Play Nature Podcast

Ep 22 | Place-Based Learning: Environment, Culture, and Food with Gemma Nicholl Medina

Listen Later

Some conversations feel like sunshine. This one? Pure magic. Imagine laughter blowing through the trees, college students climbing branches, children splashing in streams, and stories woven into the wind. 

That’s the vibe of this episode of the Play Nature Podcast. Host Rusty Keeler is joined by the wonderful Gemma Nicholl Medina to explore the wild wonder of place-based learning and how nature, culture, and play connect like old friends. Big ideas. Small moments. Muddy hands. Happy hearts.

Gemma shares how her college students discover something ancient and familiar when they play outside, observe children deeply, and reconnect with trees, soil, stories, and place.

Gemma reminds us that nature play doesn't require a perfect forest, perfect tools, or perfect plans. All you need is curiosity, connection, and courage to say, “Let’s begin right here.” 

Top 3 Takeaways with Gemma: 

  • Start where you are. Nature play doesn’t require a forest — a tree, a park, a garden pot, or a single seed is enough to spark curiosity and connection.
  • Place matters. When children learn the stories, plants, language, and history of where they live, they build a relationship with the land — and care grows from that relationship.
  • Play is powerful. Whether college students climbing trees or preschoolers exploring mud, joyful, hands-on experiences unlock learning, belonging, and a sense of wonder.

    • Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs 

    Rusty’s FREE Outdoor Loose Parts Guide

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store
    Play Nature PodcastBy Rusty Keeler
    • 5
    • 5
    • 5
    • 5
    • 5

    5

    6 ratings

    More shows like Play Nature Podcast

    View all
    This American Life by This American Life

    This American Life

    90,955 Listeners

    TED Radio Hour by NPR

    TED Radio Hour

    21,957 Listeners

    The Moth by The Moth

    The Moth

    27,162 Listeners

    Respectful Parenting: Janet Lansbury Unruffled by JLML Press

    Respectful Parenting: Janet Lansbury Unruffled

    3,655 Listeners

    That Early Childhood Nerd by Explorations Early Learning

    That Early Childhood Nerd

    88 Listeners

    The Daily by The New York Times

    The Daily

    111,863 Listeners

    Up First from NPR by NPR

    Up First from NPR

    56,489 Listeners

    The Peter Attia Drive by Peter Attia, MD

    The Peter Attia Drive

    8,498 Listeners

    All Things Sensory by Harkla by Rachel Harrington, COTA/L, AC & Jessica Hill, COTA/L

    All Things Sensory by Harkla

    439 Listeners

    The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast by 1000 Hours Outside

    The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast

    2,140 Listeners

    On Purpose with Jay Shetty by iHeartPodcasts

    On Purpose with Jay Shetty

    27,337 Listeners

    The MeidasTouch Podcast by MeidasTouch Network

    The MeidasTouch Podcast

    50,299 Listeners

    We Can Do Hard Things by Treat Media and Glennon Doyle

    We Can Do Hard Things

    41,527 Listeners

    Unlonely with Dr. Jody Carrington by Snack Labs

    Unlonely with Dr. Jody Carrington

    36 Listeners

    What Now? with Trevor Noah by Trevor Noah

    What Now? with Trevor Noah

    4,249 Listeners