Donda Hartsfield has been an outdoor specialist for a Montessori school in Salt Lake City for the last 16 years. She has worked with children ages 3 through 12, and over the years has developed an outdoor curriculum for each age grouping (3-6, 6-9, 9-12). In recent years she has expanded her outreach and has facilitated a connection with nature for high school students and adults as well, through her work with Tree Utah and through her own nature journaling on her website: beecurious.bio.

In this episode Donda discusses the many hats she wears, the challenges and rewards of her work, and the primary motivation and philosophy for why she does what she does. She shares examples from her outdoor curriculum for each age level, from developing a sense of awe with invertebrate insects to field work in the various ecosystems in our state (wetlands, desert, forests). She also shares how her work with TreeUtah, a nonprofit organization that raises awareness and plants trees throughout Utah, has led to nature journaling opportunities for the greater community at their EcoGarden, and to educational outreach with students at the charter high school, Salt Lake Center for Science Education (SLCSE). Donda is an inspiring example for anyone who would like to create more of a connection with nature for themselves and/or the young people in their lives.

Find out more about:

Donda and her reflections: beecurious.bio

Biomimicry: https://www.learnbiomimicry.com/blog

TreeUtah: https://www.treeutah.org/

And their EcoGarden: https://www.treeutah.org/programs/ecogarden

Brief overview of Montessori education: https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/articles/what-is-a-montessori-school