Nature-Based Director- Preschool | Homeschool | Early Childhood | Nature Play | Outdoor Education

Episodes

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  Taking Sick Days Without Guilt: Sustainable Leadership in Nature-Based Programs 19.10.2026 18m

  Taking Sick Days Without Guilt: Sustainable Leadership in Nature-Based ProgramsFor nature-based program founders and directors, taking a sick day isn't always as simple as calling out. When you're working with a small team, managing a tight budget, and wearing all the hats, it can feel impossible to step away—even when your body is telling you to slow down. In this episode of The Nature-Based Director Podcast, I'm sharing a recent experience that reminded me why sustainable leadership has to ...
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  EP 49: Trusting the Long Game of Relationship-Building 05.10.2026 16m

  Episode 49: The Families Who Are Watching: Trusting the Long Game of Relationship-Building Not every family who connects with your nature-based program will enroll right away—and that doesn't mean the relationship wasn't meaningful. In this episode, we’re talking about the long game of enrollment, community-building, and relationship-based marketing for nature-based program founders and directors. We’ll explore what it looks like to nurture relationships without constantly feeling like you're...
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  EP 48: When Families Un-Enroll: How to Handle the Unexpected Without Spiraling 07.09.2026 20m

  🎧 Episode 48: When Families Un-Enroll: How to Handle the Unexpected Without Spiraling Grace, practical strategies, and trusting God through enrollment changes. What happens when a family un-enrolls from your nature-based program—right before the school year begins or in the middle of the year? For founders and directors, unexpected enrollment changes can bring more than logistical challenges. They can trigger panic, financial stress, self-doubt, and the feeling that somehow, you have do...
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  EP 47: How To Build Sustainable Leadership That Lasts 31.08.2026 15m

  The Best Nature-Based Programs Aren't Built Around One Person How to Build Sustainable Leadership That Lasts Leading a nature-based program can feel incredibly rewarding—and incredibly lonely. As founders and directors, we often become the person everyone depends on. We answer the questions, solve the problems, carry the vision, and hold countless details together behind the scenes. But sustainable leadership isn't about becoming indispensable. It's about building a community where children, ...
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  EP 46: How Nature-Based Leaders Stay Grounded When the School Year Gets Busy 24.08.2026 15m

  Don't Lose Your Philosophy in September How Nature-Based Leaders Stay Grounded When the School Year Gets Busy Every August, we begin the school year with fresh vision and renewed purpose. But by mid-September, it's easy to find ourselves swept up in schedules, paperwork, unexpected challenges, and the daily demands of leadership. In this episode, we're talking about how to protect the values that inspired your work in the first place. Because your philosophy isn't something you estab...
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  EP 45: How Nature-Based Leaders Create a Strong School Culture from Day One 17.08.2026 17m

  The Culture You're Hoping For Won't Happen by Accident. How Nature-Based Leaders Create a Strong School Culture from Day One The first weeks of school are about so much more than establishing routines. They're about establishing culture. As nature-based founders and directors, we spend time preparing our environments, organizing materials, and planning our days. But the strongest programs aren't remembered because of perfectly labeled shelves or polished lesson plans. They're remembe...
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  EP 44: How Nature-Based Directors Can Prepare for a New School Year 10.08.2026 20m

  Show Notes Your Children Don't Need a Perfect Program. They Need a Present Leader. How Nature-Based Directors Can Prepare for a New School Year It's August, and if you're anything like me, your mind is already racing ahead to opening day. The supply lists. Staffing. Enrollment. Curriculum. Systems. The projects you've been hoping to finish before children arrive. Preparation matters. But over the years, I've realized that the most important thing I prepare each August isn't my classr...
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  EP 43: Stop Building a Program That Depends On You 03.08.2026 15m

  The Summer Reset Series – Episode 3 As founders and directors, it's easy to become the person who holds everything together. We answer every question. We solve every problem. We carry the vision, the logistics, the relationships, and the responsibility. While that may feel like good leadership, over time it can also become one of the biggest barriers to building a healthy, sustainable program. In this final episode of The Summer Reset Series, we're exploring what it means to move fro...
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  EP 42: What Your Program is Trying to Teach You 27.07.2026 17m

  The Summer Reset Series – Episode 2 As nature-based educators, we spend so much of our time observing children. We watch before we intervene. We notice patterns. We stay curious. We trust that careful observation often reveals more than immediate action. But what if we led our programs the same way? In this episode of The Summer Reset Series, we're exploring a simple question that has completely changed the way I approach leadership: "What is my program trying to teach me?" Instead o...
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  EP 41: 5 Questions Every Nature-Based Director Should Ask Before Fall 13.07.2026 14m

  Fall planning has a way of sneaking up on us. Before we know it, we're thinking about curriculum, enrollment, staffing, schedules, and all the things we want to improve for the coming year. But before you dive into another planning session, what if you paused long enough to reflect? In this episode of The Summer Reset Series, I'm sharing the five questions I return to every summer before I make decisions about the next season. These questions have helped me lead with greater clarity,...
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  EP 40: Before You Rush Into Fall... 06.07.2026 8m

