Forest Educator with Ricardo Sierra | A Podcast for Revolutionary Conversations about Nature-Based Education

Some Forest Educators seem to create amazing program and organization names effortlessly, with titles that evoke strong feelings, qualities and almost magnetic pull that draws in people excited to participate.    Some of us have to work REALLY HARD to get names that are 'fair' or serviceable, after a long process and hours of crystal ball gazing.    The fact is, finding a great name is both an art AND hard work, and it's something that takes a bit of intuition, luck and even a group of friends working a process to make it a little easier.   This episode dives into several factors that come into play as we explore organization or individual program names, and outlines a process I've used for years that helps make it a little easier for those of us who aren't marketing or communications professionals! Join the Forest Educator Patreon! https://patreon.com/ForestEducatorPodcast Connect with Ricardo: https://www.foresteducator.com/ https://www.theforestboxforkids.com/ https://www.hawkcircle.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricardo-sierra-5980931/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_forest_educator_podcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RicardohawkSierra

In a small town in Texas near Fort Worth, there is a program that seems to do everything.  On the surface, they seem like a typical summer camp, but they do so many other special things that serve the local community:  Bereavement camps.  Project Wild education.  Fishing & Angler Education.  Private Retreats for Adults.  Off Season School Groups. Wilderness Survival or Science Themed Summer Camps (day and overnight). Alumni Programs. (This list goes on and on.) Jen Smith is the Vice President of Outdoor Connections at Camp El Tesoro-Camp Fire First Texas, and she and her staff continue an over 90 year legacy of serving their community with outstanding nature based programming.   She and her team work incredibly hard to craft experiences that are relevant to today's youth, adults and families in a variety of capacities, which is needed now more than ever.  Camp El Tesoro is a great example of an organization that is committed to being willing to grow and change while still keeping the traditions and experiences that are time tested and transformational. Professionals like Jen don't seek the limelight, and spend the bulk of their days in the hot Texas sun, doing the work without fanfare, and making a difference, all with the enthusiasm and passion of a first year CIT.   Connect with Jen:  LinkedIn:   https://www.linkedin.com/in/smithjen/ Join the Forest Educator Patreon! https://patreon.com/ForestEducatorPodcast Connect with Ricardo: https://www.foresteducator.com/ https://www.theforestboxforkids.com/ https://www.hawkcircle.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricardo-sierra-5980931/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_forest_educator_podcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RicardohawkSierra

When it comes to nature awareness and personal awareness, I've found it useful to see and perceive it in a few different ways.    Sometimes I see it in a mythological or 'rite of passage' perspective, and other times, I see it more from an 'awareness and perception' perspective. In this episode, I share some of the stages of awareness my campers, or students or staff have gone through in their journey into the world of nature, and how we all balance our lives in the Known and Unknown worlds, and sometimes even into the 'Unknowable' realms for which there is almost no descriptions. Join the Forest Educator Patreon! https://patreon.com/ForestEducatorPodcast Connect with Ricardo: https://www.foresteducator.com/ https://www.theforestboxforkids.com/ https://www.hawkcircle.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricardo-sierra-5980931/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_forest_educator_podcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RicardohawkSierra

When we remove all of the 'non-teaching stuff' that surrounds our profession, we educators are left with an opportunity- to connect with the 'still maturing' mind of our young students.   We can have all the trappings and bells and whistles and laptops or digital projectors or classroom props and decorations, but if we don't have the ability to make a real, personal, one on one connection to these human beings, we won't really have a positive, lasting impact.  Wendolyn Bird shares from her decades of experience working with very young children, parents and also other educators, and we dive into what it takes to deeply engage and 'lead' an early childhood program in a way that is soothing, stimulating and energizing. Wendolyn discusses ways to connect with children that meet them in ways that help them grow, which is crucial to achieving the goals we have as educators or parents.   Listening to her stories makes me wish she had been MY preschool teacher, too, because she is both wise AND fun.  The bonds we make with emotionally safe adults is incredibly important and soothing to us as children.  Learning these skills is a profound game changer for us as educators and for our students, which is sorely needed in today's rapidly changing world. Connect with Wendolyn: Website:   https://wendolynbird.com/ Facebook:    https://www.facebook.com/wendolyn.bird Instagram:   https://www.instagram.com/wendolyn__bird/ Join the Forest Educator Patreon! https://patreon.com/ForestEducatorPodcast Connect with Ricardo: https://www.foresteducator.com/ https://www.theforestboxforkids.com/ https://www.hawkcircle.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricardo-sierra-5980931/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_forest_educator_podcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RicardohawkSierra

