspicious of your local crows).