  Before You Rush Into Fall... One Last Summer Conversation Before We Reset As nature-based educators and program founders, it's easy to believe that every spare moment of summer should be spent planning for fall. Curriculum, enrollment, staffing, marketing, supplies—there's always one more thing to do. But what if your most important work this summer isn't creating another plan? What if it's paying attention? In this final episode of the Sustainable Summer Series, we're slowing down b...
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  EP 39: Leading Summer Programs Without Burning Out 29.06.2026 17m

  Episode 3: Leading Summer Programs Without Burning Out Practical Support for Nature-Based Directors and Outdoor Educators As we wrap up our Sustainable Summer Series, we're zooming out to talk about leadership. Summer has a way of revealing what's working in our programs—and what isn't. From staffing challenges and enrollment pressures to overextending ourselves in the name of serving others, this season often shines a light on the systems, habits, and leadership patterns that need o...
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  EP 38: Summer Survival For Nature-Based Educators 22.06.2026 18m

  Episode 2: Summer Survival for Nature-Based Educators Staying Regulated, Hydrated, and Human During Camp Season Summer camps and outdoor programs don't have to be packed with activities to be meaningful. In this episode, Ade shares why simple rhythms, realistic expectations, and regulated adults are often the secret ingredients to a successful summer season. If you've ever felt pressure to entertain children every minute of the day or create a "Pinterest-perfect" camp experience, thi...
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  EP 37: How To Avoid Summer Burnout In Outdoor Education 15.06.2026 17m

  HOW TO AVOID SUMMER BURNOUT IN OUTDOOR EDUCATION Heat, Hydration, Boundaries, and Sustainable Summer Rhythms Summer programming is magical—but it can also be physically, mentally, and emotionally demanding. In this episode, Ade shares practical strategies for avoiding burnout during camp season, including hydration, nutrition, simplifying expectations, and recognizing the signs of dysregulation before they become exhaustion. Whether you're leading a nature-based program, forest schoo...
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  EP36: You Made It Through The Year... Now What? 01.06.2026 22m

  The end of the school year often leads straight into summer planning—but if you’re a nature-based director, forest school leader, or outdoor educator, skipping reflection can lead to burnout. In this episode, Ade shares why it’s essential to pause, process, and close your program year before jumping into what’s next. You’ll walk away with simple reflection prompts and a clearer, more grounded approach to sustainable leadership in outdoor learning environments. If you’re feeling the p...
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  EP 35: 5 Ways to Reignite If You're Burning Out in the Classroom 04.05.2026 16m

  Feeling burned out in the classroom—even though you still love the work? In this episode, Ade shares five practical ways to reignite joy, connection, and creativity when teaching starts to feel heavy. From putting the phone down and stepping back into play, to taking your cohort beyond the fence line and introducing collaborative storytelling, these simple shifts can breathe fresh life into your days without overhauling your whole program. Whether you’re a founder, director, or teach...
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  EP 34: Hard Decisions in Nature-Based Programs: Policies, Families, and Leadership Boundaries 06.04.2026 25m

  Running a nature- and play-based program comes with beautiful, meaningful work—but also incredibly hard, often invisible decisions. In this episode, we talk about what it really looks like to lead when things feel uncertain, emotional, and high-stakes. From questioning whether a family is the right fit mid-year, to navigating weather cancellations and running out of snow days, to holding firm to policies when your heart wants to bend—this is the side of leadership no one prepares you...
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  33. Why Play Is the Most Rigorous Standard in Education 02.03.2026 17m

  Is play really rigorous? In this episode, Ade unpacks why play is not a break from learning—but the deepest, most demanding form of it. If you’re leading a nature- and play-based program and ever feel pressure to prove that “real learning” is happening, this conversation will reframe everything. We explore what rigor actually means, why adults struggle to trust play, and how protecting play transforms your leadership, confidence, and daily rhythms outdoors.
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  EP 31: 3 Things Every Nature-Based Program Needs to Thrive 02.02.2026 20m

  Show Notes & Links: Referenced in this episode: Episode 25: Three Steps to Launching Your Nature-Based Program from Scratch The Nature Play Blueprint: 4-Week Intensive Mentorship 1:1 Mentorship with Ade — individualized support for directors, founders, and facilitators Topics covered: Defining and refining your vision Creating systems that support your energy and growth The importance of mentorship and community Why sustainability is more than just funding Ideal for: Nature-based...
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  EP 30: The Top 5 Misconceptions About Nature and Play-Based Programs (and the Truth Behind Them) 05.01.2026 21m

  🪶 Show Notes: In this episode, we cover: The 5 biggest misconceptions about nature and play-based programs How to respond when someone says, “It’s just play” Why academics thrive outdoors (and how to show parents that) The real difference between risk and danger How to make nature-based education more accessible and inclusive Why this approach isn’t a trend—it’s a return to how children have always learned Mentioned in this episode: The Nature Play Blueprint Intensive — 4 weeks of gu...