Episode 69 - Creating a Forest School as a Village woven with Healing and Support with Danielle Zola LMSW, M.S.Ed

Episode 69 - Creating a Forest School as a Village woven with Healing and Support with Danielle Zola LMSW, M.S.Ed

Author: Ricardo Sierra February 1, 2024 Duration: 1:03:29
My guest in this episode found her way to 'nature based education' under duress, like so many program leaders.    Danielle Zola shares her visionary journey that was propelled by the needs of the children, and the needs of parents, and the desire to not 'settle' for the status quo.    It's the most painful thing to see our very young children suffering in a school system that struggles or fails to be flexible and adapt to student needs, so stepping away from that model was a first step towards something new and innovative.      She and her partner Kerin Una began a community based forest school that also included strong elements of parental healing and inner growth.    Creating that kind of safe environment was challenging and rewarding, requiring deep vulnerability on the part of everyone involved.   Danielle led by example, and found a way forward, overcoming challenges and adapting to the needs of the village.   Her story is profound and inspiring, offering a unique model that is full of hope and promise for a new way of imagining our lives. Website:     https://www.rootsandwingsvillage.org/ Instagram:     https://www.instagram.com/daniellezolalmsw/?hl=en Instagram:    https://www.instagram.com/rootsandwingsvillage/?hl=en Linktree:      https://bio.site/rootsandwingsvillage Facebook:    https://www.facebook.com/rootsandwingsvillage Podcast:       https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rooted-resilient 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…