101 episodes
Forest Educator with Ricardo Sierra | A Podcast for Revolutionary Conversations about Nature-Based Education Podfox Media
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5.0 • 20 Ratings
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Welcome to the Forest Educator Podcast hosted by Ricardo Sierra. Join Ricardo as he engages in enlightening conversations with educators from across the globe who are revolutionizing nature-based education. Drawing on his 35 years of experience in wilderness education, Ricardo shares practical insights, tools, and best practices to inspire and support forest educators and camp staff worldwide. Tune in twice a week for interviews with passionate educators and skill spotlights that delve into the challenges and triumphs of the field.
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Forest Educator Spotlight: Lessons and Insights from the First 100 Episodes
After doing fifty interviews with incredible educators and also fifty solo 'spotlight' episodes, I thought it was worth a moment to share some of my biggest 'aha' moments, surprising discoveries and also where this podcast might be going in Year Two. Doing two episodes a week has been an honor and a privilege, and also exhausting at times, too! I am not sure how I managed it, some months, but I'm very glad I did!
The field of nature education is growing exponentially, and there are a lot of important elements to discuss as we move forward to help children and adults find their way in this constantly changing world. Our grandchildren are counting on us to get things right, and this is a path with honor and purpose.
Special thanks to everyone who is listening. You are all keeping me going, and I appreciate you all!
Join the Forest Educator Patreon!
https://patreon.com/ForestEducatorPodcast
Connect with Ricardo:
https://www.foresteducator.com/
https://www.theforestboxforkids.com/
https://www.hawkcircle.com/
Linkedin:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricardo-sierra-5980931/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/the_forest_educator_podcast/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/RicardohawkSierra -
The First Forest School in Ecuador, South America with Carol Sanchez
It's never easy to be 'the first' in a pioneering effort. There is always a constant push to communicate the value, and the need, and the positive outcomes to people who may not even know they are missing out on something amazing and important.
Each generation that follows has it a little easier, because they are arriving and standing on the foundations that the first pioneer laid, for the benefit of future generations of students and educators.
For the past four years, Carol Sanchez has established the Rizoma Communidad Educativa, which is a Forest School based in Quita, Ecuador. Her emphasis on the importance of family involvement, students with special needs and abilities form the basis of our conversation, which was helped greatly with her son as translator.
It was a joy and an honor to hear her story, and share her vision, and it's one that I believe will stay in our hearts and minds for a long time!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Rizoma-Comunidad-Educativa-100064045991860/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rizomacomunidadeducativa/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR16-x1ICZT2Nf3Z5kfGxfYPb86O8JBytTTOU-7x4wYzmZCIAyPgC4yvtBM_aem_Ab3F8QQPbA4gVOYlqkFL_e0bGRfYrUTzEt_9dlAPJNYhk3k_Z8JRlqLPfR5XDK6KPKAG2ny-A35GxsyCH4l-VRc5
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2m6nEsSWXtlVV0gsgILaPw
Join the Forest Educator Patreon!
https://patreon.com/ForestEducatorPodcast
Connect with Ricardo:
https://www.foresteducator.com/
https://www.theforestboxforkids.com/
https://www.hawkcircle.com/
Linkedin:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricardo-sierra-5980931/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/the_forest_educator_podcast/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/RicardohawkSierra -
Forest Educator Spotlight: Desert Solitaire
I've always been drawn to areas that are desolate, open and devoid of human presence, and this episode explores the power of our desert landscapes through my own stories and experiences. Deserts are far more than sand and cactus, and most people speed through them as fast as humanly possible. There are gifts to be found if we learn how to approach these unique places in ways that change us inside forever.
Join the Forest Educator Patreon!
https://patreon.com/ForestEducatorPodcast
Connect with Ricardo:
https://www.foresteducator.com/
https://www.theforestboxforkids.com/
https://www.hawkcircle.com/
Linkedin:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricardo-sierra-5980931/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/the_forest_educator_podcast/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/RicardohawkSierra -
Climate Change, Media Literacy and Critical Thinking with Jeff Share
Sometimes, nature education can be 'up close and personal', like a walk in the woods, or picking raspberries. Sometimes, it's more about paradigm shifts, technology strategies and learning to avoid being manipulated by intellectually dishonest players in our current systems.
