Recently, on September 13th and 15th, I was able to participate in the Design for Early Learning Symposium, organized by Alissa Rupp, FAIA, LEED BD+C, Principal, FRAME | Integrative Design Strategies and Diane Kroll, Founder of Imag(e)ine Collaborative, an excellent...

People kept asking me, “How do you make time for self-care?” After getting asked enough times, I wanted to go deeper and study more about creating a Culture of Care + Connection for myself and the people in my life. This idea of Culture of Care + Connection is ever...

Thank you to InHabitat, a green lifestyle and design media outlet, for this great story, titled 'Natural Pod takes a different approach to learning.' It takes a look at how we do indeed take a different approach and why. The article also introduces our most recent...

Even before the dramatic and transformative events of 2020, we recognized the need to strengthen a specific set of connections: those between design professionals and early childhood education professionals. All children who spend time in early learning spaces, such...

The team at Natural Pod help create learning environments where educators and students can thrive. Our range of beautiful, functional and interchangeable learning furniture can really support educators and students in the ways they teach and learn best. In addition to...

Leadership for Green Schools: Sustainability for Our Children, Our Communities, and Our Planet - This is a wonderfully rich book that uncovers the many facets of what it means to be a green school, and the leadership tools needed to embrace whole school...

If you’re here, you may already know Natural Pod creates high-quality, non-toxic wood furniture for early learning and K-12 learning spaces with an emphasis on beauty, functionality, and environmental awareness. I’d like to expand on those last three points and what...

Can you hear them? Were they listening? As I enter any learning space, these questions are often in the forefront of my thinking. Through this lens, it becomes clear whether the design of the space is soaked in the ideas and needs of students or whether the design was...

We spend ninety percent of our lives indoors in environments where we live, learn, and work. In some countries, that number is even higher due to extreme climate and outdoor pollution. If we spend ninety percent of our time indoors, that means that by the time our...

It’s not often that books in the field of education and design crossover in such an accessible way, and that speak directly to the truth and the times we find ourselves in. 'Schools That Heal: Design with Mental Health in Mind' by Claire Latané is one of those...

Only two weeks ago my team completed Natural Pod’s first Indigenous Learners Ideabook, and I couldn’t be more pleased. It’s been a while in the making and the end result allows us to share some fantastic Indigenous learning spaces, the stories behind them and why as a...

Alongside connecting with passionate folks within the green schools movement a couple of weeks ago at the Green Schools Conference, we were also introduced to the Green Schools National Network's (GSNN) brand new look and extended mission. Both intended to drive...

If you have ever gone on a whale-watching excursion or watched videos of a whale in its natural habitat, you probably saw the whale surface for a short time and dive underwater, where it moves about for an extended time before resurfacing. The health of the ocean is...

We are often building and creating spaces for an audience we rarely interact with. Even scarier, we are often building based on our own experiences, some of which we had 10, 20, or dare I say 40 years ago. A few things have changed a wee bit since then. So, how...

With our virtual bags packed, my colleague Kelly Rosensweet and myself have headed to the Green Schools Conference along with the Green Schools National Network team. The conference is taking place today and tomorrow - June 28th & 29th, both as half days. After a...

This year Natural Pod is teaming up with Green Schools National Network and heading to the Green Schools Conference! It's taking place virtually over two half days on June 28 and 29th, and there are some fantastic speakers, events and interactive sessions lined up....

It’s exciting that many schools will welcome students back to campuses soon, but it’s putting a lot of pressure on educators and administrators to make decisions very fast, not only for the end of this school year but the beginning of the next as well. We understand...

This year Natural Pod will be teaming up with Green Schools National Network and heading to the Green Schools Conference! It's taking place virtually over two half days on June 28 and 29th, and there are some fantastic speakers and interactive sessions and events...

We are emerging from a year that presented new learning challenges and opportunities. While learning did not cease to take place, it shifted to new topics and new locations. Looking ahead, the value of learning outdoors and true outdoor learning will continue to hold...

Somehow it’s already June with many educators and administrators gearing up for the end of the school year and trying to give graduates a good send off, while also having to contemplate the beginning of the next school year and all the decisions that entails. Due to...

Learning during a pandemic has spotlighted concepts that have always been involved in some education conversations, but now seem to dominate the media, talk in the community and future planning. These concepts include synchronous and asynchronous learning,...

This week, a project that I know well and is close to my heart won an Education Facility Design Award. Presented by the AIA (The American Institute of Architects) and its Committee, the benefactor is LPA Design Studios for the creation of the Environmental Nature...

We’ve been greatly saddened to learn of the logging of old growth forest that’s been taking place, particularly at Nahmint River watershed and Fairy Creek on unceded Pacheedaht First Nation territory on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, in Canada. Natural Pod is...

It seems decision time has come a little early this year, with many of you being called upon to make choices now that will shape the new school year in September. Though these decisions will impact students long past a school year, they have the power to positively...

COVID-19 has directly impacted students through widespread school closures, loss of learning, and widening disparities. It has also had consequential indirect impacts on students. A troubling rise in child neglect (Thomas et al., 2020), stress related to food...

During the pandemic, learners have experienced emotional and psychological stress to varying degrees. Some of the effects represent themselves in depression, challenges to self-esteem, fear, and emotional and psychological anxiety. Each learner’s experience is unique...

Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. Raised by a single mother alongside four other children. A dedicated mother, who pursued quality education and care for each of her five children, no matter the costs. Ashanti continued on to pursue an education in early childhood...

On average, we make a mere 35,000 decisions each day, from deciding how many times to hit snooze, to each element of a meal, to making purchases as a consumer or business. Navigating these decisions can be simple or complex - which would you prefer? Make a simple and...

It's been incredible to witness the resilience of educators during this last year and their commitment to their students well-being, both academically and with a deep care for their emotional states and individual circumstances as well. Not that the Natural Pod team...

Oak Park Unified School District approached their furnishings and finishes as intentionally as the building itself - with the goal of supporting their district-wide sustainability values and instructional program. This story is featured in the spring issue of Learning...

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,...

One of the biggest mistakes that I made early on as a school designer was to engage in the change process around learning spaces without a team. Don’t get me wrong. I asked for input, listened to the needs of others and designed with empathy. All of these elements are...

From driving the first rented moving truck to deliver our first furniture order, to serving nearly one million students to date, Natural Pod has and is continuing to grow in many ways. Looking ahead, we are delighted to share that our team is growing to further our...