ABOUT THE SHOW
Stories of people doing the
work
Hopeful by Nature travels the world to find the educators, parents, organizers, and community leaders who are connecting young people to the natural world in ways that build something real. Each episode is a conversation with someone who refused to wait for permission — and built something anyway.
Hosted by Scott Shepherd, founder of Wildward Institute.
LATEST EPISODE
Retired Twice - And Still Passionate About Outdoor Learning | Celeste Royer Ten Strands
with Celeste Royer of Ten Strands
ABOUT THE EPISODE
I had the unique opportunity in 2021 to conduct research along Cal Poly Humboldt University evaluating the efficacy of field trips to California State Parks. When I started this research, I went in expecting one result and found another.
Scott leading a field trip at Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve
I thought kids would come back from a field trip loving nature more. Instead, they came back motivated to work harder in school, and an increase in self-efficacy or their belief in their ability to set and achieve goals. Not greener — more capable. That's a gap between what we assume outdoor learning does and what it actually does that I haven't stopped thinking about.
Celeste Royer has spent forty years closing that exact gap, first from inside a classroom-free schoolhouse, now from inside the California Legislature.
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