There is no question that being in nature is 'healing' in both a practical and therapeutic sense, because this has been demonstrated in an impressive list of nature focused studies by researchers in several different countries from reputable academic institutions.    In this episode we dive into the different 'layers' of healing, from several different perspectives, and discuss how nature education can have significant positive impacts on both adults and children.   There are a lot of different ways that people experience healing, on the physical level, emotional and mental health levels and when they appear in our programs, it can be difficult to know what to do if we are unprepared or unaware.   My own journey and experiences with healing, both traditional, modern or alternative have helped me to understand some basic principles that have helped both me and my staff throughout the years.    Our world and humanity needs all of the healing we can get, on all levels, and this topic is one that can offer some hope for us all. Join the Forest Educator Patreon! https://patreon.com/ForestEducatorPodcast Connect with Ricardo: https://www.foresteducator.com/ https://www.theforestboxforkids.com/ https://www.hawkcircle.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricardo-sierra-5980931/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_forest_educator_podcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RicardohawkSierra

When we remove all of the 'non-teaching stuff' that surrounds our profession, we educators are left with an opportunity- to connect with the 'still maturing' mind of our young students.   We can have all the trappings and bells and whistles and laptops or digital projectors or classroom props and decorations, but if we don't have the ability to make a real, personal, one on one connection to these human beings, we won't really have a positive, lasting impact.  Wendolyn Bird shares from her decades of experience working with very young children, parents and also other educators, and we dive into what it takes to deeply engage and 'lead' an early childhood program in a way that is soothing, stimulating and energizing. Wendolyn discusses ways to connect with children that meet them in ways that help them grow, which is crucial to achieving the goals we have as educators or parents.   Listening to her stories makes me wish she had been MY preschool teacher, too, because she is both wise AND fun.  The bonds we make with emotionally safe adults is incredibly important and soothing to us as children.  Learning these skills is a profound game changer for us as educators and for our students, which is sorely needed in today's rapidly changing world. Connect with Wendolyn: Website:   https://wendolynbird.com/ Facebook:    https://www.facebook.com/wendolyn.bird Instagram:   https://www.instagram.com/wendolyn__bird/ Join the Forest Educator Patreon! https://patreon.com/ForestEducatorPodcast Connect with Ricardo: https://www.foresteducator.com/ https://www.theforestboxforkids.com/ https://www.hawkcircle.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricardo-sierra-5980931/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_forest_educator_podcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RicardohawkSierra

There are so many powerful learning elements that are part of the expansive topic of 'Food', it's hard to know where to start.    When it comes to nature based learning, campfire cooking and 'hearthcraft', we can start with campfire circle design, hardwood vs softwood firewood, cooking utensils and the like.   Or we can just jump right into the cooking, and get our flavor receptors firing with more traditional methods and means.   We can even go full foraging style, to include gathered berries, teas or nuts, with plant identification, storage and preparation experiences too. I've seen the transformation that happens when someone tastes black birch tea sweetened with maple syrup for the first time, or bites into an acorn pancake slathered with chokecherry syrup.    Clay baked butternut squash stuffed with nuts, dried fruit, and lots of savory spices will make even the most reluctant vegetable eater suddenly become willing to try a slice! Join the Forest Educator Patreon! https://patreon.com/ForestEducatorPodcast Connect with Ricardo: https://www.foresteducator.com/ https://www.theforestboxforkids.com/ https://www.hawkcircle.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricardo-sierra-5980931/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_forest_educator_podcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RicardohawkSierra

This episode explores the powerful role that communication and visibility skills play in the overall long term success of our nature programs.    It's not a reach to say that they are absolutely essential for us to master, and they are also the skills that we probably are the most reluctant to practice.      Nature Educator April Zajko M.Ed. and I dive into these concepts and we share stories about our own journey as visionary business leaders and how we learned important lessons the hard way over the past few decades. Social media, written newsletters and blogs, video content and public speaking all form a 'communications ecosystem' that gives us all many ways to connect to our potential students, each with their advantages and disadvantages.   We discuss some of the many ways to achieve our goals if we are willing to let go of our fear, have a curious mind, are willing to learn from failure and persevere! Visibility & Advocacy Workshop Link:    https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-power-of-visibility-advocacy-for-nature-based-educators-registration-878507909807?aff=April&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2WxncUdJe5adelA1Y5YArBCfj_-B9ecyT725l8Bd5qIMI5SZfzAPQIP4A_aem_AYvfUzHx6HXHfWbOAhqTCuNKE99ZM2q65r9VHNNIU9TPJP0Yk0iXH7YupIUvcunxcIt1f1hdntgGFFMns0m_lcnf Connect with April: https://aprilsteachingtree.com/ Nature Inspired Teacher Facebook Group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/1843474542616408 Website/Courses:   https://aprilsteachingtree.mykajabi.com/links Join the Forest Educator Patreon! https://patreon.com/ForestEducatorPodcast Connect with Ricardo: https://www.foresteducator.com/ https://www.theforestboxforkids.com/ https://www.hawkcircle.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricardo-sierra-5980931/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_forest_educator_podcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RicardohawkSierra

