Today's Forest Educator Spotlight is all about the best-kept secret for Forest Educators: the Natural Advantage. When we implement this three-part framework in our programs, we can have the biggest impact.

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

Some of my favorite ages to work with are middle schoolers, anywhere from 10-14 years old. Some may say those ages are some of the most challenging, but I really like that age group for so many reasons. I love to help them find their passion and excitement, and to watch them build an inner foundation for themselves and a personal belief that they know who they are, and begin to believe that they can do hard things. In this episode, I'm exploring the different developmental ages and stages during this period of kids' lives and some of my best tips and strategies for working with them effectively. From emotional development, friendship, trust, and self-reflection to skill-building, I hope this episode will help you feel excited about working with this age group, too.

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

The first rule about 'bonding' is like Fight Club:

"Never talk about Bonding."

At least to your students. (Because it's awkward and weird.)

But honestly, so many of the benefits of nature-based education present in the same exact way - basically invisible to most people who aren't paying close attention.

This episode explores ideas around mentoring, teaching, bonding, relationships, and even some staff management/training/hiring concepts too.

We get into the nuances of these concepts, why it's so critical for our development at a young age, and how we as educators can support and facilitate those fleeting moments of connection that come when we least expect it.

Even if you don't work with youth or adults, you might find this episode interesting because you can scan through your own memories for the authentic, bonding moments you've had, and how they affected you.

We all exist in a matrix of community, culture, and nature, and being able to build meaningful relationships is not always easy in today's digital world.

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

The paths we take in our journey as educators are incredibly diverse and unique to each of us.  We all have different origins, with mentors, teachers, opportunities and our communities all influencing how we do what we do.

In this episode, we explore some of the ways we end up in our 'forest educator lanes', and how to change lanes, as well as why it can be incredibly beneficial to ourselves, our families, our students and our professional growth to make a shift.   

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

An aspect of nature education that I believe is greatly overlooked is the ability and benefit it gives young people to 'Do Hard Things'.  This happens when we learn to climb a steep hill, climb a tree, master carving knife safety or learn to think of others in our groups!  It happens when we learn to be safe and respectful about campfires.  It happens when we begin our studies in wild foods, birds, animal tracks, trees or bushcraft skills.  (This list could be very, very substantial!)

All of these help our young people to learn to push through the very real walls of struggle, of effort, of perseverance, and to not shy away from hard work.   

It helps them learn about delayed gratification, and find their own 'deep inner drive' that will serve them well in the coming years of continued change.

Whether we are running a forest preschool, guiding adults across a glacier, teaching archery at a wilderness camp or leading a nature based mythology & poetry retreat, we are at our most core level, helping our students become resilient & resourceful in the face of looming change that we will all experience in our lifetime.  It's a mission worth supporting, and has incredible returns on the investment for schools, organizations and parents who want to make a difference for our youngest generation.

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

If you've ever tried to talk about the meaning and value of an experience in nature with someone who's never experienced something similar, it can feel like talking to a brick wall.  

Our insights, and sense of wonder, or magic can sound ridiculous when spoken out loud.   It can be painful when something we share has so much value to US, but completely is misunderstood by our listeners.

The problem isn't with us, or with everyone else, but it's built into the language of our culture, and with the very nature of 'the intangible aspects' of our experiences.

It's a problem for nature people and also for anyone who is really passionate about something, and it's especially a problem for Forest Educators who are working to communicate these values to people who could really benefit from our work and programs.

If you have struggled to craft a message about what you do that resonates with 'your people' who get it, and 'get you', this episode can help you understand why it's often so difficult and why we can drag our feet in making decisions about our promotional material, or about our reluctance to fully commit to our 'message'.

It's time to get clear, take action and begin connecting with everyone in ways that can help us struggle a little less, build more community and enjoy our work!

