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

Working with adult learners in the realm of nature and wilderness skills is profoundly complex. It's a world I've inhabited for many years, and one that has taught me the importance of constantly adapting and evolving my approach. When you've spent the bulk of your career teaching children and young adults, it can be easy to assume that the same methods and strategies will translate seamlessly to an older, more experienced audience. But as I've learned, that couldn't be further from the truth.

The key is to never take anything for granted. Just because someone is an adult, functioning member of society, doesn't mean they possess the foundational skills and knowledge that we might expect. It's a lesson I've had to learn the hard way, through experiences like the stories I share in this episode. When working with adults, we sometimes find ourselves with a stark choice – do I forge ahead with the program, assuming the adult will be able to handle himself, or do I pause and ensure the safety and well-being of the group? It's a decision that underscores the delicate balance we must strike as educators, between respecting the autonomy of our adult students and providing the guidance and structure they may desperately need. I've learned to err on the side of caution, covering the basics with meticulous attention to detail, no matter how tempting it might be to skip ahead. It's a philosophy that has served me well, and one that I hope other nature educators will embrace as they navigate the unique challenges of working with this dynamic and diverse population.

Forest Educator Bonus Content Page:

http://foresteducator.com/bonuscontent

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

"Hard Days" are an inevitable part of life as an educator. It is critical that we have effective strategies to cope, whether that's using physical sensations to reset the mind or allowing ourselves to fully feel and process difficult emotions.

In this episode, I'm also addressing the power of community, connection, and finding beauty in the world as antidotes to the darkness. Gathering around a campfire, immersing ourselves in nature, and simply noticing the kindness of others can help restore our sense of purpose and resilience. The barriers we face may loom tall, but by being honest about the challenges and supporting each other through the hard times, we can continue to grow and transform our work in meaningful ways.

Forest Educator Bonus Content Page:

http://foresteducator.com/bonuscontent

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 a vision of nature education that sees millions of children across the US and the world, in a meaningful and effective way.   The barriers that we face loom tall, but they are not insurmountable.  We need certain things in place to actually scale our best working models, like funding, resources, advocacy and training/mentoring, and achieving this takes a considerable amount of time and expertise and experience that we are currently missing in our nature educator community.   

I discuss the pros and cons of a spectrum of franchises and a few ideas for expanding our goals and beginning to manifest this visionary journey that could transform our world.

Please note: This is part one of a three part series.

Forest Educator Bonus Content Page:

http://foresteducator.com/bonuscontent

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

We all have to start somewhere, when it comes to being a Naturalist, or a Tracker, or a Bushcrafter, or a Forest School leader.  We get a little training, some time spent honing our crafts and skills, and before we know it, we are suddenly in front of a group of people who are excited to explore and learn from you.

Imposter Syndrome can set in and we can get a little 'Deer in the Headlights' when staring at thirty students and their teachers, frozen in place.   

In this episode, we dive into issues of training, commitment, overcoming our fears, gaining confidence and experience and much more.   

Forest Educator Bonus Content Page:

http://foresteducator.com/bonuscontent

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

Today's guest interview is with my wife and partner Trista Haggerty, who draws upon the deep connection with the land and nature to facilitate healing and inner growth. Her experiences in deep earth initiations, forged in sacred sites all over the world with own mentor Helena Shik provide insights that are often unique in the 'mystics' community.

We discuss some of her work with Hawk Circle Staff and Apprentices over the years, as well as her 'nature based' approach with her own children. Our discussion covers Initiations, Sacred Journeys and the importance of caves for transformation, to name a few topics.

It is a true gift and honor for me to share the wonderful insights and magic of the person I live with here at Hawk Circle!

Her new book 'When the Dark Mother Calls' is available on Amazon, and you can read more of her story of her incredible journey there!

Book Link on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/When-Dark-Mother-Calls-Initiatory-ebook/dp/B0CKTYFK4K/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1697520625&sr=8-1

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/wolverineway/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/RicardohawkSierra

If you are an educator, or a camp counselor, or a program leader or wilderness instructor, there is a not insignificant percentage of the time where you are 'winging it'.  We could dress it up, and call it 'creative problem solving' or 'lesson adaptation' to make it sound more professional, but yeah, you are sometimes making things up as you go along.

We have to do that, because at any given time, our students, the school or program administration, or the weather can dictate that immediate change is necessary and we have to scrap what we were doing and figure out some other way to get the job done.

