3. OUTDOOR CLASSROOM TOUR & TALK: The Hidden Valley Forest School with Bianca Hagen

BUCKLE UP AS WE TRAVEL TO FIND "SEEDS OF INSPIRATION" FROM OUTDOOR CLASSROOMS ALL OVER THE WORLD.

Each month, we visit a new Outdoor Classroom and celebrate the power and purpose of Teaching Gardens. We also highlight the brilliant creative work of the many educators who have taken their outdoor space from an unproven concept to an engaging Outdoor Classroom. Many are graduates from our Outdoor Teaching Bootcamp, members of our CIRCLE community, and experts in the nature-based learning field.

HERE'S WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THIS EPISODE:

Today I have Bianca Hagen on for the 3rd episode of the Outdoor Classrooms Podcast

This episode is a sneak peek into one of our monthly Outdoor Classrooms Tour and Talks inside The Circle Membership community.

We will be talking about the images of Bianca's Outdoor Classrooms. If you would like to visual version of this interview please join us in The Circle!

MEET BIANCA:

Bianca is a former foreign policy analyst turned mother of three and forest school teacher. After having children, Bianca discovered a passion for child development, leading her on an 8-year journey of researching this topic.

Through her research, Bianca came across the forest school methodology, eventually deciding to open her own forest kindergarten on her 9 acre-property near Charlottesville, VA.

Bianca has a Master's degree in Foreign Policy from Georgetown University, a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies and Spanish. She is a certified Forest School Teacher through the Forest School Teacher Institute and has received training in the Regio Emilia pedagogical approach to early childhood education.

TOPICS COVERED:

In this episode, Bianca and I talk about

• How children are wired for nature.
• The importance of play-based learning.
• Emergent curriculum in Forest Schools
• How children's senses are naturally ignited outdoors
• The belief is that nature provides all the elements for setting the foundation for a child's life-long love of learning.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

• BOOK: There is No Such Thing as Bad Weather by Linda Akeson McGurk
• CERTIFICATION: The Forest School Teacher Institute

CONNECT WITH BIANCA:

• PROGRAM: The Hidden Valley Forest School
• EMAIL: [email protected]

CONNECT WITH VICTORIA:

• WEBSITE: www.outdoor-classrooms.com
• EMAIL: [email protected]

OUTDOOR CLASSROOM RESOURCES:

• The Outdoor Classrooms CIRCLE Membership