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

Going behind the scenes and into the mind of a public school Earth Science teacher was a journey filled with insights about why education is so different from school to school.  The diversity of students and the environment/location has a lot to do with these differences, but often I forget how the unique skills and philosophy of the teachers is a factor that should not be underestimated.

Danny Rosenstein shares his journey, from New York's inner city urban schools to alternative schools in the Hudson Valley, and how nature and outdoor learning is experienced differently by students from different environments.  We talk about how science gives us the tools to understand our world/universe, but how even science sometimes forgets to include humans in the 'natural world'.   

We live in a time in which many students, schools, families and communities are under a great deal of pressure and social and economic change.  It's in these times that educators can find ways to help their classrooms become a refuge from that chaotic energy, so they can breathe, learn and get connected in an authentic way.

LinkedIn:   https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-rosenstein-a065971b/

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

Fear of being uncomfortable lurks behind almost every outdoor experience when we are first learning to deal with nature's 'moods'. The purifying intensity of cold scours the world when it moves across our landscape, unstoppable and pervasive.  All the animals, trees, birds, insects and plants respond in different ways to survive, including all of us human mammals too.  Dealing with the mental aspects of cold is part physical preparation, part mental adjustment and part acceptance and gratitude for the winter season, and our experience of 'cold' changes as we build a better relationship with this force of nature.

As leaders and educators, we can bring a new understanding of cold weather to our students and program participants, and give them the gift of what I call the 'Crucible of Leadership'.  It's one of the missing ingredients in our communities right now, and our future generations will build a new path from the work we do today.

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

It's not uncommon for nature educators to have experiences that defy easy explanations, like the appearance of birds, deer, squirrels or mice in one of our forays into the wild with students.  The presence of humans who are quiet and respectful seems to attract wild creatures sometimes, leading to connections that have a powerful impact on our lives.

John and I talk about the importance of program names, the influence and visions of native elders and how mentoring changes lives.   

Website:  TheTrackingProject.org

Weather Book mentioned in this episode:   https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/the-weather-wizards-cloud-book-a-unique-way-to-predict-the-weather-accurately-and-easily-by-reading-the-clouds-workman-undated-diariesadvent-calendars_louis-d-rubin-sr_jim-duncan/317550/item/12542392/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=high_vol_frontlist_standard_shopping_customer_acquisition&utm_adgroup=&utm_term=&utm_content=689361939032&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAjeW6BhBAEiwAdKltMpyGsxAnzbAxObC62rwwwsVJyZJ8vgevJkNz5JOWSHoZz-lMzf1i4hoCoOAQAvD_BwE#idiq=12542392&edition=2748532

Thanksgiving Address Books:     https://thetrackingproject.org/the-tracking-project-teaching-resources/

Institute of Natural Law Substack Article:    https://instituteofnaturallaw.substack.com/p/tracking-the-language-of-nature-with

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 most impressive takeaway I get from every encounter I have with Tony, Molly and Trackers Earth is the fact that everyone seems so normalized and nonchalant about their accomplishments in connecting thousands of students each year with nature and imagination.  Their network extends from Portland Oregon to Seattle Washington to the north, and the California Bay Area to the south, and until recently, Denver Colorado to the east.   The programs are day camps in the summer and after school programming in the school year, with homeschooling programs, adult education and staff training, too.  Their work happens in major urban/suburban areas, where the students are living, and they've overcome many obstacles and challenges to give those students opportunities to learn, explore and grow in their own bioregion.  They have adapted, learned, pivoted and grown throughout their 20 years of effort and energy, always striving to make things easier, better and get the best results possible.

It's hard to not feel inspired by their laid back approach in the face of their success, and admire their commitment to making a powerful difference for the benefit of our world.  It gives me hope, which sadly, seems in short supply these days.  Please enjoy their story and insights!

Connect with Molly and Tony:

Website:    https://www.trackersearth.com/

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

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

Video Mentioned in Episode:   https://youtu.be/BQHOH7V-Cm8?si=iCTy7aRxRKq08E83

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