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.
Event: Making Tomorrow Conference – How Shaping Learning Environments, Shapes Learning
For 40 years, the Vancouver Island Cooperative Preschool Association (VICPA) has organized the Making Tomorrow Conference (MTC). The MTC is a knowledge and skill building event where educators and families learn about the latest developments in early childhood...
B.C. Companies NUQO Modular and Natural Pod Partner to Deliver Education Spaces Faster in Underserved Communities
Joint venture by women-led businesses aims to rapidly expand access to quality child care and learning environments, addressing critical shortages. B.C.-based NUQO Modular (NUQO) and Natural Pod are pleased to announce that they are joining forces to accelerate and...
Canadian Federal Government announces measures for more $10-a-day child care spaces + $1 billion in low-cost loans and $60 million grants for child care providers
The Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, (with one of our beautiful Natural Pod Play Lofts as his backdrop! - thank you Prime Minister Trudeau!) announced measures from the upcoming 2024 Federal Canadian Budget to build more affordable child care spaces – saving...
Innovative childcare partnership to help working parents attend restorative conference for B Corps
One of the only programs of its kind in Canada; no limit on the number of free childcare spots available to attendees; children welcome in all event spaces A new partnership between B Lab US & Canada and B Corp ™ Certified, sustainable education furniture...
Empowering educators
As we usher in spring, we also stand at the threshold of a new era in education. Our choices today are shaping the future of learning for generations to come. Now more than ever, it's essential that we align our values with our actions and make conscious decisions...
Why do teachers teach?
Curious question - it must be the great pay, easy hours and happy parents, right? Educators, you are a very special group of professionals. You don’t choose teaching to be famous or rich or even bored. You choose teaching for very altruistic reasons. Here are a few...
Celebrate B Corp Month with us! (Wait, what on earth is a B Corp?)
The Natural Pod team believes we can create better classroom furniture and learning environments for all ages while being deeply committed to people and the planet. There is great work being done as responsible stewards of our environment throughout our business,...
From concept to completion. You are not alone
If you are tasked with furnishing a new educational space or refurbishing an existing one, then you should take a look at how Natural Pod actually works with you. Our team of knowledge experts (yes, real human beings) work directly with you through every step of the...
The impact of design on learning
In the dynamic realm of educational design, the importance of creating tranquil, inspiring spaces cannot be overstated. Recent research sheds light on the profound influence of classroom environments on the well-being of both learners and educators, prompting...
Take advantage of funding before it expires and change your world
Imagine what your world could be like. A beautiful, calm environment. An endless variety of spaces for every kind of activity, for every kind of learner. If this is your vision, then read on because it could be within your reach. And with your funding opportunities...
Watch: Behind the Design at Natural Pod with Allan Alomes
At Natural Pod, we take design seriously. Please meet our Design Director, Allan Alomes, as he shares some insights into our inspirations, our intentional curved edges, and the impact these unique elements create for the learners in your space. From the feedback we...
Watch: Educators, school decision makers and learning space designers – we made a video just for you!
We see you and appreciate you. Let’s start a conversation on how we, Natural Pod, can support you in creating learning spaces that will elevate the journeys of learners and educators. We are known for finding solutions WITH you.Get your copy of our IdeabookLet’s...
The power of a calm canvas in learning environments
Whether it's the beginning, middle, or end of a school term, the learning environment plays a crucial role in making a lasting impression. At Natural Pod, we believe in creating a calm canvas that allows learners to flourish and take ownership of their spaces. Our...
Celebrating accomplishments of our learning community: 2023 in Review
As we reflect on the past year, Natural Pod is proud to be a part of the educational community’s continued dedication to creating healthy, beautiful, and inspiring learning environments where students thrive. None of this work would have been possible without the...
Let’s collaborate, and together we’ll bring your new learning space to life – How we do it!
Our team at Natural Pod helps create learning environments where educators and students can thrive. We can also be your design partners, ready to help tailor your space to your teaching and learning needs. Our range of beautiful, functional and interchangeable...
Get ready for a new year of learning – Order your new learning furniture now for quick delivery!