In this conversation with author and educator Jeff Share, we talk about some of the fundamental problems around climate change and effective messaging, shifting narratives, and educational leadership that begins in middle and high school with positive success. Jeff's research and practice focuses on transformative education, preparing K-12 educators to teach critical media literacy for social and environmental justice. The second edition of his book, "Media Literacy is Elementary: Teaching Youth to Critically Read and Create Media" was published in 2015.
Two years later, he co-authored with Richard Beach and Allen Webb, "Teaching Climate Change to Adolescents: Reading, Writing, and Making a Difference." Collaborating with Douglas Kellner (2019) they published, "The Critical Media Literacy Guide: Engaging Media and Transforming Education."
Jeff is a Fulbright Specialist and English Language Specialist for the US State Department who has taught critical media literacy and Environmental Justice in India, Argentina, Mexico, China, and Germany.
As the climate crisis continues to unfold in various ways around our world, it is apparent that our children will need MANY skills and tools to assist them in their solutions and work, and I believe there is a tremendous value for all nature educators to network with professionals like Jeff, so we can broaden our scope and be inclusive to the wealth of knowledge that is available.
Connect with Jeff:
Website: https://jshare.wixsite.com/jeffshare
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/critml?lang=en
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-share-71155a9/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Jeff-Share/2541535/?paipv=0&eav=AfZblN6YfbbzSwUMoaI2l1fTUKwwcb74tBvvvDTh0nRdFfjsadkgaO_7tRXyFSU_dY4&_rdr
Book: For the Love of Nature: Eco-writing the world https://www.amazon.com/Love-Nature-Ecowriting-World-Counterpoints/dp/1433199793/ref=sr_1_1?crid=DL7O623UE7RZ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.fj0BC9NSY2zQkkvaGMWineGENPai9iHpclw5WnxJM1zjkcS-oTCW2Cp4CB8zot3iAeG2zB6Na3XlNwlkMafOoNJ1jh5zMCAsce47nA6im2-Pq_scKBSkVuM7UF8oWRCqq_IoQjBloMlZvJycs2AYalJJfLftAmkr7sPeJRGaGIBV8cEmJ1NbR6uKQIUQqDXNcrP_KVQh5PLksEOMf2E290H5DvpM9drZYdmlwYxaK9M.MM7jiBvXQTY2n12hsBGzuIwZXFzEy75OkDsnd3Yk9Lo&dib_tag=se&keywords=Jeff+Share&qid=1715233235&sprefix=jeff+share%2Caps%2C117&sr=8-1
Book: The Critical Media Literacy Guide https://www.amazon.com/Critical-Literacy-Guides-Scholarship-Education/dp/900440452X/ref=sr_1_2?crid=DL7O623UE7RZ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.fj0BC9NSY2zQkkvaGMWineGENPai9iHpclw5WnxJM1zjkcS-oTCW2Cp4CB8zot3iAeG2zB6Na3XlNwlkMafOoNJ1jh5zMCAsce47nA6im2-Pq_scKBSkVuM7UF8oWRCqq_IoQjBloMlZvJycs2AYalJJfLftAmkr7sPeJRGaGIBV8cEmJ1NbR6uKQIUQqDXNcrP_KVQh5PLksEOMf2E290H5DvpM9drZYdmlwYxaK9M.MM7jiBvXQTY2n12hsBGzuIwZXFzEy75OkDsnd3Yk9Lo&dib_tag=se&keywords=Jeff+Share&qid=1715233318&sprefix=jeff+share%2Caps%2C117&sr=8-2
Join the Forest Educator Patreon!
https://patreon.com/ForestEducatorPodcast
Connect with Ricardo:
https://www.foresteducator.com/
https://www.theforestboxforkids.com/
https://www.hawkcircle.com/
Linkedin:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricardo-sierra-5980931/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/the_forest_educator_podcast/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/RicardohawkSierra -
Forest Educator Spotlight: Working with Students with Special Needs
According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 1 out of 5 U.S. children ages 3-17 has a mental, emotional, behavioral or developmental disorder.
