Memories: everyone has them. The smell of cookies, cakes, or pies from the oven, the gentle breeze of a sunny day, the beauty of a waterfall, a song, a perfume, lights, sounds, words, and scenarios, all trigger something in everyone’s memory. When someone has...
It was 1998 and I had just landed my first permanent teaching position four days before the start of the new school year. It was a full-time job teaching Kindergarten in a beautiful inner city school built in 1844. The school was led by Principal Judy Gard Puddester...
When I found out that I would be teaching Kindergarten, my heart leapt. I would finally have a physical space to translate the knowledge and passion I held for early childhood, especially those images inspired by Reggio Emilia schools. I had recently worked with...
Even though teachers have the summer off we usually have a hard time switching off our teacher brains. I find myself on my family summer holidays looking around and thinking about whether I can use different natural objects in my classroom. I can't walk down a beach...
Giving Tuesday is here, offering a wonderful chance to join the global movement for giving that takes place each year after American Thanksgiving and Black Friday. This annual event celebrates our collective capacity to do good, unleashing the power of people and...
The pandemic has hit many organizations and businesses hard, with women disproportionately feeling the negative impacts. Yet, many organizations with women at the helm are not only surviving – they’re thriving. We're honored that Natural Pod's CEO and Co-founder,...
At Natural Pod, we make long-lasting, sustainably made furniture designed to foster creativity and innovation in learning environments for all ages. We help create 21st Century Learning and play environments for educators and students and we do all of that using...
Many children and educators have now started school, others are about to, and some families have opted for virtual or home learning. So a ‘new normal’ really translates as ‘a fresh discovery phase’. While we are still exploring how education could look, not only in...
Our very own Michelle Carpenter, Chief Strategy Officer of Natural Pod, will be sharing the outcomes of her work as Southeast Chair of SchoolsNEXT at LearningScapes 2021 taking place on October 14-17th. The in-person session, Student Voice Informs Equitable Learning...
First, thank you to each and every one of you who submitted an entry in our Share Your Invitation to Play ~ Win a $5000 Classroom Giveaway. There was an amazing energy in our natural play community around this giving back and we are deeply appreciative of everyone who...
We are proud to announce that following a thorough evaluation process, Natural Pod has been certified as a Women Business Enterprise by WBE Canada, recognizing Natural Pod as a company where women manage ownership and strategic leadership. As a diverse, purpose...
Exciting news! Natural Pod founder, Bridgitte Alomes, was recently a special guest on the "BC's Path to Universal Child Care Podcast" (Season 4, Episode 5). Host Gyda led a fantastic conversation with Bridgitte and Rory Richards - President & CEO of the...
Do you remember a moment where someone’s encouragement made a world of difference? Sometimes hearing three simple words like “You got this!” can be powerful. And everyone can benefit from encouragement, no matter their age. When a child receives encouragement from an...
What if our schools were more than just buildings? What if they were intentional spaces, designed to nurture well-being and empower students? This question drives the collaborative work of Fielding International and Natural Pod, some of the first B Corp™ certified...
Educators across the world pay attention to the design and set up of learning environments. We look at how to arrange the furniture, whether we like the overall look, flow and practicalities of the room. When done, we review, and change the organization of the...
At Natural Pod, we’re passionate about creating beautiful and accessible learning environments where children thrive. Over the years, we’ve had the privilege of doing this work in collaboration with remarkable educators and have witnessed the transformation of their...
Diversity and inclusivity in learning environments is a topic that is at the heart of our work in creating empowering and multifunctional learning furniture inspired by educators and learners’ needs. This article is written by our inhouse Learning & Development...
This week, Natural Pod marked a significant milestone: our second anniversary as a Certified B Corporation, and we paused to reflect and celebrate this accolade with our team. Why, because while it feels great to be recognized as part of a global community that is...
Winter in the higher latitudes can feel like an unending story of short days, long nights, and relentless storms that keep us huddled indoors. It's easy to feel disconnected from the natural world during this time, but at Natural Pod, we believe that connection is...
Designing an inspiring learning environment today is a complex, rewarding process that requires careful thought and collaboration. At Natural Pod, we approach each project with a focus on creating spaces that are functional, cohesive, and promote wellbeing for...