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PODCAST

Forest Educator with Ricardo Sierra | A Podcast for Revolutionary Conversations about Nature-Based Education

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

sports wilderness

All Episodes

44:10

Forest Educator Spotlight REPLAY: The Forest...

Forest Educator with Ricardo Sierra | A Podcast for... ·

2025/03/06

Today's Forest Educator Spotlight is all about the best-kept secret for Forest Educators: the Natural Advantage. When we implement this three-part framework in our programs, we can have the biggest impact.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/wolverineway/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RicardohawkSierra

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36:12

Forest Educator Spotlight REPLAY: Working with Middle...

Forest Educator with Ricardo Sierra | A Podcast for... ·

2025/02/27

Some of my favorite ages to work with are middle schoolers, anywhere from 10-14 years old. Some may say those ages are some of the most challenging, but I really like that age group for so many reasons. I love to help them find their passion and excitement, and to watch them build an inner foundation for themselves and a personal belief that they know who they are, and begin to believe that they can do hard things. In this episode, I'm exploring the different developmental ages and stages during

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54:58

Forest Educator Spotlight REPLAY: The Bonding Paradox

Forest Educator with Ricardo Sierra | A Podcast for... ·

2025/02/20

The first rule about 'bonding' is like Fight Club:"Never talk about Bonding." At least to your students. (Because it's awkward and weird.) But honestly, so many of the benefits of nature-based education present in the same exact way - basically invisible to most people who aren't paying close attention. This episode explores ideas around mentoring, teaching, bonding, relationships, and even some staff management/training/hiring concepts too. We get into the nuances of these concepts, why it's

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38:05

Forest Educator Spotlight REPLAY: Finding Your Lane...

Forest Educator with Ricardo Sierra | A Podcast for... ·

2025/01/16

The paths we take in our journey as educators are incredibly diverse and unique to each of us. We all have different origins, with mentors, teachers, opportunities and our communities all influencing how we do what we do.In this episode, we explore some of the ways we end up in our 'forest educator lanes', and how to change lanes, as well as why it can be incredibly beneficial to ourselves, our families, our students and our professional growth to make a shift. Join the Forest Educator

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57:13

Episode 158 (REPLAY) - Forest Educator Spotlight:...

Forest Educator with Ricardo Sierra | A Podcast for... ·

2025/01/09

An aspect of nature education that I believe is greatly overlooked is the ability and benefit it gives young people to 'Do Hard Things'. This happens when we learn to climb a steep hill, climb a tree, master carving knife safety or learn to think of others in our groups! It happens when we learn to be safe and respectful about campfires. It happens when we begin our studies in wild foods, birds, animal tracks, trees or bushcraft skills. (This list could be very, very substantial!)All of these

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64:37

Episode 157 (REPLAY) - Forest Educator Spotlight: The...

Forest Educator with Ricardo Sierra | A Podcast for... ·

2025/01/02

If you've ever tried to talk about the meaning and value of an experience in nature with someone who's never experienced something similar, it can feel like talking to a brick wall. Our insights, and sense of wonder, or magic can sound ridiculous when spoken out loud. It can be painful when something we share has so much value to US, but completely is misunderstood by our listeners. The problem isn't with us, or with everyone else, but it's built into the language of our culture, and with the

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81:05

Episode 156 - The Power of Science and Nature with...

Forest Educator with Ricardo Sierra | A Podcast for... ·

2024/12/26

Going behind the scenes and into the mind of a public school Earth Science teacher was a journey filled with insights about why education is so different from school to school. The diversity of students and the environment/location has a lot to do with these differences, but often I forget how the unique skills and philosophy of the teachers is a factor that should not be underestimated.Danny Rosenstein shares his journey, from New York's inner city urban schools to alternative schools in the

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62:42

Episode 155 (REPLAY) - The Forest Educator Spotlight:...

Forest Educator with Ricardo Sierra | A Podcast for... ·

2024/12/19

Fear of being uncomfortable lurks behind almost every outdoor experience when we are first learning to deal with nature's 'moods'. The purifying intensity of cold scours the world when it moves across our landscape, unstoppable and pervasive. All the animals, trees, birds, insects and plants respond in different ways to survive, including all of us human mammals too. Dealing with the mental aspects of cold is part physical preparation, part mental adjustment and part acceptance and gratitude for

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65:56

Episode 154 - The Gift of Magical Encounters with...

Forest Educator with Ricardo Sierra | A Podcast for... ·

2024/12/12

It's not uncommon for nature educators to have experiences that defy easy explanations, like the appearance of birds, deer, squirrels or mice in one of our forays into the wild with students. The presence of humans who are quiet and respectful seems to attract wild creatures sometimes, leading to connections that have a powerful impact on our lives.John and I talk about the importance of program names, the influence and visions of native elders and how mentoring changes

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75:04

Episode 153 - Awakening Imagination and Exploration...

Forest Educator with Ricardo Sierra | A Podcast for... ·

2024/12/05

The most impressive takeaway I get from every encounter I have with Tony, Molly and Trackers Earth is the fact that everyone seems so normalized and nonchalant about their accomplishments in connecting thousands of students each year with nature and imagination. Their network extends from Portland Oregon to Seattle Washington to the north, and the California Bay Area to the south, and until recently, Denver Colorado to the east. The programs are day camps in the summer and after school

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29:42

152: Adaptation, Strategic Changes and the Forest...