Anxiety disorders are the most common psychiatric conditions in children and adolescents, affecting nearly 1 in 12 children and 1 in 4 adolescents.
This means that it's almost a certainty that if you are working with children, teens or adults, you're getting a fair number of children or teens in your programs who are struggling with a myriad of issues. I know that this isn't exactly groundbreaking news, especially if you've been in the trenches in the past few years.
This episode dives into the different ways that working with special needs children can affect us as nature educators, in both positive and negative ways. We get into different ways to help screen for behavior or sensory issues in ways that will help us get the right kind of students who are appropriate for our work, Understanding special needs students, their parents and their impact on our work is critical to our long-term success.
Join the Forest Educator Patreon!
https://patreon.com/ForestEducatorPodcast
Connect with Ricardo:
https://www.foresteducator.com/
https://www.theforestboxforkids.com/
https://www.hawkcircle.com/
Linkedin:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricardo-sierra-5980931/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/the_forest_educator_podcast/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/RicardohawkSierra -
The Secrets of Organic Chemistry in Forest Education with Peter Kindfield
I am pretty sure I would have enjoyed my high school chemistry classes more if they had been taught by my guest Peter Kindfield, who shares his methodology and approach in outdoor learning. His experiences demonstrate again how important our work is, for all of us in this field, and to discuss these topics, because I believe we are piloting the future models of early childhood, elementary and middle school education.
It's a natural 'next step' to give ourselves opportunities to go deeper into our observations of nature and team building, communication and the scientific method. We are seeing mythology and creative writing/language arts being shared in ways that get substantial outcomes, and we know that the power of social and emotional learning can be greatly enhanced through a focus on learning outside.
In this episode, we cover a lot of ground that hasn't really been explored in most 'nature education' circles, and it's always fun to hear the thoughts of a person who continues to work on the front lines.
Connect with Peter:
https://peterkindfieldphd.substack.com
https://hilltopeducation.com/
https://www.deepadaptation.info/
Join the Forest Educator Patreon!
https://patreon.com/ForestEducatorPodcast
Connect with Ricardo:
https://www.foresteducator.com/
https://www.theforestboxforkids.com/
https://www.hawkcircle.com/
Linkedin:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricardo-sierra-5980931/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/the_forest_educator_podcast/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/RicardohawkSierra
Customer Reviews
Great Advice From A Long-Time Industry Veteran
Ricardo’s podcast is full of great advice for those in the outdoor industry, as well as for those considering a leap into it. He has decades of experience teaching and mentoring in the forest. Definitely worth a listen. I look forward to each episode.
Captivating and thought provoking!
Ricardo is a captivating storyteller. I often feel like I’m sitting around the campfire while listening to this podcast. Given his decades of experience in the field of outdoor education, he brings a wealth of clearly articulated value, entertainment and thought provoking ideas. Keep up the good work Ric!
I'm not a "forest educator" review - love this pod!!
I’m not a “forest educator” but I enjoy engaging with the natural world. I know a little about tracking and bird language, I may nibble on a ‘wild’ edible while on a hike, and I’ll start a fire with a bow drill when camping, etc. - I don’t expect I’ll ever run an outdoor school but I will share what I know with family and friends. The interviews and Spotlight episodes on The Forest Educator Podcast help me to better appreciate what I know, help me identify what I don’t know, and offer guidance as to what I might need to learn or do a little differently to feel more at 'home' and a little safer whether I’m out on a hike or in my own backyard. Additionally, I found some of the lessons provided by Ricardo in his Spotlight episodes - such as “The Many Gifts of Rain,” “The Forest Entrepreneur,” or “The Contradictory Nuances of Nature Awareness” (to name just a few) - translate into my ‘everyday life.’ Guests interviewed on the pod generously share their passion and wisdom - I've gained 'life lessons' and other insights from pod guests too (as I write this, there are 40 episodes(!) up)! Best of all, the podcast may have even offered me a gentle nudge a few times to go outside. Ricardo is positive, uplifting, and smart – while also “keeping it real.” So much food for thought, so much to learn! Thank you for this podcast, Ricardo!