Enjoy all our latest education news and stories
At Natural Pod™, our purpose is to ensure every learner and educator has a practical, healthy, sustainable environment in which to learn and be inspired, enabling them to reach their full potential. You can find all our news and stories here, where we share ideas and thinking that inspire our work to help inspire yours.
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...
A year in review: 2022
Our 2022 word of the year was partnership. Through intentional partnerships we were able to impact learners and educators in new, meaningful ways. Leaders in learning (aka you!) created better learning environments all around the world! Some of you impacted spaces...
Not perfect, just a little better!
Why conscious buying is more than choosing green products. Black Friday kicks off the global holiday shopping season, and it is obviously impossible to ignore. Many retailers are pondering if this year’s average spend will be lower due to high inflation and a looming...
What we’re reading: We Want A School!
“We Want A School!” - a book illustrating how children define the learning spaces they truly want & need. “We Want a School,” written and illustrated by Enrico Giori and the learners of Grade 5B of the Caracciolo Elementary School Milan, explores from the...
To set students up for success, learning spaces can’t be an afterthought
Due to timeline and distribution complexities created by the pandemic many schools are having to make choices about outfitting their learning environments for September right now and very fast. That is a lot of pressure on educators and administrators at a time when...
Learn more about the dynamic A4LE conversations helping shape better learning environments
The Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) is a non-profit, interdisciplinary association of professionals working at the intersection of learning and place to drive the evolution of learning environments. Made up of regions and chapters across the globe, their...
What we’re reading: Design Thinking for School Leaders
Natural Pod works at the intersection of pedagogy, design and sustainability. So when the team read the opening statement of the book Design Thinking for School Leaders: Five Roles and Mindsets That Ignite Positive Change, our interest was piqued. What if education...
Help us win ‘Best of Year’ design award for our beautiful learning table with its own innovative sustainability story
Interior Design’s 'Best of Year' is the design industry’s premiere design awards program, honoring the most significant work of the year as well as recognizing designers, architects and manufacturers from around the globe. You can help the Natural Pod team win Best of...
Deepening the conversation of how we can all impact students’ learning experiences
When we refer to our community we’re talking about you: all the educators, administrators, parents, architects and designers who pull together to make the experience of learning better for children. Because that’s what is at the heart of this work; creating and...
Expanding students’ environmental awareness through sustainability stories
Raising a strong, resilient generation of planet protectors requires significant social change. A facet of that change is educating for conscious consumption as well as environmental responsibility. With students already being surrounded by learning furniture, that's...
Discussing the importance of learning space design at the Interior Design Show
The Interior Design Show (IDS) Vancouver is the go-to Pacific event for all things design. Taking place on September 22nd – 25th, the theme for IDS 2022 is ‘New Futures’: Thought-leaders with a local and global perspective will tackle the future of design....
What we’re reading: The Future of Smart
'Our Education System Is Failing Because It Is Doing Exactly What It Was Designed to Do!' - Those are the bold opening words that set the stage for concepts within The Future of Smart: How Our Education System Needs to Change to Help All Young People Thrive This is a...
Using business as a force for positive change – Join the conversation
This is a time of needing to ask and answer big questions. Social Venture Institute (SVI) is a big-hearted, socially minded ecosystem of CEOs, entrepreneurs, advocates and changemakers who care about humanity and the planet, and see the urgent need for...
What we’re reading: ‘Making it’
In collaboration with educators, architects and school leaders, Natural Pod intentionally creates learning spaces that are designed to set students up for success; both today, tomorrow and for this fast-moving world. Through the lens of this goal, we've learnt a lot...
Bringing learning space design to the Interior Design Show
The Interior Design Show (IDS) Vancouver is the go-to Pacific event for all things design. Taking place on September 22nd - 25th, the theme for IDS 2022 is 'New Futures': Thought-leaders with a local and global perspective will tackle the future of design....
Learn from Ashanti Bryant at the A4LE Early Childhood Education Conference
For all educators, planners, architects and stakeholders interested in transforming early childhood education the A4LE Early Childhood Education Conference (ECE 2022) conference is for you! The annual ECE 2022, held on September 19-20th in Chicago IL, has partnered...
Vote for our SXSW Edu session + help inspire: ‘A Sustainable Future Guided by Social Justice’
For those of you familiar with SXSW EDU (South by South West Education), you'll know it's a four-day conference that takes place in Austin, TX, each March, offering compelling sessions, in-depth workshops, engaging learning experiences, mentorship, film screenings,...
Join the discussion with Seth Godin to create climate change resources for students + educators
As a community that wants to make a difference in education, best learning outcomes for students, and the ways we can provide a safe and healthy future for them, as well as the planet and its inhabitants. Here is an opportunity to learn more about, discuss and help...
