This is our final episode of the season, and today, I’m asking: What really matters?

As we approach the Spring Equinox, a time of balance, renewal, and reflection, I  dive into the different dimensions of health - physical, mental, social, environmental, and spiritual, and ask: Are the values we live by truly our own?

Do we give ourselves time to reflect, to listen, and to follow what truly matters?

In this episode, Marina:

• Reflects personally on how the natural seasonal cycles represent our own opportunity to re-parent.
• Considers how Nature acts as a "third teacher," alongside parents/carers and educators.
• Explores the importance of reclaiming our own internal values—when we lose touch with our inner world, we struggle to set boundaries, leading to saying “yes” when we mean “no.”
• Recognises that true learning happens in relationships and through co-creation, not by filling children as empty vessels or leaving them entirely to their own devices.
• Acknowledges that quick fixes, like adding Forest School once a week, do not resolve systemic issues in education.
• Challenges the dominant measures of success—productivity and status—by valuing creativity, relationships, and emotional intelligence.
• Engages with the idea that learning is not just about acquiring knowledge but also about how we relate to the world and each other (Nora Bateson's "Warm Data").
• Recognises the role of creativity, play, and experimentation in helping us develop a deep sense of what feels right for us in life.
• Highlights the importance of slowing down, listening deeply, and creating the right conditions for people to be who they truly are.

Show Notes:

https://theoutdoorteacher.com/podcasts/episode-56-what-really-matters/

Music by Geoff Robb: www.geoffrobb.com

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Mentioned in this episode:

How to Teach Climate Change

https://theoutdoorteacher.com/climate

Free Course in Forest School Activities

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