Forest Educator Spotlight REPLAY: Working with Middle Schoolers

Forest Educator Spotlight REPLAY: Working with Middle Schoolers

Author: Ricardo Sierra February 27, 2025 Duration: 36:12
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 this period of kids' lives and some of my best tips and strategies for working with them effectively. From emotional development, friendship, trust, and self-reflection to skill-building, I hope this episode will help you feel excited about working with this age group, too. 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

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…