The definition of the Expeditionary Learning (EL) philosophy is ‘Learning by Doing’ and it places a strong focus on student personal responsibility.
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The Big Book of Nature Activities for Kids: Low-Cost Summer Adventures to Connect Learners to the Outdoors
As part of our ongoing collaboration with New Society Publishers, we’re excited to share three more low- or no-cost nature activities for kids from the summer excerpt of The Big Book of Nature Activities. These hands-on projects are perfect for children of all ages, helping them develop a deeper connection with the natural world. With our focus on outdoor learning and the belief that nature is the first teacher, we hope these activities inspire families and educators to get outside and enjoy the season.
What Matters and Why? Asking educators what matters in their learning spaces
What matters in your learning space? At Natural Pod, we’re always exploring the conversation around the “why” behind what we do. Some questions we think about. Why do we work tirelessly to find the most sustainable materials to create our products with? Why do we...
Procurement Strategies for Better Learning Environments
Over the years, the sustainable procurement movement has helped us reduce our use of virgin material, shrink our carbon impact, and procure more goods and services from local organizations. One thing the movement hasn’t done enough of is remind us to focus on the end...
Before and After: How To Add Creativity, Flexibility And Collaboration To Your Classroom ~ A Real Transformation
As a Principal, Craig knew that the classroom environments play a huge factor into how the children’s learning is shaped. If you are sitting in a row all day, and have all your work in one spot, what is that really saying about the learning piece when you need to be...
Rethink Thinking Youth Summit with Natural Pod and Reynolds Secondary School
This coming April, Rethink Thinking is doing it again! Summit at the Bay — Canada’s only inquiry-based youth summit — is set to kick off on April 21 and 22, 2018, at Royal Bay Secondary in School District 62 (Sooke, BC). Picture 500 grades 9–12 students from across...
Our Founder And CEO Is A Finalist In The BCBusiness Women of the Year Awards
Bridgitte Alomes, Natural Pod's Founder & CEO is a finalist in the BCBusiness Women of the Year Awards for Entrepreneurial Leader! This is a great honour and we couldn't be more proud and delighted for her. Bridgitte will be in the company of other amazing women...
Natural Play Community People Profile: Vanessa Braun
What we love most about our work are the people we work with. We’re very proud of our natural play community here at Natural Pod and to celebrate some of the people in our community, we’ve started a short series we’re calling our Natural Play Community People...
21st Century Project-Based Learning Needs
We tend to think of project-based learning as focused on research, planning problem-solving, authenticity, and inquiry. Further, collaboration, resourcefulness, and networking matter too–dozens of characteristics “fit” into project-based learning. Its popularity comes...
Fernwood Elementary ~ A Year in the Life of Better Learning
About this time last year, something really special happened with my work as the Director of Marketing at Natural Pod. After years of helping other organizations create better learning environments, we had the chance, at least in a small way, for my own kids to enjoy...
Recent News & Stories
Celebrating the joy of choice in learning environments
Choice—a daily principle we all value—has earned its rightful place in modern classrooms. We've extended the joy of choice beyond the curriculum, incorporating it into the very heart of our educational landscape. Take mealtime, an everyday situation, where it is our...
Creating a sense of belonging through Nature-Inspired design
Take a moment to pause and look at the tree outside your window. Notice its expansive branches, the delicate sway of its leaves, and the texture of its bark. In the presence of nature, we often feel a deep sense of calm and connection to the world around us. As...
It’s a great time to plan your new learning space
As another full school year comes to a close, it's a perfect time of year to begin preparing for a smooth restart for next year. Taking the time now, while your ideas from a year of learning and education are still fresh in your mind, and before the rush to restart...
Bringing your ‘Lofty’ goals to life: Unlocking imagination with Natural Pod Lofts
At a time of dynamic shifts in learning environments, tight timelines, and limited budgets, educators are facing the challenge of realizing their lofty goals for both education and sustainability. Often, expedience compromises excellence, leaving educators...
Award-Winning ENC Nature Preschool Ignites Curiosity, Naturally
At Natural Pod, we believe that sustainability is more than just certifications and labels. It's about continuously evaluating our choices to ensure they are the best for both people and the planet. With this ethos in mind, we are excited to share the remarkable story...
Investing in learning spaces together
When it comes to investing in the learning spaces, we envision not only for future generations but also for the near future. As the long, sweet, warm days of summer swiftly approach, with the dreaded 'back-to-reality' whiplash of September hot on their heels (or flip...
Take learning to new heights
Consider this for a moment: when you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change. How might your learning space change when young learners have the opportunity to see the space from an elevated view? Or inches from the ground? Is it possible that...
To refresh or replace, that is the question
Are you an educator who feels hesitant to rearrange your learning space due to fear of damaging your furniture or surrounding space? It's a common concern, but with well-built, modular furniture, you can create different learning spaces throughout the year without...
Nurture your inner storyteller and create cozy firepit seating with our Evergreen Shelving Collection
Creating a space that brings storytelling, idea sharing and group collaboration together provides opportunities for rich social interactions. Sometimes opportunities present themselves by rethinking the configuration of the learning environment. With this in mind, we...
Yes, it’s true! We’re now B Corp™ certified… What does it mean for you?
The Natural Pod team believes we can create better learning environments for all ages, while being deeply committed to people and the planet. There is great work to be done to be responsible stewards of our environment throughout our business, leading to a positive...