The problem with 'awareness' is that it is 'on' even when we would prefer it wasn't.    Once we open that capacity, it helps us see the world in new ways-both the beautiful and the painful. In addition to noticing the incredible birdsong or wildflowers, we also see the trash littered across the landscape, or the ragged destruction caused by wanton development.     We know the joy of our personal refuges, and the agony at seeing them defiled by those who don't understand or know what makes them unique. It's a weight that we all carry, and one that our students will also, eventually.   In this episode, we explore this phenomenon and consider ways that can support us all. Join the Forest Educator Patreon! https://patreon.com/ForestEducatorPodcast Connect with Ricardo: https://www.foresteducator.com/ https://www.theforestboxforkids.com/ https://www.hawkcircle.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricardo-sierra-5980931/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_forest_educator_podcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RicardohawkSierra

I have a penchant for the term 'Unsung Hero', because I believe it's an accurate assessment of so many of us 'nature educators' who plug away at their work, day in and day out, rarely getting accolades or even credit for their contributions to the field.     I'm going to use it again here with this episode's guest, because he's earned it many times over through the decades of his innovation, free thinking and constant effort.     Tom Elpel has authored many books and written countless articles for wilderness publications and primitive skills journals, including one of his most renowned book "Botany in a Day",    Tom has inspired me and many others to live simply, with minimal lasting impact on the earth, and he's modeled these principles for decades in his home region of Montana. In our conversation, we talk about his recent canoe trip using a dugout canoe down the Missouri River, and hear about his adventures along the way.   We talk about our work, and what it's like to teach and practice nature principles as part of a growing nature movement filled with wonderful young people.     Website:      https://www.greenuniversity.com/ Classes & Courses:    https://www.elpel.info/Programs_and_Classes.htm YouTube:      https://www.youtube.com/user/thomasjelpel Facebook:        https://www.facebook.com/Thomas.J.Elpel Instagram:       https://www.instagram.com/thomasjelpel LinkedIn:          https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasjelpel/ Botany in a Day Book:    https://www.hopspress.com/Books/Botany_in_a_Day.htm Connect with Tom: https://www.elpel.info/ Join the Forest Educator Patreon! https://patreon.com/ForestEducatorPodcast Connect with Ricardo: https://www.foresteducator.com/ https://www.theforestboxforkids.com/ https://www.hawkcircle.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricardo-sierra-5980931/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_forest_educator_podcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RicardohawkSierra

After doing fifty interviews with incredible educators and also fifty solo 'spotlight' episodes, I thought it was worth a moment to share some of my biggest 'aha' moments, surprising discoveries and also where this podcast might be going in Year Two.       Doing two episodes a week has been an honor and a privilege, and also exhausting at times, too!    I am not sure how I managed it, some months, but I'm very glad I did! The field of nature education is growing exponentially, and there are a lot of important elements to discuss as we move forward to help children and adults find their way in this constantly changing world.   Our grandchildren are counting on us to get things right, and this is a path with honor and purpose.     Special thanks to everyone who is listening.    You are all keeping me going, and I appreciate you all! Join the Forest Educator Patreon! https://patreon.com/ForestEducatorPodcast Connect with Ricardo: https://www.foresteducator.com/ https://www.theforestboxforkids.com/ https://www.hawkcircle.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricardo-sierra-5980931/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_forest_educator_podcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RicardohawkSierra

