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

In today's episode, my guest Angela Hanscom and I discuss all kinds of things related to developing skills through outdoor play, including:

Angela Hanscom is a pediatric occupational therapist and the founder of TimberNook–an award-winning nature-based program that has gained international popularity. TimberNook was designed as a vehicle to get children outdoors in sensory-rich experiences that inspire, restore, and challenge the mind and the body. They strive to be the “living example” of what real, authentic outdoor play should look like. TimberNook began as an experiment in Angela’s own backyard. She was hoping to make a difference in her local community. Now, her experiment has become an amazing journey that is making a difference for children in communities across the world.

Here's the video Angela mentions in the podcast:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9jEZbkmhYg&t=6s

Connect with Angela and TimberNook:

https://timbernook.com/

https://www.facebook.com/TimberNook.Camps

https://www.instagram.com/timbernook1/

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

Dealing with the logistics of a day or several days of steady rain can be challenging for Forest Educators, with keeping everyone warm, dry, happy and engaged.  In this episode, we go deeper, to the 'human development' side of Forest Ed, where we model ways of experiencing the natural world that go against the norm of our cultural messaging.   Viewed and experienced through these lenses, rainy weather, or cold or heat or snow, all offer portals to understanding how our bodies will follow our attentive focus.  These are also opportunities to connect with our friends and mentors more fully, sharing stories and entering a space of creativity that is shaped by the seasons and the weather of the day.  Learning to shift our mood and attitude from discomfort to joy is a life skill not found often in youth programs, and these lessons are offered by thunderstorm, or cold fronts or heat domes, which are real and powerful forces of nature.  Please enjoy episode 32.

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

I'm thrilled to introduce you to today's guest, Nate Summers. Nate brings unique blend of primal adventure, deep nature connection, survival skills, and natural healing and medicine to his trainings, consultation, and writing. In this episode, we talk about wilderness survival skills and personal growth, the importance of connecting with nature and traditional skills, Nate's books and writing experience, archetypes and cultural significance, and so much more. 

Connect with Nate:

https://www.primalnate.com/

https://www.instagram.com/primalnate

Support his new Kickstarter campaign:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/scoutcraft/scoutcraft-a-guidebook?ref=discovery&term=scoutcraft

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

It seems like everyone is talking about nature connection these days, (especially if you work in outdoor education), but what exactly do we mean by this expression?  More importantly, how can we understand the idea and the practice from an intellectual and 'sensory' perspective?   

In this episode, I dive into the deep end to try to unravel the nuances of some different kinds of awareness and connection.  We will explore our current plight as human beings, how our culture drives us away from meaningful connection and creates a reality that seems inescapable to those who are trapped in the 'house of mirrors'.   

I'm not going to sugarcoat anything here, and just say it;  This episode is a little 'out there'.

It's difficult to talk about the effects of our perception, and the 'reality shaping' nuances that are possible when our language and values offer limited ways to express certain concepts and ideas.   At this point, all we can do is start somewhere, and hope that these conversations can grow in understanding and scale, as we build a more comprehensive library of perspectives and practices.   

In the end, the key to a better future for our grandchildren may be planted like seeds in the games, exercises, activities and challenges that Forest Educators are leading every day, all over the 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

My guest today is Sam Gravestock of The Forest Path. Sam leads men's retreats and guided therapeutic wilderness programs. He prioritizes accessibility and support when it comes to learning disabilities, behavioral mentoring, youth programs, individual validation and wellness, and reflecting and exploring masculinity.

Connect with Sam:

https://www.theforestpath.co.uk/

https://www.instagram.com/man_of_tanith

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076003952570

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

This Forest Educator spotlight is an introduction to entrepreneurship for the Forest Educator. If you are planning on generating revenue by providing programs or resources related to Forest Education, then you are considering entrepreneurship. Being great at Forest Education and being great at Entrepreneurship are not synonymous. In this episode, I'm sharing some of the lessons I've learned from 35+ years of forest entrepreneurship.

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

Today's guest is Dan Gardoqui, a nature consultant, trainer, and guide. Dan's work, Lead with Nature, is rooted in the patterns and processes of nature. He's also a certified wildlife tracker and a bird language expert. In addition to talking about tracking and bird language, in this interview, we talked about the diversity of approaches, inspiring young people, the importance of listening, integrating wisdom into your business, and so much more.

Connect with Dan:

https://www.leadwithnature.com/

https://www.instagram.com/leadwithnature

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

On this week's Forest Educator Spotlight, we're talking about wilderness survival skills, and why they're important, and why they're an incredible resource for forest educators.

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

Sandy has created K-12 science curricula and international programs for schools including STEM Expeditions, credit-bearing field study courses that included taking students on trips throughout the US and internationally to South Africa, Iceland, and Belize. She is a Level 3 International Wildlife Tracker, in both the US and South Africa, certified through Cybertracker in track ID and Trailing. Sandy loves to organize adult and student trips to South Africa and travels there yearly to take people into the bush and work on her tracking skills.

In today's episode, we discuss:

Connect with Sandy:

https://www.originalwisdom.com/

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

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