Episode 153 - Awakening Imagination and Exploration at Trackers Earth:   An Interview with Molly & Tony Deis

Episode 153 - Awakening Imagination and Exploration at Trackers Earth: An Interview with Molly & Tony Deis

Author: Ricardo Sierra December 5, 2024 Duration: 1:15:04
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 programming in the school year, with homeschooling programs, adult education and staff training, too.  Their work happens in major urban/suburban areas, where the students are living, and they've overcome many obstacles and challenges to give those students opportunities to learn, explore and grow in their own bioregion.  They have adapted, learned, pivoted and grown throughout their 20 years of effort and energy, always striving to make things easier, better and get the best results possible. It's hard to not feel inspired by their laid back approach in the face of their success, and admire their commitment to making a powerful difference for the benefit of our world.  It gives me hope, which sadly, seems in short supply these days.  Please enjoy their story and insights! Connect with Molly and Tony: Website:    https://www.trackersearth.com/ Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/trackersearth Instagram:   https://www.instagram.com/trackersearth/ Video Mentioned in Episode:   https://youtu.be/BQHOH7V-Cm8?si=iCTy7aRxRKq08E83 Forest Educator Bonus Content Page: http://foresteducator.com/bonuscontent 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

Ricardo Sierra has spent over three decades working in wilderness education, and that depth of experience shapes every conversation in Forest Educator with Ricardo Sierra. This isn't a lecture series; it's a collection of genuine dialogues with educators and practitioners around the world who are actively reimagining how we learn in and with the natural world. You'll hear from people integrating nature into schoolyards, running innovative forest camps, and applying outdoor principles in surprising business and leadership contexts. The discussions are grounded in the practical realities of the field-think less about abstract theory and more about tangible tools, adaptable strategies, and the honest challenges these pioneers face. Released twice weekly, each episode feels like pulling up a stump in the woods to listen in on a candid exchange between colleagues. Whether you're directly involved in outdoor programming, curious about the intersection of wilderness and professional development, or simply believe in the transformative power of a hands-on education, this podcast offers a steady source of inspiration and actionable insight drawn directly from the front lines of nature-based learning.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Forest Educator with Ricardo Sierra | A Podcast for Revolutionary Conversations about Nature-Based Education
Podcast Episodes
Episode 122 - Forest Educator Spotlight: When Things Go Sideways [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:46
If you haven't been in a situation where something happens that is unexpected, then congratulations! You probably have an amazing overworked program director who is really NAILING IT as far as logistics, details, staff t…
Episode 121 - Adventures in Ethnobotany with Zak Baker [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:56
To many (most?) people in our current culture, nature is a literal 'wall of green' that contains plants, trees, vines, bushes and shrubs, all interwoven in a way that is virtually indistinguishable from each other. It ca…
Episode 120 - Forest Educator Spotlight:   The Power of Slowing Down [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:21
I'm pretty sure we could all benefit from reducing the frenetic pace that seems to go hand in hand with our modern culture. It's a great topic, but it's not what I'm describing in this episode! Instead, I've spent most o…
Episode 118 - Forest Educator Spotlight:   Survival Trek, 1986 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:10
It was early August, in Harlemville New York. It was a six week immersion into the natural world, in one of my first 'wilderness skills learning intensives', with just a few tools, a blanket and a desire to see the world…