It's never easy to be 'the first' in a pioneering effort.  There is always a constant push to communicate the value, and the need, and the positive outcomes to people who may not even know they are missing out on something amazing and important.    Each generation that follows has it a little easier, because they are arriving and standing on the foundations that the first pioneer laid, for the benefit of future generations of students and educators. For the past four years, Carol Sanchez has established the Rizoma Communidad Educativa, which is a Forest School based in Quita, Ecuador.  Her emphasis on the importance of family involvement, students with special needs and abilities form the basis of our conversation, which was helped greatly with her son as translator.   It was a joy and an honor to hear her story, and share her vision, and it's one that I believe will stay in our hearts and minds for a long time! Facebook:      https://www.facebook.com/p/Rizoma-Comunidad-Educativa-100064045991860/ Instagram:     https://www.instagram.com/rizomacomunidadeducativa/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR16-x1ICZT2Nf3Z5kfGxfYPb86O8JBytTTOU-7x4wYzmZCIAyPgC4yvtBM_aem_Ab3F8QQPbA4gVOYlqkFL_e0bGRfYrUTzEt_9dlAPJNYhk3k_Z8JRlqLPfR5XDK6KPKAG2ny-A35GxsyCH4l-VRc5 YouTube:      https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2m6nEsSWXtlVV0gsgILaPw Join the Forest Educator Patreon! https://patreon.com/ForestEducatorPodcast Connect with Ricardo: https://www.foresteducator.com/ https://www.theforestboxforkids.com/ https://www.hawkcircle.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricardo-sierra-5980931/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_forest_educator_podcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RicardohawkSierra

I've always been drawn to areas that are desolate, open and devoid of human presence, and this episode explores the power of our desert landscapes through my own stories and experiences.     Deserts are far more than sand and cactus, and most people speed through them as fast as humanly possible.   There are gifts to be found if we learn how to approach these unique places in ways that change us inside forever. Join the Forest Educator Patreon! https://patreon.com/ForestEducatorPodcast Connect with Ricardo: https://www.foresteducator.com/ https://www.theforestboxforkids.com/ https://www.hawkcircle.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricardo-sierra-5980931/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_forest_educator_podcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RicardohawkSierra

Sometimes, nature education can be 'up close and personal', like a walk in the woods, or picking raspberries.  Sometimes, it's more about paradigm shifts, technology strategies and learning to avoid being manipulated by intellectually dishonest players in our current systems.    In this conversation with author and educator Jeff Share, we talk about some of the fundamental problems around climate change and effective messaging, shifting narratives, and educational leadership that begins in middle and high school with positive success.   Jeff's research and practice focuses on transformative education, preparing K-12 educators to teach critical media literacy for social and environmental justice. The second edition of his book, "Media Literacy is Elementary: Teaching Youth to Critically Read and Create Media" was published in 2015.  Two years later, he co-authored with Richard Beach and Allen Webb, "Teaching Climate Change to Adolescents: Reading, Writing, and Making a Difference." Collaborating with Douglas Kellner (2019) they published, "The Critical Media Literacy Guide: Engaging Media and Transforming Education."  Jeff is a Fulbright Specialist and English Language Specialist for the US State Department who has taught critical media literacy and Environmental Justice in India, Argentina, Mexico, China, and Germany. As the climate crisis continues to unfold in various ways around our world, it is apparent that our children will need MANY skills and tools to assist them in their solutions and work, and I believe there is a tremendous value for all nature educators to network with professionals like Jeff, so we can broaden our scope and be inclusive to the wealth of knowledge that is available. Connect with Jeff: Website:     https://jshare.wixsite.com/jeffshare Twitter/X:   https://twitter.com/critml?lang=en LinkedIn:    https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-share-71155a9/ Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/people/Jeff-Share/2541535/?paipv=0&eav=AfZblN6YfbbzSwUMoaI2l1fTUKwwcb74tBvvvDTh0nRdFfjsadkgaO_7tRXyFSU_dY4&_rdr Book:  For the Love of Nature:  Eco-writing the world     https://www.amazon.com/Love-Nature-Ecowriting-World-Counterpoints/dp/1433199793/ref=sr_1_1?crid=DL7O623UE7RZ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.fj0BC9NSY2zQkkvaGMWineGENPai9iHpclw5WnxJM1zjkcS-oTCW2Cp4CB8zot3iAeG2zB6Na3XlNwlkMafOoNJ1jh5zMCAsce47nA6im2-Pq_scKBSkVuM7UF8oWRCqq_IoQjBloMlZvJycs2AYalJJfLftAmkr7sPeJRGaGIBV8cEmJ1NbR6uKQIUQqDXNcrP_KVQh5PLksEOMf2E290H5DvpM9drZYdmlwYxaK9M.MM7jiBvXQTY2n12hsBGzuIwZXFzEy75OkDsnd3Yk9Lo&dib_tag=se&keywords=Jeff+Share&qid=1715233235&sprefix=jeff+share%2Caps%2C117&sr=8-1 Book:  The Critical Media Literacy Guide     https://www.amazon.com/Critical-Literacy-Guides-Scholarship-Education/dp/900440452X/ref=sr_1_2?crid=DL7O623UE7RZ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.fj0BC9NSY2zQkkvaGMWineGENPai9iHpclw5WnxJM1zjkcS-oTCW2Cp4CB8zot3iAeG2zB6Na3XlNwlkMafOoNJ1jh5zMCAsce47nA6im2-Pq_scKBSkVuM7UF8oWRCqq_IoQjBloMlZvJycs2AYalJJfLftAmkr7sPeJRGaGIBV8cEmJ1NbR6uKQIUQqDXNcrP_KVQh5PLksEOMf2E290H5DvpM9drZYdmlwYxaK9M.MM7jiBvXQTY2n12hsBGzuIwZXFzEy75OkDsnd3Yk9Lo&dib_tag=se&keywords=Jeff+Share&qid=1715233318&sprefix=jeff+share%2Caps%2C117&sr=8-2 Join the Forest Educator Patreon! https://patreon.com/ForestEducatorPodcast Connect with Ricardo: https://www.foresteducator.com/ https://www.theforestboxforkids.com/ https://www.hawkcircle.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricardo-sierra-5980931/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_forest_educator_podcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RicardohawkSierra

