In this inspiring episode of The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast, Ginny Yurich talks with Kensie Wiebe about the groundbreaking initiative of incorporating TimberNook's outdoor play program into a traditional school. Kensie shares how her school made the bold move to offer 10 hours of outdoor play each week, fostering a deeper connection to nature and allowing kids the space for unstructured, autonomous play. She highlights the benefits of mixed-age groups, the importance of longer outdoor sessions, and how these changes have had a lasting impact on the children’s emotional, social, and physical development.

Kensie also discusses how this shift has not only benefited the students but has improved teacher satisfaction as well, with teachers noting higher productivity and better engagement in the classroom. As the program continues to grow, Kensie reflects on the ripple effect this initiative has created, challenging the conventional approach to education by prioritizing play and outdoor time. This episode will leave you reconsidering the importance of nature in children’s development and how schools can play a key role in transforming the way we educate.

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