Outdoor Classrooms to the Rescue (Again)
This summer we launched THE CIRCLE: Our Outdoor Classrooms Membership Community! With monthly Outdoor Classrooms Tour & Talks, LIVE Teaching & Learning Round Table discussions, access to our 1-hour Nature-Based Workshop Library, and LIVE Q&A/ Lesson Exchanges, one never knows how these “seeds of inspiration” will come into fruition until you get a note like this from a CIRCLE Member…
Dear Victoria,
I just finished watching another workshop, the Alphabet Garden and I wanted to share just how much those seeds of inspiration mean and grow, even in ways we can’t immediately see (just like a real seed)! I’ve truly been struggling with the big feelings of the end of a season–the end of the gardening season always gets me like that even though Fall is my favorite time of year and then, of course, the big back-to-school sendoff after 18 months at home together. I know you are present in that boat as well on an entirely larger level with your daughter back at UVM! After our meeting last night, I pushed myself to get outside with the kids today and not just look, but play and learn in that end-of-the-season garden bounty, falling flowers, wilting vines, and all. The experience was fun and amazing and as always, the children teach me to see things through their positivity and light and innate ability to stay in the moment and not always 18 years ahead or 18 months behind. One thing I’ve been tinkering with is not seeing the end of the summer as the end of a large part of my backyard classroom action and finally today in the midst of watching the workshop and thinking about last month’s outdoor campus tour and what we’ve been working on in The Circle with books in bloom, I had a vision for those next steps. I had in mind that next spring I’d like to create my gardens based on books and literature. And then today I asked myself, why to wait?! There is so much I can do all year round with things in nature that are living, natural, unnatural, and even dormant to bring literacy, learning, and play to life. I am back to feeling excited instead of stuck, a little more grounded in ways to create a meaningful stay-at-home experience for my daughter and a meaningful returning home experience each afternoon for my sons. I’m excited to keep you posted and thank you again for making Outdoor Classrooms and The Circle a space I can always turn to when I need to regroup and reboot! Off to the office…
Best of luck and warm wishes in these transition days of your own,
Michelle ~ Park n’ Play Backyard Classroom
It’s been the most amazing experience for me to witness educators from all over the world coming together to share nature-based ideas, collaborate on best practices, and troubleshoot their challenging issues around teaching outdoors.
What we love so much about Michelle’s story is the truth that there is no “best time” to dive into outdoor learning. Michelle’s “Why wait!” mindset coupled with her investment in herself and her Outdoor Classroom is a recipe for her success!. If you’d love to learn more about Michelle and her Park ‘n Play Programming, you can connect HERE.
THE CIRCLE Membership Community has helped Michelle and so many like her follow a proven path toward successfully nurturing their Outdoor Classrooms. The combination of pre-recorded content with LIVE sessions has awarded us with an incredible group of educators that are like no other!
Want to learn more? Come join us HERE.