Winging it does sound a little flippant, and 'fly by night', but there is a spectrum of methodology and approach that has on one end a shady, risky, possibly dumb or ill-thought out way of doing it, and on the other side, a safer, generally well considered loose plan that has a lot of leeway as far as implementation and structure.   The Bad Way and the Good Way, in other words.

Since you're already winging it anyway, I thought I'd weigh in on some best practices, share some stories, and offer insights into this powerful, often beneficial and innovative program approach.  I hope to help out the new educators who have never done this before, and maybe give some more experienced educators and leaders some good ideas as well.

Forest Educator Bonus Content Page:

http://foresteducator.com/bonuscontent

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

Well, it's election time, and we are surrounded by examples of fear based social media posts, television ads, internet ads and all kinds of different things vying for our attention and trying to get us to take some kind of action.  

The logic goes something like this:   "Well, if they are spending millions of dollars on these ads, they must work, right?"

Well, yes and no.   It all depends on who you want to attract with your messaging, and that is where it can get complicated!

This episode is a deep dive into why Fear-based messaging can sometimes be very effective, when it can be damaging to your reputation, and how to make stressful topics easier to understand and actually build trust and positive connections.  

Forest Educator Bonus Content Page:

http://foresteducator.com/bonuscontent

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 noticed a common theme in many of the Facebook forest school groups I'm a part of. People are constantly asking where they can get the right training to start their own nature programs, and they're seeking suggestions for activities and crafts to do with children.

As an educator, I emphasize the importance of providing children with real challenges and activities that build practical skills, rather than relying on contrived or disconnected experiences. I encourage you to focus on process-oriented, lifestyle-based activities that allow children to connect more deeply to the natural world. It's also crucial for us, as educators, to have our own practical experiences to draw from. While it can be challenging, I believe that by following our passions and interests, we can create meaningful and impactful nature programs for the children we serve.

Forest Educator Bonus Content Page:

http://foresteducator.com/bonuscontent

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 is a first hand account of Grant Adkisson, who spent days preparing for Hurricane Helene on his farm and nature program Corylace Cove in Mars Hill, North Carolina.    This event was catastrophic to communities throughout the Carolinas and Tennessee, and Grant shares what it was like during the storm, and then discovering how widespread and life changing this event has had for thousands of people throughout this region.

Grant talks about why he and his partner Sara chose to continue to offer nature education programs a week or so after the storm, when it was safe and communications and travel was possible, and how their work has adapted to support their emotional needs after experiencing the trauma that follows a natural disaster.

Grant shared the following organizations that can support his surrounding communities in their time of need:

This is fundraiser for ROAR (Rural Organizing and Resilience)

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=4C7WGWM48AW8A&source=url&ssrt=1727826032215

And this is the page for their mutual aid hub. They need chainsaws, splitters and logging chains, ropes and winches donated or bought.

https://ruralorganizing.wordpress.com/2024/10/01/marshall-mutual-aid-hub-is-open/

Walnut Fire Dept in Marshall NC

They were the only swift water rescue in the county and still going hard working out of personal funds and donations(volunteer rescue squad)

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?campaign_id=F9WPZZVQU34Z4&source=url

Grant and Sara's Nature Program Corylace Cove website:      https://www.corylacecove.com/

Instagram:     https://www.instagram.com/corylacecove/

Facebook:    https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086887186054

Forest Educator Bonus Content Page:

http://foresteducator.com/bonuscontent

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 search for knowledge sometimes involves tedious, patient work when it comes to understanding the diet of our distant ancestors.    It can involve charcoal analysis at a microscopic level from campfires from 10,000 BC.   It can involve the scrapings of carbonized food remains from pottery shards that are clues to what was eaten or used medicinally.    It's not particularly flashy or exciting like demonstrating fire by friction to a group of fifth graders, but Max Gordon actually does both.

Max founded the Lionman School of Rewilding and offers programs in nature awareness, earth living skills and crafts in New York, New Jersey and Florida, but his passion extends both forward to future generations while also looking back to the distant past to see our trajectories of human evolution.   Our conversation dives into cave art, Utzi the Iceman, wilderness school administration life and even medieval biology.    

Website:      https://lionmanrewilding.com/

Facebook:       https://www.facebook.com/lionmanrewilding2

Instagram:      https://www.instagram.com/lionmanrewilding/

YouTube:      https://www.youtube.com/@LionManReWilding

LinkedIn:      https://www.linkedin.com/company/lionman-school-of-rewilding/

Forest Educator Bonus Content Page:

http://foresteducator.com/bonuscontent

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