According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 1 out of 5 U.S. children ages 3-17 has a mental, emotional, behavioral or developmental disorder. Anxiety disorders are the most common psychiatric conditions in children and adolescents, affecting nearly 1 in 12 children and 1 in 4 adolescents. This means that it's almost a certainty that if you are working with children, teens or adults, you're getting a fair number of children or teens in your programs who are struggling with a myriad of issues.   I know that this isn't exactly groundbreaking news, especially if you've been in the trenches in the past few years. This episode dives into the different ways that working with special needs children can affect us as nature educators, in both positive and negative ways.  We get into different ways to help screen for behavior or sensory issues in ways that will help us get the right kind of students who are appropriate for our work,  Understanding special needs students, their parents and their impact on our work is critical to our long-term success.   Join the Forest Educator Patreon! https://patreon.com/ForestEducatorPodcast Connect with Ricardo: https://www.foresteducator.com/ https://www.theforestboxforkids.com/ https://www.hawkcircle.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricardo-sierra-5980931/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_forest_educator_podcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RicardohawkSierra

I am pretty sure I would have enjoyed my high school chemistry classes more if they had been taught by my guest Peter Kindfield, who shares his methodology and approach in outdoor learning.  His experiences demonstrate again how important our work is, for all of us in this field, and to discuss these topics, because I believe we are piloting the future models of early childhood, elementary and middle school education. It's a natural 'next step' to give ourselves opportunities to go deeper into our observations of nature and team building, communication and the scientific method. We are seeing mythology and creative writing/language arts being shared in ways that get substantial outcomes, and we know that the power of social and emotional learning can be greatly enhanced through a focus on learning outside.    In this episode, we cover a lot of ground that hasn't really been explored in most 'nature education' circles, and it's always fun to hear the thoughts of a person who continues to work on the front lines.    Connect with Peter: https://peterkindfieldphd.substack.com https://hilltopeducation.com/ https://www.deepadaptation.info/ Join the Forest Educator Patreon! https://patreon.com/ForestEducatorPodcast Connect with Ricardo: https://www.foresteducator.com/ https://www.theforestboxforkids.com/ https://www.hawkcircle.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricardo-sierra-5980931/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_forest_educator_podcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RicardohawkSierra

One of the very first challenges educators have today is finding a way to connect with students, and then inspiring them to engage with the activities and experiences offered because THEY want to, not because they HAVE to.   Without that key ingredient, we can't really go anywhere.  Full stop.   If you have experienced difficulty with this, you will know exactly what a problem it is, and how excruciating it is to be in it, for everyone involved.  Sometimes, we get lucky and don't have this kind of issue in our educational journey, with supportive, excited children and attractive games that get the job done.  It can be a big shock when we show up and it DOESN'T go as planned. With student anxiety, classroom disruption and class attention spans bordering on milliseconds, it's a given that we need a variety of approaches that can give us options when we start getting resistance or blank stares. In this episode, we take a comprehensive look at one of my favorite tools in this process, and discover some of the ways we can get better immediately, to the benefit of all. Join the Forest Educator Patreon! https://patreon.com/ForestEducatorPodcast Connect with Ricardo: https://www.foresteducator.com/ https://www.theforestboxforkids.com/ https://www.hawkcircle.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricardo-sierra-5980931/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_forest_educator_podcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RicardohawkSierra

