Talaterra

Alastair Duncan is an award-winning artist and educator who uses sound to interpret place. As founder and director of StillWalks he develops interactive projects that promote understanding of place and the outdoors.How does Alastair create StillWalks projects?What has he learned about sound?How does he work with schools, community organizations, a local prison, and immigration services?Let’s find out. LINKSStillWalksStillWalks on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (@stillwalks)Viewing Nature Scenes Positivity Affects Recovery of Autonomic Function Following Acute-Mental StressView Through a Window May Influence Recovery from SurgeryFrom Orange to Blue: How Nature Imagery Affects Inmates in the “Blue Room”High Tide Birds soundtrack, courtesy of StillWalks®, all rights reserved. Correction: Near the end at 49:11, when talking about research, Alastair mentioned the University of Exeter. He intended to say the University of Essex. Thank you for listening.If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with friends and

Katura Reynolds is an Interpretive Content Developer and scientific illustrator. She has worked in exhibit design since 1997 and has created learning environments at museums such as The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Garden, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, and most recently Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, WA.She is especially interested in bilingual and bi-cultural content development and community-based social marketing.How did Katura learn to design bilingual learning environments?What recommendations does she have for us?Let’s find out. LINKSScribbiling ScienceBest practices for the design of bilingual museum graphics (NISE Network)Translation Process Guide (NISE Network)Bilingual Exhibit Research Initiative (BERI), diving into how folks use bilingual graphics in museums.Roots of Wisdom Legacy Document, with insights on cross-cultural collaborations.View transcript Thank you for listening.If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with friends and colleagues and consider leaving a

Kate Field is a co-founder of Leap Farm, a 300-acre award-winning family farm in Tasmania. Together with her husband, Kate implements regenerative farming techniques to produce their signature cheese and to raise goats and cattle.Kate is also the host and producer of “The Curious Farmer” podcast in which she explores the topic of regenerative agriculture.How did Kate and her husband come to own their independent farm?What changes to the land have they observed since taking an ecological approach to farming?Let's find out. LINKSLeap FarmThe Curious Farmer Thank you for listening.If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with friends and colleagues and consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (Click on “Listen on Apple Podcasts.”). Your review brings attention to the significant contributions independent environmental education professionals make to the field and society.

Next week Talaterra Cowork will host Breakthrough! - Purpose of Environmental Education.This Breakthrough! session will be the first of many monthly conversations to encourage dialogue between independent professionals working in fields related to environmental education and their colleagues.This month’s topic was inspired by papers I read by Dr. Rupu Gupta and her colleagues. Last year I had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Gupta for the podcast. Dr. Gupta’s specialty is conservation psychology. She studies why people have an interest in nature, why they don’t, what motivates them to take care of nature, and what barriers prevent people from caring for the environment.This week we revisit my conversation with Dr. Gupta because next week’s Breakthrough! session is informed and inspired by her work and the research tool she helped create at Knology.I hope you enjoy learning about Dr. Rupu’s research and that you consider participating in next week’s Breakthrough! conversation. LINKSKnology.orgMore about Dr. R

The future of work is uncertain. What does this mean to independent professionals like you and me?We can talk about it if you want.How?Let’s find out. LINKSTalaterraWhen Every Aspect of Your Museum Job Has Changed, How Do You Move Forward?International Nature Journaling Week

Last week I had the opportunity to meet with a group of environmental educators. Participants logged in from California, Oregon, Wisconsin, Maine, Mexico, and Costa Rica.What did I learn?What is Talaterra’s next initiative for freelance environmental professionals?Let’s find out. LINKSRegister for Breakthrough! - Purpose of EEPractitioners’ perspectives on the purpose of environmental educationTranscript: Ep 58, Announcing Breakthrough!

“(A) lack of environmental education opportunities in our daughters’ elementary school.”“Through work I was doing with scientific journals and museum publications.”“(An) internship with an organic farm through school.”These are only a few of the responses I received to the question:How did you start working in the field of informal education?I included this question in the survey I used in the early days of The Freelance Project.What else did I learn?Let's find out. LINKSFreelancing in Environmental Education

This week we meet up with Mark and Crystal Mandica, founders of The Amphibian Foundation. When Mark and Crystal launched the Foundation in 2016, they had to get creative when it came to funding because a federal startup grant they were counting on did not come through. They hit the ground running and turned their Foundation into what it is today. Because of the current COVID-19 pandemic, they once again find themselves having to fund themselves creatively.After listening to the original episode (aired December 18, 2019), you’ll hear the conversation I had with Mark and Crystal earlier this week. They have exciting new updates to share, so be sure to stick around to find out what’s new.How is The Amphibian Foundation growing their network?What is their new initiative for families?Let’s find out.  LINKSThe Amphibian FoundationAmphibian Foundation MembershipCritter Camp Worldwide

Alice Merry is a co-founder of Museo Wak'a, a pop-up participatory museum delighting communities in Lima, Peru. I spoke with Alice to learn more about Museo Wak'a and how it contributes to lifelong learning in communities.Alice and co-founder Gustavo Florez Salcedo and team member Rolando Flores Vega launched Museo Wak'a three years ago in a garage after a flood. Since then, they received a grant from the Royal Society of Arts, formed partnerships with museums, and won the hearts of residents.How did Museo Wak'a develop partnerships with traditional museums?What has been Waka's most successful approach to sponsorships?What's next for this community-oriented museum?Let's find out. LINKSMuseo Wak'a: A New Kind of MuseumMuseo Wak'a on FacebookEvent photos on FacebookOur First Few Interviews: Heritage, Shame, and FoodMore Interviews: Make an Event of ItAlice on LinkedInAlice's podcast about women and financial inclusion (The Feminist Finance Podcast)Data for Visitor-serving OrganizationsA Beautiful Constraint

Janice Kelley is an author and the founder of an afterschool program called Nature Detectives. This week we revisit my conversation with Janice because she recently launched a podcast series based on her book, Mornings on Fair Oaks Bridge. Today's episode begins with our discussion about her new podcast, followed by an in-depth conversation about her book and afterschool program. Our in-depth interview first aired on March 7, 2019.What's the story behind the book Mornings on Fair Oaks Bridge?How did Janice create and grow Nature Detectives?Where does she want to take the program?Let's find out. LINKSNature Legacies (Janice’s website)Mornings on Fair Oaks Bridge podcastNature DetectivesMornings on Fair Oaks Bridge: Watching Wildlife at the Lower American RiverThrough the Eyes of John Muir: Practices in Environmental Stewardship

Tina Demirdjian is a poet, author, and teacher. Tina uses poetry and creative strategies to build sustainable partnerships. In this episode, Tina helps us see how poetry can be used to view the world in new and creative ways.How does Tina use poetry as a tool for community building?How does she work with multi-generational audiences? Let's find out.  LINKSPoetry ConsultsTina on InstagramTwo Dying Bees (poem)Worm Biology (poem)Mid-Afternoon (poem)Talaterra on Poetry: Use Poetry to Engage with Your Subject, Your Audience, and Yourself

While reviewing survey results collected in the early stage of The Freelance Project, I was struck by the questions about place and responses educators provided. I know it is our current challenge with the coronavirus that made them stand out. The world was different back then. I did read something in the survey that encouraged me, though. LINKSTalaterra

Donna Cravotta is the founder and CEO of Social Pivot PR. Donna's passion is to inspire people to rethink their approach to social media. I invited Donna to the show today because she achieved the impossible. She got me to see that social media isn't just junk and noise. It is possible to engage with social media thoughtfully and purposefully, and with generosity.I had one question on my mind when I reached out to Donna. It was:How can freelance environmental educators and interpreters use social media to move themselves forward while separated from the people they serve?What did she say?Let's find out. LINKSSocialPivot PRDonna on LinkedInDonna on FacebookDonna on TwitterDonna on Instagram Donna’s Visibility Workshops (use code gathersale, one sale $75 each)Podcasts: Before, During & After the InterviewMedia: Pitch & Position Yourself to Land MediaFrom the Stage: Speak to Your Audience Gather Masterclass - 4-hour LIVE virtual workshop (use gatherjd for 20% off) HAROTweetDeckLater.comeClincherSmarterQu

Bethan Burton is a teacher, avid nature journaler, and founder of International Nature Journaling Week, an online global celebration occurring June 1-7, 2020.When did Bethan decide to make journaling her career?How does she teach nature journaling to toddlers?What is International Nature Journaling Week all about?Let's find out. LINKSJournaling with Nature (Bethan's website)Bethan on Instagram (@journalingwithnature)International Nature Journaling WeekAlfred Russel WallaceThe Sketchbook Project at Brooklyn Art Library 

As some of you already know, last week I opened the doors to Talaterra Cowork, the coworking space that was established for independent professionals working in our field. If you are an independent professional working in environmental education, natural resource fields, nature, and heritage interpretation or in really any field, where through your work, you connect people with nature, this coworking space is for you. 

How do you find "the others?" This question was the focus of a conversation I had earlier this morning. Today I had the opportunity to participate in the Ruckus Makers Roundtable, hosted by Scott Perry, Chief Difference Maker at Creative on Purpose. Scott is currently hosting a series of conversations with individuals from ForwardLink, the alumni community created by Seth Godin. Joining me on the call was Penny Harris, founder of Mission Centered Fundraising. Some of the things Scott, Penny, and I spoke about are who the "others" are, how we move ourselves forward, what we're regularly shipping, and what to do when your audience changes. I'm not going to fill you in with all the details. Instead, I'd like to invite you to listen in on our conversation. You'll find the link to this morning's session in the show notes. Thank you for stopping by the podcast today. See you next week. LINKSRuckus Makers Roundtable: How do you "find the others?"Creative on PurposeAkimbo Workshops

Kathryn Parsley is a Ph.D. candidate whose specialty is plant blindness and botanical literacy. She is creating tools to asses plant blindness in students and hopes to make her tools available to teachers for use in any learning environment.Why did Kathryn choose to study plant blindness?What are her tools about?Let's find out. LINKSKathryn's websiteValidity and Reliability of the Plant Blindness Index (PBI) and the Botanical Literacy Inventory (BLI)Analyzing Plant and Animal Images in Undergraduate Biology TextbooksThe Plant Blindness ProblemSabel Lab at University of MemphisCenter for Biodiversity at the University of MemphisKathryn's Plantae Fellow profileKathryn on LinkedInKathryn on TwitterKathryn on InstagramToward a Theory of Plant Blindness

Erica Fielder is the owner of Erica Fielder Studio, an interpretive studio that creates interpretive displays for parks and visitor centers. Erica has worked with over 50 creative partners during the studio’s 30-year history and has guided the production of almost 1,400 interpretive displays.How did Erica become a designer of interpretive panels?How does she prepare watercolor paintings for her panels?How does Erica begin conversations with prospective clients?Let’s find out. LINKSErica Fielder StudioSam H. Ham•Freeman Tilden •Jug Handle Creek Farm & Nature CenterMaraya Cornell on Twitter National Association for Interpretation (NAI) North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE)Pannier Graphics - Outdoor Signage and Exhibit BasesiZone Imaging - Custom Signs and Environmental Graphics Talaterra is an affiliate of Bookshop.org. If you choose to purchase a book through a link on any of Talaterra’s websites, Talaterra receives a small percentage from each sale.

Episode 45: Introducing Freelance EEFebruary 20, 2020 Tania Marien  0:00 Freelance environmental education? That's a thing? Yes, it is. I've had more than one conversation with people who weren't aware that freelance environmental educators existed. And this is one of the handful of reasons why I started the freelance project, this podcast and the coworking space. Today I'm introducing a new element to the podcast. I'm calling it Freelance EE. Share your specialtyLearn more about the podcast and Talaterra Cowork at Talaterra.com.

Today’s episode addresses this question:How can freelance educators learn to engage with diverse audiences and develop intercultural competence?This question kicked off my conversation with Claudia Diaz-Carrasco. This episode is one of the most listened to episodes to date. It first aired in March 2019.Make sure you stick around until the very end so you don’t miss the special announcement. LINKSTalaterra Mailing List for Freelance EducatorsTranscript to Episode 9: Claudia Diaz Carrasco, Intercultural Competence