Outdoor Learning Takes Time

“Curiosity is an act of vulnerability and courage.” Brene Brown

Since launching Outdoor-Classrooms.com and beginning my Outdoor Learning Lab in my backyard, I have been dancing with vulnerability and courage. I have often thought how the process of creating an on-line virtual classroom is very much like the process of creating a garden. With curiosity as my mantra word for 2016, I have found myself in a beekeeping class with my son, interviewing a Master Gardener friend about seed starting and sharing recipes & cooking experiences with my brother. It is daunting how long it takes to learn something new.

BEEKEEPING: It is amazing where your children will take you and how their curiosity can lead you to places you never expected. You guessed it! My 12 year old son and I just completed our beekeeping class! We are beekeepers! We painted our beehive and now awaiting our bees. We have had a beekeeper friend over to inspect the location choice for the hive and have a “to do” list to prepare for opening day. I am completely and utterly out of my comfort zone here; however, curiosity and my son’s enthusiasm keeps me in the game.

SEED STARTING: This year, I decided to become a student of seeds. I have always simply put seeds straight into the ground as I am not the type of person that spends a lot of time fussing. My mother has the most amazing system for growing seeds under a grow light in her basement. Admiring her results, my curiosity kicked in. I have since created my own seed sanctuary. I am delighted to be exploring and learning so much about the variety of seeds. My seeds are starting to pop up and it is like watching magic!

COOKING: I am curious to explore the garden to table movement. My family is full of fantastic cooks. My mother, two sisters and now my daughter play in kitchen and cook together. My husband never follows recipes and is a wizard at making dinner on the fly. This has always left me completely intimidated. So much so, that I avoid cooking altogether. I must be turning a corner, as one of my goals is to grow my own food and cook complete meals from my garden. I am not there yet. Learning takes time and a lot of trial and error. Stay tuned.

OUTDOOR LEARNING LAB: Creating an Outdoor Classroom in my backyard is where I imagine putting all the pieces together. I imagine teachers playing with learning outdoors and creating a space that is full of wonder.

Are you starting an Outdoor Classroom? How do you invite curiosity and time into your learning and teaching. Are you learning something new? Are you teaching something new? Share your comments below. I always love hearing from you.