September 12, 2023

46. The Four Seasons at Walworth School Kindergarten Outdoor Classroom with Cathy Boldger

50 minutes

In today's episode, we are traveling through the four seasons at the Walworth School Kindergarten Outdoor Classroom. Note: This is a Tour and Talk. Members of The CIRCLE have access to the photo tour.

In this episode, Cathy shares her Outdoor Classroom, stories, curriculum ideas, and activities.

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer

MEET CATHY:

Born and raised on a dairy farm in southwestern Wisconsin. Her Grandparents emigrated from Norway in 1920. She has a strong work ethic and connections (and appreciation) for nature that was established early in life.

This is Cathy's 37th year of teaching. She has been a Junior Kindergarten/Kindergarten Looping teacher for over 2 decades (she has been graced with time, having the children for 2 years...from ages 4-6).

Cathy has been teaching and "protecting" best practices for early childhood since 1978. She has taught preschool and kindergarten in urban and rural communities in Wisconsin, along with an inner-city school in Houston, Texas. She used early childhood, hands-on strategies when teaching second-grade English at the American School in Pachuca Hidalgo Mexico during her 3 year assignment. Cathy has led and collaborated with colleagues on play-based, nature-inspired seminars for Cesa, the DPI, and at university-sponsored early childhood conferences.

When schools reopened after COVID, the district highly recommended, children spend as much time outside as possible. This provided an incredible opportunity to create an OUTDOOR CLASSROOM. With the help of the community, parents, and friends, many wonderful donations were given to help establish a nature-based corner of the playground. The Outdoor Classroom became a labor of love and a huge success.

This is Cathy's 27th year in Walworth, Wisconsin, and her 4th year of implementing the Outdoor Classroom. Staff members from several schools have visited and learned about the environment that has been created and teachers have been amazed when seeing the children in action. This year a neighboring school district created a lovely space outside for their students and the administration has hired Cathy to be the staff consultant. This is an exciting time for early childhood.

CONNECT WITH CATHY: