Clearing the Decks for the Next Chapter: Becoming A Natural Teacher

“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language. And next year’s words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning.”

(Little Gidding)” -T.S Eliot

After an incredible holiday season, my children have returned to school and I have returned to my office. T.S Elliot teaches us, “To make an end is to make a beginning.” In celebration of the New Year, I have launched a NEW E-Course called: Becoming a Natural Teacher: A Road Map. It is all about new beginnings and creating your own Map of Intention. Ironically, in preparation for this course, I have also been “clearing the decks” in my office. I am filled with gratitude to have found, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo. It is comforting to have a Road Map for my decluttering journey. Are you wondering how the art of decluttering connects to Outdoor Classrooms and Becoming a Natural Teacher? Think….New beginnings…Inside and Out.

I have witnessed over and over again and believe wholeheartedly that the heart of every Outdoor Classroom are the garden stewards. These are usually the children, teachers, parents of any given community. Your energy, enthusiasm, and dedication to re-connect children with nature is the heart and soul of the garden. You play a vital role. It’s important NOT to take on this mission alone, without a map and in a cluttered office. Therefore, understanding there is a bit of magic is within stories, like-minded communities and of course….the Road Map. Welcome to our Outdoor-Classrooms.com virtual community.

The fact is, Nature-Based classrooms are constantly growing and changing. As garden stewards tending to these gardens, we are constantly evolving too. My mission is to capture garden stories from Outdoor Classrooms all over the world and become a life-long, curious student. What are the common challenges, elements and themes? What makes a garden sustainable? How do you start an Outdoor Classroom? How do you plan curriculum? How do you build community? What happens when I have a mature garden? What if I don’t have a garden? I have learned a lot thus far and want to share every bit of my journey with you.

There is a wonder and beauty that happens when teaching Outdoors. Our gardens are all in different stages, and so are we, as garden stewards. You are exactly where you are supposed to be. Inside our Outdoor Classrooms virtual classrooms you will find Modules with video’s, a Garden Shed full of additional information and a community of Natural Teachers. You have access any time, anywhere.

As we say good-bye to 2015 and welcome 2016, now is the time to “clear off the decks.” It is time to reflect, let go and start again. It may be decluttering a room, so you can have room to plant seeds or dreaming up a vision for your Outdoor Classroom. Whatever it is, you can start digging into Becoming A Natural Teacher Today!

What to learn more? Join our community and begin planting seeds of inspira for 2016! Check out the details of The Road Map of Becoming A Natural Teacher: A Road Map! See you in class!