Introducing the woman behind the story, team and impact: Bridgitte Alomes
CEO and founder of British Columbia-based, learning solutions company Natural Pod, Bridgitte Alomes, is dedicated to creating better learning environments through the use of beautifully designed, multi-functional and high-quality education furniture and products, made...
Embracing a Culture of Care + Connection
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...
An Inspiring, Net Zero Early Childhood Learning Center, designed by LPA
When designing for early learning, the most successful environments are those that are equally created to support parents and working families. By including early childhood programs, that include before- and after-school activities, larger goals that focus on parental...
Growing with intention
To further support Natural Pod’s growth and impact in the world, we are delighted to welcome two new solutions team members: Tania Crosbie and Chris Jack. As education advocates, they will bring exceptional partnership to educators and planners who are working to...
What we’re reading: The Global Education Guidebook
The Global Education Guidebook: Humanizing K-12 Classrooms Worldwide Through Equitable Partnerships by Jennifer D. Klein, really is just that, a guidebook and essential resource for: 'Educators who are striving to connect their students to classrooms and experts in...
Natural Pod partners with five disruptive & planet friendly Canadian companies to transform learning environments
Natural Pod, a Canadian educational furniture manufacturer, curated with five leading sustainability-focused brands a mixed-material collection of furniture and textiles. The selected products not only aim to enhance the tactile experience and harmonious visual...
Caring for the health of people and the planet: an alternative to fast furniture
Bridgitte Alomes, our founder and CEO, had the opportunity to share more about the impact Natural Pod is committed to making in the world, with the support of local partnerships. ~ Article by Rebecca Keillor, published by the Vancouver Sun, BC, Canada....
Joining the dots between environmental education and the classroom environment
Fortunately, sustainability in education has grown a huge amount in the last few years. Whether that's creating more energy-efficient schools, providing cleaner air, or increasing environmental education. But there's a long way to go. There is still a noticeable...
See how these children interact with their new welcoming learning space
When you give children new items to interact with, it's such a joy to witness all the kinds of imaginative games and uses for them they create. So when it came time to try out our new Halfmoon bundles, that's what we did. These are items made of 100% cotton and linen...
Learn about the Better Together partnership collection in ‘Design Milk’
The story begins with a Canadian brand – Natural Pod – a company that believes in creating beautifully designed, durable, sustainable products for students and educators to use in learning spaces. Natural Pod’s new Better Together partnership collection has led them...
What we’re reading: Because of a Teacher
This beautifully uplifting and inspiring book was published near the end of 2021, just when educators really needed to hear that the work they do matters, really matters. Because of a Teacher is a collection of personal stories, brought together to "offer hope for new...
We are Better Together
As a young mother, when your child is sick from exposure to a toxic chemical, a plethora of emotions floods your system. Over ten years ago, that mother was me. I had all of those emotions as my little boy had an adverse reaction to a toy in his learning environment....
Natural Pod™ LIVE – Episode 12 – Designing cohesive environments to support whole-child learning
Welcome back, Natural Pod™ LIVE, Episode twelve is available to watch! About This Episode: In this episode, our host, Bridgitte Alomes, CEO of Natural Pod, was in conversation with Suzy Potts and Amanda Barrett of Creekside Creative Academy; looking at how they’ve...
What we’re reading: Evolving Education: Shifting to a Learner-Centered Paradigm
Never has it been more important for humans to gather and work together to solve some of the biggest problems of our time. The starting point, as always, is education. Too many institutions are operating within an outdated industrial model; which doesn't serve its...
Educators need support and appreciation every week of the year
In the United States, there is a group of seven days a year acknowledged in the month of May, which we call 'Teacher Appreciation Week'. But anyone connected to children or education (which is nearly everyone in some way) knows that to truly honor the dedication...
Imagine That: Envisioning the Future with SchoolsNEXT
Our very own Michelle Carpenter, Chief Strategy Officer of Natural Pod, is A4LE SchoolsNEXT Southeast Chair, National Co-Chair, and committed to the future of the SchoolsNEXT student design competition. Last year she documented her participation experience in the...
Play Lofts: Putting some play in your day!
Natural Pod™ Play lofts were designed very much with the needs of early learners in mind. The intention was to create spaces that were all their own, where their imaginations could transform the space into any environment they wished, whether a fort, a castle, an...
Natural Pod™ LIVE – Episode 11 – Making sustainable choices for an impact that matters
Welcome back, Natural Pod™ LIVE, Episode Eleven is available to watch! About This Episode Each choice we make leads to an outcome, whether intended or not. That statement was the catalyst for this episode’s discussion: how we can make sustainable choices now, that...
Part 2: Q&A with a Green Schools National Network Partner: Building Meaningful Family and Community Relationships at Pine Jog Elementary School
This is the second part in a series from Green Schools National Network (GSNN) that features GSNN partners describing best practices and lessons learned, on topics tied to each of the impact systems in the GreenPrint, starting with Leadership. The GSNN GreenPrint™...