Prepositions matter in this episode, specifically that three-letter word ‘for.’ What is outdoor learning ‘for’ assessment? How can we facilitate outdoor learning ‘for’ social-emotional learning (SEL)? Teacher, writer, podcaster, and regular sit-spot practitioner Lauren MacLean of Teach Outdoors joined us to talk assessment and SEL in the context of learning outdoors. We also got into the weeds regarding British Columbia’s competency-based assessment framework as well as documenting learners’ progress on a continuum.

Guest: Lauren MacLean

From the Teach Outdoors website

“I was born and raised in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada by my two amazing parents. My brother, sister, and I grew up playing in the ditches and wetlands in the summer and exploring the snowy mountains in the winter.

I now live in Port Moody, BC. It’s still on the West Coast of Canada, just a bit further up the Burrard Inlet. My family lives at the top of Heritage Mountain where we enjoy taking our two young toddlers and energetic dog on forest hikes.

I am very grateful to be living and learning on these lands which lie on the traditional, unceded territory of the Coast Salish people since time immemorial.”

Mentioned in episode:

• Teach Outdoors
• Teach Outdoors Podcast
• CASEL
• Wild Learning (Rachel Tidd)

Related resources:

• Sitting with Nature: An Educator’s Guide to Sit Spots
• Me and My Sit Spot
• Me and My Sit Spot for Early Learners
• Embracing Risky Play at School

There has been a sharp increase over the past decade in educational resources from Indigenous perspectives. What can we look for when selecting such resources? Which gaps remain, and how do we address them? Launa Payne and Sherrelle Anderson of Rise Up Indigenous Wellness joined us to discuss these questions and offer their insights about learning Indigenous languages, paths to reconciliation, and the power of shared laughter.

Guests:

From the Rise Up Indigenous Wellness website

Launa Payne is a member of Xa'xtsa First Nation. She is an Indigenous Educator with a focus on outdoor education. Launa teaches yoga and mindfulness in addition to Indigenous outdoor camps. Launa is the proud mother of two adult children. She has published two books on Indigenous teachings and connection to the land.

Sherrelle Anderson is a member of the Saddle Lake First Nation. She is a Social Worker with a focus on Indigenous wellness. Sherrelle is an Indigenous outreach worker who also teaches a number of Indigenous programs throughout BC. Sherrelle is the proud mother of three school-aged daughters.

Mentioned in episode:

• Health benefits of time in nature
• Information on integrating Indigenous Knowledge and Western Science
• Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada
• Heartbeat of the Earth: Connecting Children to Nature through Indigenous Teachings by Launa Purcell
• A Walking Curriculum: Evoking Wonder and Developing a Sense of Place by Gillian Judson
• 4 Seasons of Indigenous Learning

Resources for Indigenous Learning:

• Indigenous Language Learning courses
• 52 Ways to Reconcile: How to Walk with Indigenous Peoples on the Path to Healing by David A. Robertson
• Teacher Set: Speaking Our Truth — A Journey of Reconciliation

With Parker McMullen Bushman of the National Association of Interpretation and Ecoinclusive

How has the field of interpretation changed in recent decades? What opportunities do digital tools open up for interpreters? Where can we look for guidance in telling uncomfortable stories and reconciling with difficult truths? NAI Board President Parker McMullen Bushman covers all of these questions and reminds us why nature and heritage interpreters can have such a major influence on individuals and the public at large.

Guest:

Parker McMullen Bushman is the Chief Operating Officer of Inclusive Guide and founder of Ecoinclusive Strategies. She is also the Board President for the National Association for interpretation. Listed by Outside Magazine in 2022 as one of the 20 Most Influential People in the Outdoor Industry, Parker is a dynamic speaker and facilitator who engages audiences in new thinking around what it means to be a diversity change-agent and create dynamic organizational change. Parker’s background in the non-profit leadership, conservation, environmental education, and outdoor recreation fields spans over 24+ years. Parker has a passion for equity and inclusion in outdoor spaces. Her interest in justice, accessibility, and equity issues developed from her personal experiences facing the unequal representation of people of color in environmental organizations and green spaces. Parker tackles these complex issues by addressing them through head-on activism and education.

Websites and Projects

Inclusive Guide: https://www.inclusiveguide.com/

Personal: https://cparkermcmullenbushman.com/

Ecoinclusive: https://www.ecoinclusive.org/

Summit for Action: https://www.summitforaction.org/

Kweenwerk: https://www.kweenwerk.com

Mentioned in episode:

• NAI’s Legacy magazine: https://nai-us.org/nai/_resources/publications/Legacy_Magazine.aspx
• Story about “Stone Lagoon” on Yurok Tribe lands: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=30898#:~:text=On%20April%207th%2C%202022%2C%20the,within%20the%20State%20Park%20system

Resources for nature and heritage interpretation:

• The National Park Classroom: A Guide to Designing Project-Based Learning Adventures
• The Big Book of Nature Activities — A Year-Round Guide to Outdoor Learning
• Heartbeat of the Earth: Connecting Children to Nature through Indigenous Teachings
• Animal Track Pack: Coyote, Deer, Squirrel, Hare, Owl, Crow (replicas)
• Enhanced Educator Outdoor Learning Kit
• Various nature guides
• … and many more

*Episode edited by M. Angel Goñi Avila

*Episode originally recorded in Summer 2023