As another calendar year end comes to a close, it's a perfect time of year to begin preparing for a smooth restart for next year. Taking the time now, while your ideas from this fall's education journey are still fresh in your mind, is one of the best times to engage...
Creating Inspired Learning Environments: A Gratitude Journey
Now that it’s November, it’s official; the holiday season has arrived! Ok, maybe it’s a little early, but it’s never too early to pause and reflect, and set intentional plans for seasons to come. For school leaders and design professionals, this year has brought...
Insights from LearningSCAPES 2023: Advancing Learning Environments
Photo: Bryan Byerlee, Nathan Strenge, Bridgitte Alomes, Heather Breton LearningScapes, organized by the Association for Learning Environments (A4LE), is a significant gathering focused on the design and development of learning spaces around the world. This event, held...
Make easy learning space changes with our fall bundle promotion – Limited quantities available!
Looking to make changes to your learning space seating and storage solutions or perhaps you're interested in expanding options for learners in your early learning space? We are offering select bundles of inventoried product available for immediate shipment to help you...
Students as co-authors of their learning environment – A4LE’s LearningSCAPES session
In the realm of education, where many institutions often find comfort in tradition, the Cranston Public School District has boldly stepped into the future. With the creation of the new Garden City Elementary school, they've painted a vivid picture of what's possible...
Ideas for Educators: Discovering lessons in everyday objects
Have you ever sat down on a piece of furniture and pondered its origins or the stories it might tell? Bridgitte Alomes, the Founder of Natural Pod, encourages us to look at our surroundings with a fresh perspective, turning often-overlooked objects into learning...
Promoting dynamic interaction through multi-functional furniture
Imagine stepping into a learning space that's not just a place for imparting knowledge, but a thriving hub that stirs imagination, creativity, and overall educational experiences. Such spaces, teeming with versatility and adaptability, are not merely constructs of...
The Importance of Early Learning Environments
The BC Ministry of Education Early Years Program has published a wonderful story about the importance of early years education programs. Read the full post on the BC Early Years Blog. There are many factors to a child’s early learning, including parents, caregivers,...
Celebrating the joy of choice in learning environments
Choice—a daily principle we all value—has earned its rightful place in modern classrooms. We've extended the joy of choice beyond the curriculum, incorporating it into the very heart of our educational landscape. Take mealtime, an everyday situation, where it is our...
Creating a sense of belonging through Nature-Inspired design
Take a moment to pause and look at the tree outside your window. Notice its expansive branches, the delicate sway of its leaves, and the texture of its bark. In the presence of nature, we often feel a deep sense of calm and connection to the world around us. As...
It’s a great time to plan your new learning space
As another full school year comes to a close, it's a perfect time of year to begin preparing for a smooth restart for next year. Taking the time now, while your ideas from a year of learning and education are still fresh in your mind, and before the rush to restart...
Bringing your ‘Lofty’ goals to life: Unlocking imagination with Natural Pod Lofts
At a time of dynamic shifts in learning environments, tight timelines, and limited budgets, educators are facing the challenge of realizing their lofty goals for both education and sustainability. Often, expedience compromises excellence, leaving educators...
Award-Winning ENC Nature Preschool Ignites Curiosity, Naturally
At Natural Pod, we believe that sustainability is more than just certifications and labels. It's about continuously evaluating our choices to ensure they are the best for both people and the planet. With this ethos in mind, we are excited to share the remarkable story...
Investing in learning spaces together
When it comes to investing in the learning spaces, we envision not only for future generations but also for the near future. As the long, sweet, warm days of summer swiftly approach, with the dreaded 'back-to-reality' whiplash of September hot on their heels (or flip...
Take learning to new heights
Consider this for a moment: when you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change. How might your learning space change when young learners have the opportunity to see the space from an elevated view? Or inches from the ground? Is it possible that...
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...
The Importance Of Stakeholders When It Comes To Creating Successful Learning Outcomes
When it comes to creating great learning environments with the intention of creating great learning outcomes, who gets to decide how to create them, and by what means? Welcome, stakeholders! We mostly know what ‘stakeholders’ means, but the term doesn’t sound very...
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...