Lauren MacLean is a teacher, podcaster, author, and owner of Teach Outdoors in Port Moody, British Columbia, Canada. She has years of experience teaching children outdoors and is joining me today to talk about how we can integrate sit spot practices into our work as nature-based pediatric therapists. Lauren shares her valuable insights from 17 years of teaching, her work with nature schools, and authorship of children's books. We dive into practical strategies for therapists and educators to help children connect with nature, including tips on balancing structure and freedom, managing boundaries, and adapting practices for children with different needs such as ADHD and autism. You'll learn how to model positive behavior, use language effectively, and integrate play and learning in the great outdoors.

In this episode, we dive into the 'Tool for Observing Play Outdoors' (TOPO), a new typology for capturing children's play behaviors in outdoor settings by Lobach and Cox. (If you missed part one, be sure to catch up with episode 98 first!) You'll learn the non-hierarchical framework of TOPO, ways to capture the complexity of play when making observations, and how the TOPO can help you plan nature-based treatment sessions for children.

In this episode, I discuss the article The Tool for Observing Play Outdoors (TOPO): A New Typology for Capturing Children's Play Behaviors in Outdoor Environments by Loebach & Cox. You'll learn how this tool was developed and tested, and hear about the 9 categories of outdoor play and their subtypes included on this tool. This episode will help you hone your observation skills of children's play and consider ways to inspire different kinds of play in your outdoor therapy sessions.

This week I'm sharing some of my favorite fall activities for outdoor therapy sessions with kids. Try rainbow leaf hunt, leaf sewing with yarn and needles, and find the color for your therapy sessions in the fall season.

In this episode we discuss the often chaotic and challenging first day of a new nature-based therapy group for kids. Everything from clear drop-off procedures and engaging children with meaningful tasks to preparing for social anxiety and ensuring smooth transitions. I also talk about my Nature-Based Therapy Certification and Mentoring Program, designed to support practitioners in building successful, nature-based practices. Join me as I provide actionable tips to make your first day and beyond a success.

In this episode, occupational therapist Brigette Hill, OTR/L joins us to discuss her innovative curriculum designed for teaching pre-writing shapes to pre-k children using nature-based activities. Brigette is the founder of Roly Poly Movement, an online business that develops nature-based curriculum and programs for children. Check out rolypolymovement.com and use code GREAT20 for 20% off of her nature-based pre-writing shapes program, Tree Rings and Other Things.

In this episode, Nicole Roma Thurrell is back with valuable insights on wilderness mental health first aid. We discussed the importance of body awareness in regulating nervous system responses and strategies for helping children manage different states of activation during outdoor sessions. The episode emphasizes rhythmic, repetitive, and relational activities, with practical suggestions like breathing exercises, grinding coffee beans, and finger knitting. Tune in to hear all her great tips for helping the children you serve be better able to cope with the ebbs and flows of human emotions in daily life. Make sure to visit Institute for Wild Med and get 20% any of their courses with the discount code TGO20 exclusively for our TGO podcast listeners!

In this episode of Therapy in the Great Outdoors, we kick off a three-part series on first aid essentials for nature-based pediatric therapists.

Joined by Nicole Roma Thurrell, CEO of Institute for WildMed, we delve into the importance of risky play and the benefits it provides, such as building confidence, emotional resilience, and creativity in children. We explore the differences between risks and hazards, offer guidance on managing these elements in therapeutic settings, and emphasize the significance of having a solid foundation in first aid to create a safe and effective therapeutic environment.

Nicole also discusses her extensive experience and upcoming contributions to the series, promising invaluable insights into critical first aid skills and mental health first aid in outdoor settings. Stay tuned for the next episode focusing on must-know first aid skills for nature-based therapists.

This week I'm sharing some of my favorite summer activities for outdoor therapy sessions with kids.

This week, I'm sharing some of our favorite creative snack ideas from my nature-based therapy practice, like color changing tea, apple pizzas, and pasta packets!

In this episode the dynamic duo Rachel Harrington, COTA/L, CPRCS and Jessica Hill, COTA/L, CPRCS join me to talk all things sensory and primitive reflex integration. Rachel and Jessica are Harkla's in-house Certified OT Assistants and Certified Primitive Reflex Clinical Specialists. Harkla is a company that provides products, courses & community for sensory, autism & ADHD families. They offer loads of helpful tips and strategies on their podcast All Things Sensory and in their courses and workbooks for therapists available through Harkla.

A short-but-sweet episode for y'all today. I'm sharing a story about how sometimes the plans we adults have for the therapy session don't end up being the most therapeutic parts. Children have their own ideas about how to use materials in nature...and that's part of the beauty of nature-based therapy. One child created a super-fun activity during our group therapy session and I'm sharing it with you here...because it is SO easy and all you need is a rubber band to do it!

In this listener feature episode, you'll hear from 4 different TGO Podcast listeners (and yours truly) about our favorite activities to do with children outdoors in winter. ⛄️

I also share some updates from my own businesses...and what you can expect from me in the coming year in 2024.

In this episode, you’ll learn 4 activities to do with kids outdoors in nature-based therapy sessions during the fall season, plus hear some of my reflections on WHY these activities are engaging for children. Thank you to Jenna Miller, Jillian Blount, & Kim DeLaura for sharing your ideas!

Today we’re discussing using KNIVES in nature-based therapy sessions! You’ll learn age-ranges for starting knife use in therapy sessions, types of wood that work well for whittling, my go-to simple treatment activity to start teaching whittling to children, 3 things you must teach children when introducing knives in nature-based therapy sessions, and so much more!

Today we are joined by Naomi Matanick OTR/L, who started a nature-based therapy practice utilizing SURFING as her therapeutic modality! This episode talks about how Naomi discovered surf therapy, determining if a child is a good fit for surf therapy sessions, how Naomi supports children's autonomy in sessions, and so much more!

In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Freya McGregor, an O.T. and disabled birder, about how birding is a beautifully accessible activity that you can add as a tool to your nature-based therapy practice. She shares how to use it as a mindfulness tool, how to adapt birding activities to different needs, and why it’s truly accessible, even if it doesn’t appear that way at first glance.

This is a delightful and exciting conversation that I hope will leave you with lots of ideas and inspiration for incorporating birding into your nature-based therapy practice.

In today’s episode, you’ll learn about earthing and grounding as well as a few research studies that share compelling evidence in favor of this practice. You’ll also hear the benefits of using earthing and grounding in your nature-based therapy practice.

The beauty of these practices is that they are low-cost, easy-to-implement strategies. You can incorporate earthing into your outdoor sessions. You can suggest grounding mats to your families for an opportunity to improve health inside and in situations you cannot observe, like the home setting.

Direct contact with the earth has innumerable benefits, and I can’t wait to see how you will incorporate these methods into your practice.

If you're working with children who have challenges with attention, sensory processing, social skills, or executive function, gather a few simple supplies and try these 3 activities in your next outdoor therapy groups!