When Thomas Selishev speaks, his conviction is unmistakable. Even over a Zoom call, his voice carries urgency, but it is measured, purposeful. He traces his path into education to a simple principle: every child, regardless of background, deserves the best...

Every educator knows the challenge: how do you create a classroom that not only inspires learning but also nurtures the well-being of every student? The answer, as it turns out, is found in nature itself. At Natural Pod, we believe that biophilic design—the practice...

Tiny Scholars is Bridging the Gap Between Generations An inspiring new playschool has opened inside the Amenida Seniors Community in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada creating a unique intergenerational program that connects children with seniors.Developed to foster...

Well organized classroom storage can be one of the most effective ways to bring calm into your classroom as a new school year begins. After all, how can you create a truly functional and inspiring space while being surrounded by an overwhelming number of materials. We...

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,...

At Natural Pod, we’re advocates for outdoor learning whenever possible - learning that is experiential, embodied, and connects a child to their senses with respect to their surroundings. It’s the opposite of learning about Nature in a classroom via a screen! To that...

Have you ever considered why we need to consciously select the texture, shape, color, and size of materials used by children in the classroom? Or what difference furniture selection makes to the learning environment? A study by the University of Salford (2015) found...

As one school year closes, the rush to prepare for the next one begins. We know that in many cases, you need your school furniture ready to go before September. Your mind is fresh with what worked and what didn’t, and while this is a perfect time to plan, the timeline...

At Natural Pod, the belief in creating learning environments that nurture the whole child—fostering well-being, movement, and a deep connection to the natural world—is central. This ethos has led to a deepening collaboration with Sloflo World, a fellow Canadian...

We’re thrilled to share that Bridgitte Alomes, founder of Natural Pod, is back for part two of her conversation as a special guest on the “BC’s Path to Universal Child Care Podcast” (Season 4, Episode 7). In this episode, CCRR podcast host Gyda guides Bridgitte and...

How can children produce food, learn science, and develop a sense of ecological responsibility all at once? The answer lies in a school or home garden—a place where observation becomes both a science lesson and a vital behavior, where cooperation grows alongside...

New! Book Excerpt Series We’re excited to announce the first of a series of book excerpts in collaboration with New Society Publishers. As British Columbia based B Corp with global impact, we’ve found a strong values alignment in their subject areas, especially with...

Celebrating our earth: Holding the world in our hands - Inspired by Purpose Preschool It’s inspiring to see how our friends at Purpose Preschool in Edmonton, Canada, embraced Earth Day, focusing on learning practical ways children can care for their environment and...

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, the first B Corp certified school...

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 consultant Kelly...

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...

2024 has been a year of shifts, expansion, and growth for us here at Natural Pod. As we pause to reflect on the year’s highlights, it is clear that this was a year that renewed our steady rhythm of purpose, connection, and collaboration—the very heartbeat that...

At Natural Pod, we know how important it is to create learning environments that inspire creativity, collaboration, and curiosity. As 2024 wraps up, our goal is to support you in refreshing your classrooms by using any budgets that may not carry over into the new...

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...

In the ever-changing world of education, understanding a student’s mind is as important as delivering knowledge. Today’s educators, architects, and designers are presented with a pivotal question: How do we create spaces that not only facilitate academic learning but...

MeTEOR Education recently hosted an insightful event, FUTURE PROOF: Are Your Learning Environments Ready for the Future?, at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, California. The event brought together educators, administrators, and industry experts to discuss future-ready...

Imagine a space where every corner invites curiosity, every level sparks adventure, and each step is a pathway to boundless imagination. Natural Pod’s Wonder lofts aren’t just structures — they’re gateways to exploration, places where children’s creativity takes...

Natural Pod, represented by myself and Marianne Honnaker-Kelly our President, was at LearningScapes, a conference by the Association for Learning Environments (A4LE), in Portland in October. Attending a conference like LearningScapes helps us at Natural Pod to hear...

Imagine stepping into a learning environment that’s more than just a classroom—it’s a vibrant space that ignites imagination, stimulates creativity, and enhances the educational experience. These dynamic, adaptable spaces are not just a distant dream—they’re a reality...

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...

Recently I’ve been re-reading the MDR research report ‘The Impact of Learning Spaces on Student Success’ to further and deepen my understanding of how I can lead Natural Pod to better serve students and educators. This research is such a great resource - it was...

In his book ‘Brain Rules’ (2014), John Medina talks about 12 rules that support the needs of the brain. There are three rules that stand out for me: that we learn best through sensory experiences; we don’t learn if we are bored, and we are born natural explorers. As...

As the dog days of summer linger, many educators find themselves in a race against time to prepare their learning spaces for the upcoming academic year. For those who haven't yet ordered new furniture for updating existing classrooms or creating entirely new learning...

In every aspect of life, choice empowers and personalizes our experience. Consider the flexibility of a modern workspace where people choose between high-energy shared tables, quiet corners for deep thinking, or dynamic meeting rooms for collaborative projects. This...

Transforming your classroom layout should be an exciting opportunity for innovation, not a cause for concern about the durability of your furniture. At Natural Pod, we design durable, multifunctional furniture that facilitates seamless transitions and supports diverse...