Our Students Say They Feel Free: Outdoor Learning with Kyra Stephenson

K-12 teaching & learning, student mental health, teacher wellness, education equity 

School-based nature educator Kyra Stephenson shares how she developed the nature-based learning program at her school in New York and shares stories about how this program promotes learning with her students. 

From Play to Action: Growing a PreK–6 Nature Program with Kyra Stephenson

In this episode, I welcome back Kyra Stephenson, Nature-Based Learning Coach at Anna Murray-Douglass Academy in Rochester, NY, to share the growth of her public PreK–6 nature-based learning program entering its fourth year. Kyra gives a behind-the-scenes look at her teaching rotations, grade-level themes, and practical strategies like nature journaling and routines inspired by Coyote’s Guide to Connecting with Kids through Nature. She emphasizes that learning can start indoors if needed, with the ultimate goal of building joy, connection, and community through nature. As Kyra puts it: “It’s a movement of changing the way we interact with the planet.”