Recently, I had the privilege of visiting two schools of our customers in West Virginia. We have worked closely with both schools, MUEE (Marshall University Early Education) Stem School and Explorer Academy, to create learning environments that connect to their...
Carlton House is based in a beautiful historic heritage building in Dubbo, NSW, Australia. With the focus on the environment, as the foundation for an early childhood and preschool curriculum that is intriguing and aesthetically pleasing, inviting all children’s...
The Green Schools National Network is excited to announce that it is partnering with the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council to co-present the “Best of Green Schools 2016”! The Best of Green Schools recognizes the people, schools, campuses,...
AKIDEMY was designed as a space for children to create, explore, interact and collaborate in many different ways; this is the very essence of the Reggio Philosophy. When Tristan and I took the leap and decided to open our own program, we both knew that at the core of...
At the Yukon Wildlife Preserve, they try to create programming experiences that feel special and are crafted for the interests and abilities of the children’s age that learn in their environment. They do that by focusing on age appropriate physical activity and...
The BC Buy Local campaign celebrates local business to promote the contributions that BC businesses make to our economy and our communities. The goal of the campaign is to illuminate the local market, making BC-based businesses, products, food and wines more visible...
Lisa Sciabica, Director of Mariners Church Preschool, came to us this past August, searching to transform her traditional preschool into a more natural, Reggio-inspired learning environment. With much love for her preschool and its families, she deeply knew that a...
When I met Bridgitte at a conference several months ago, it was very clear she is on a mission to make non-toxic and natural play synonymous. Natural Pod’s compelling vision, innovative award-winning products, passion and commitment for natural play sets them apart...
Voting is open in our Create and Share Your Invitation to Play ~ Win a Free $5000 Classroom Giveaway Contest. You can still enter your own Invitation to Play for a chance to win. Vote for your favourite play ideas submitted by our community. To help make voting...
One of the most important principles behind our work is understanding how children learn through play. It informs all aspects of our better learning environment, furniture and toy design. Here's a wonderful news story from ShawTV with Kerri Favreau and her students at...
We'd like to share with you this great letter we received along with the parents of the students of Oak Park Unified School District. It beautifully explains the intention and journey of Oak Park USD to create better learning environments that support...
The education community, understandably, often tends to think about learning as a product of our education system, though according to research by Dr. Joshua Eyler, learning is, in fact, evolutionary and simply part of our genetic make-up. Therefore,...
Every year an amazing group of people from across North America come together with the purpose of laying the foundation for the next strategic steps for the Green Schools National Network (GSNN). It is also a perfect time for us to break out of our day to day, deepen...
Did you take part in one of the climate strikes during the 20-27th September? Many of the Natural Pod team did, joining their children and marching alongside them this past Friday. It was quite an incredible day, with the impact of that action still be...
To build a more sustainable planet we need new perspectives. We need to reframe the global challenges of climate change, consumption, and waste, and develop ideas that can change the way the world functions. Design thinking is an incredible tool that anyone can use to...
As a sustainable educational furniture company that takes its environmental responsibilities very seriously, we are paying close attention to the upcoming Student Global Climate Strike happening between 20th and 27th of September.As a member of the Natural...
Thank you to all of our amazing community members who shared their inspiring photo entries in our 'Back To School Photo Contest'. It's been such a pleasure to see your wonderful learning environments and the creative use of Natural Pod furniture in your...
This brief essay isn’t intended to reiterate the long history of design thinking as best expressed by the brilliant David Kelley, founder of IDEO and the Stanford d.school, as there are numerous resources readily available for educators. Instead, it’s meant to...
This is the second of two stories from GreenNotes part of the 'Green Schools National Network' - looking at some of the ways that educators are using literacy to deepen students' understanding of sustainability and engage them in meaningful learning experiences to...
"Environmental and sustainability literacy is needed to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to create the future we want - one with economic opportunity for all, a fair and just society, thriving ecosystems, and healthy human and more than human populations." -...