Forest Educator with Ricardo Sierra | A Podcast for... ·

2024/11/25

I know there's a universal reality that 'change is the only constant', but it's also human to try to enjoy stability for as long as possible, especially if it's a pleasant experience. Once it occurs, we transition, we adapt and we hope for continued stability in the new landscape.This is an ongoing phenomenon, and it's come to this podcast as well. In this episode, I share these changes as well as the 'why' they are important, especially now. These strategic shifts are aimed at helping us move

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59:38

Episode 151 - Forest Educator Spotlight: Holding...

Forest Educator with Ricardo Sierra | A Podcast for... ·

2024/11/20

As nature educators, we often encounter students and participants who struggle with feelings of unworthiness or anxiety when it comes to connecting with the natural world. In this episode, I share the story of a student I worked with many years ago who had a deep desire to immerse herself in nature, but was held back by past traumas and a fear of rejection from the earth itself. Through our conversations, I learned the importance of approaching these situations with empathy and an open mind,

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60:33

Episode 150 - Forest Educator Spotlight: The Forest...

Forest Educator with Ricardo Sierra | A Podcast for... ·

2024/11/14

It feels appropriate in our 150th episode to introduce the Forest Educator Initiative. In the past year and a half I have been discovering areas of nature education advocacy and professional support that could use some development and attention.It's never easy being a pioneer, and 'field testing' the next generation of nature based education for children and teens and adults around the world, especially when we are reliant on our program funding for our sustenance. Program models, program

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62:38

Episode 149 - Forest Educator Spotlight: Strategies...

Forest Educator with Ricardo Sierra | A Podcast for... ·

2024/11/11

Working with adult learners in the realm of nature and wilderness skills is profoundly complex. It's a world I've inhabited for many years, and one that has taught me the importance of constantly adapting and evolving my approach. When you've spent the bulk of your career teaching children and young adults, it can be easy to assume that the same methods and strategies will translate seamlessly to an older, more experienced audience. But as I've learned, that couldn't be further from the truth.The

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53:30

Episode 148 - Forest Educator Spotlight: Navigating...

Forest Educator with Ricardo Sierra | A Podcast for... ·

2024/11/08

"Hard Days" are an inevitable part of life as an educator. It is critical that we have effective strategies to cope, whether that's using physical sensations to reset the mind or allowing ourselves to fully feel and process difficult emotions. In this episode, I'm also addressing the power of community, connection, and finding beauty in the world as antidotes to the darkness. Gathering around a campfire, immersing ourselves in nature, and simply noticing the kindness of others can help restore our

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51:00

Episode 147 - Forest Educator Spotlight: Can Nature...

Forest Educator with Ricardo Sierra | A Podcast for... ·

2024/11/04

This episode explores a vision of nature education that sees millions of children across the US and the world, in a meaningful and effective way. The barriers that we face loom tall, but they are not insurmountable. We need certain things in place to actually scale our best working models, like funding, resources, advocacy and training/mentoring, and achieving this takes a considerable amount of time and expertise and experience that we are currently missing in our nature educator

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37:24

Episode 146 - Forest Educator Spotlight: So You're...

Forest Educator with Ricardo Sierra | A Podcast for... ·

2024/10/31

We all have to start somewhere, when it comes to being a Naturalist, or a Tracker, or a Bushcrafter, or a Forest School leader. We get a little training, some time spent honing our crafts and skills, and before we know it, we are suddenly in front of a group of people who are excited to explore and learn from you.Imposter Syndrome can set in and we can get a little 'Deer in the Headlights' when staring at thirty students and their teachers, frozen in place. In this episode, we dive into

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58:46

Deep Earth Initiations and Nature-Based Parenthood...

Forest Educator with Ricardo Sierra | A Podcast for... ·

2024/10/28

Today's guest interview is with my wife and partner Trista Haggerty, who draws upon the deep connection with the land and nature to facilitate healing and inner growth. Her experiences in deep earth initiations, forged in sacred sites all over the world with own mentor Helena Shik provide insights that are often unique in the 'mystics' community.We discuss some of her work with Hawk Circle Staff and Apprentices over the years, as well as her 'nature based' approach with her own children. Our

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44:19

Episode 145 - Forest Educator Spotlight: The...

Forest Educator with Ricardo Sierra | A Podcast for... ·

2024/10/24

If you are an educator, or a camp counselor, or a program leader or wilderness instructor, there is a not insignificant percentage of the time where you are 'winging it'. We could dress it up, and call it 'creative problem solving' or 'lesson adaptation' to make it sound more professional, but yeah, you are sometimes making things up as you go along.We have to do that, because at any given time, our students, the school or program administration, or the weather can dictate that immediate change

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39:40

Episode 144 - Forest Entrepreneur Spotlight: ...

Forest Educator with Ricardo Sierra | A Podcast for... ·

2024/10/21

Well, it's election time, and we are surrounded by examples of fear based social media posts, television ads, internet ads and all kinds of different things vying for our attention and trying to get us to take some kind of action. The logic goes something like this: "Well, if they are spending millions of dollars on these ads, they must work, right?" Well, yes and no. It all depends on who you want to attract with your messaging, and that is where it can get complicated! This episode is a

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