Many Forest School Leaders begin their educational nature journey in the fields of Bushcraft, and ancestral skills.  Some come from a background in public education, while others get their start in Special Education.  Others still come from an occupational therapy or mental health background.  All seem to respond to the needs of children, and a desire to help them grow and thrive. Most of us don't really want to 'start a business' with all that it entails, but we usually don't have a choice.  Someone has to do it, and figure it out, and find ways to keep it going, and it's a task that's not unlike an 'act of power' to pull off consistently. My conversation with Asa Hardy-Brownlie explores his origins in Bushcrafting, as well as working with Special Education students and then finding the joys and challenges of Forest Schooling.  We dive into the importance of strong boundaries, continuing adaptation needs for Forest School Trainers and a host of other topics relevant to anyone who works with youth in nature.   Mental health, digital marketing, effective communication, dealing with negative feedback and ongoing assessment--- we cover a lot of ground!   Our discussion touches on a lot of important issues that nature educators deal with every day. Connect with Asa: https://www.forestschoolsupport.com https://www.facebook.com/groups/forestschoolas Join the Forest Educator Patreon! https://patreon.com/ForestEducatorPodcast Connect with Ricardo: https://www.foresteducator.com/ https://www.theforestboxforkids.com/ https://www.hawkcircle.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricardo-sierra-5980931/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_forest_educator_podcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RicardohawkSierra

In every program, just like in life, there are things that are clearly defined, established and understood, and then there are the 'grey areas'.  These are places where expectations can grow, issues can be unmet and problems can hang out, in the twilight gloom of our nature school or forest kindergarten. Left unchecked, these grey areas can create enough friction and frustration that it can sometimes tear apart our programs or our communities, and have tremendous negative impact for all involved.    Unwritten Contracts work in a similar fashion, usually created unconsciously by wonderful, well intentioned staff, students, parents or organization leaders, and can be upset when their internally made 'agreement' is unfulfilled by our program, workshop, retreat or camp.   In this episode, we will turn on our headlamps, get a few solar string lights and maybe a few construction work lights to help us see what might be going on, how we might unconsciously be contributing to the problems and figure out some ways to fix them! Join the Forest Educator Patreon! https://patreon.com/ForestEducatorPodcast Connect with Ricardo: https://www.foresteducator.com/ https://www.theforestboxforkids.com/ https://www.hawkcircle.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricardo-sierra-5980931/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_forest_educator_podcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RicardohawkSierra

It's not uncommon at the end of a meaningful nature program to see one person who is still sitting at the campfire, reluctant to leave.  The impact to our participant's lives can be significant, and it's difficult for some to return to their everyday lives, which can be lonely or filled with unsatisfying relationships.    Nature work often intersects with community building, personal growth, health and even healing mental and emotional trauma, which, for Forest Educators, means we usually end up wearing many hats.  My conversation with today's guest, Sky Otter, dives into this important topic, and we discuss holding space, program boundaries, working with young or inexperienced staff, emotional first aid and more. Sky Otter formerly known as Bill Pfeiffer is the founder of Sacred Earth Network (SEN) which implemented leading edge visions for over 25 years. In that time, Sky made Russia a second home having traveled there 44 times assisting the environmental and indigenous movements through SEN. This has given him a rare cross-cultural perspective. He has also led hundreds of spiritual ecology workshops, including men’s and breath work. He has 25 years of experience in Re-evaluation Counseling and Vipassana meditation, and has undergone extensive training with Siberian shamans. Sky has partnered with and designed experiential workshops with Joanna Macy, John Perkins, Llyn Roberts, Cathy Pedevillano, and John Seed. He has also spent much time in the US Southwest learning about Native medicine ways and the crucial importance of the petroglyphs and pictographs. His book, Wild Earth, Wild Soul: A Manual for an Ecstatic Culture has been met with high acclaim. Connect with Sky Otter: https://billpfeiffer.org/ https://www.sacredearthnetwork.org/ Wild Earth, Wild Soul: A Manual for an Ecstatic Culture: https://amzn.to/4bhMj7R Join the Forest Educator Patreon! https://patreon.com/ForestEducatorPodcast Connect with Ricardo: https://www.foresteducator.com/ https://www.theforestboxforkids.com/ https://www.hawkcircle.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricardo-sierra-5980931/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_forest_educator_podcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RicardohawkSierra