The 'Business' side of nature education used to really stress me out. I really wished I could just do all of this good work, and provide for the family and have it not be 'weird' or awkward. I didn't like the idea of 'selling' my programs back then either, and it always felt very personal and vulnerable sharing my mission and hoping it would be accepted and valued and just 'work out'.
Over the years of doing this, I learned to work through my feelings about it, because there was no other way to go. I started to understand where my discomfort originated, and where some of my thinking was clouded by family history. I had stories running through my head that were based on ideas and principles that just were not true.
It wasn't easy working through those issues, dismantling them, and learning to see the world differently, but almost immediately, things began to change.
I also discovered that much of the so called 'business world' is still based on principles and ideas found in the practice of hunter gatherer's daily lives. These similarities were really helpful because they showed me a different way of looking at my work that paralleled my own skills and experience.
This episode focuses on marketing and messaging, which are critical skills for all forest educator program directors, founders and even instructors and educators. I've seen a lot of people and schools fade away due to lack of marketing skills or deep resistance to doing it, (among other reasons, too), and it's sobering to see good, dedicated, skilled and deeply caring people walk away from the field because they couldn't figure out how to make it all work.
I am not the defining voice of all forest educators, so please don't think I am speaking with any other authority than my own. There are SO many ways to do all of this work, and I'm always learning myself, every day. If you have something that is working for you that might help other educators, send me a message and let's talk about it!
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https://www.theforestboxforkids.com/)
https://www.hawkcircle.com/)
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