Thriving In Nature
A Phoenix Support for Educators and Educated by Nature collaboration brings you online professional development on nature pedagogy, outdoor play and risky play, educator wellbeing, and needs-based behaviour guidance.
Thriving in Nature is a self-paced professional learning course created by two organisations who share a deep commitment to children thriving - and to the educators who make that possible.
Across the course, you'll explore how outdoor environments can support wellbeing, regulation, and thriving - for children and educators alike. You'll be guided to shift away from "managing behaviour" and instead strengthen a needs-based, relationship-centred approach that protects dignity, builds skills, and supports confident decision-making outdoors.
This course includes the following for you to trial immediately in your setting.
Educators in early childhood and school-age settings who want practical, strengths-based guidance for outdoor play and learning.
Educational leaders, nominated supervisors, managers, and coordinators supporting team confidence, consistency, and wellbeing outdoors.
Teams who want shared language and aligned approaches to outdoor play, risk, regulation, and guidance.
Build a steadier, more grounded presence in outdoor environments - so you can lead with clarity even in big, messy, unpredictable moments.
Explore why children behave the way they do outdoors - and develop responses that protect dignity, build skills, and meet needs.
Use the Phoenix Cups® Framework as a practical, shared tool to understand how wellbeing shapes what we bring to children every day.
Identify the pressure points in your outdoor space and apply small, meaningful shifts that support regulation, deep engagement, and belonging.
Develop a consistent approach across your team, so outdoor guidance feels aligned, thoughtful, and grounded in the same values.
Access downloadable PDF tools and practical next steps you can trial immediately - no waiting until next term to get started.
Welcome
Student walk through video
Agreement
FAQ
FREE PREVIEWYour Professional Learning Notebook - A free gift from Phoenix Support for Educators
Settle In
Before You Watch - Gentle Reflection
Watch - Daniel Opening: Acknowledgement of Country + Icebreakers
After You Watch - Reflect and Integrate
What’s Next
Settle In
Before You Watch
Watch: Wellbeing with Christopher Phoenix
After You Watch - Reflect and Integrate
Apply it
Download: Your Wellbeing Toolkit
Team Reflection (Optional)
Leadership Reflection (Optional)
One Small Strengthening Action
What’s Next
Settle in
Before you watch
Watch: Behaviour Guidance with Sandi Phoenix
After You Watch - Reflect and Integrate
Bringing It Together - A Framework to Carry Forward
Apply it: Choose your next move
Download: From Understanding to Action
Team Reflection (Optional)
Leadership Reflection (Optional)
One Small Strengthening Action
What’s Next
Settle In
Before You Watch - Gentle Reflection
Watch - Song Circle (Daniel)
After You Watch - Reflect and Integrate
Apply it - Rhythm Reset
Your Rhythm Reset - To Keep
Team Reflection (Optional)
One Small Strengthening Action
What’s Next
Settle In
Before You Watch
Watch: Nature Pedagogy with Daniel Burton
After You Watch - Reflect and Integrate
Apply It (Interactive) – Outdoor Environment Scan
Download Your Outdoor Classroom Guide
Daniel's Recommended Reads
Let Them Eat Dirt!
Going Deeper - Blogs from Educated by Nature
Team Reflection (Optional)
Leadership Reflection (Optional)
One Small Strengthening Action
What’s Next
Thriving in Nature draws on current evidence in neuroscience, positive psychology, and Nature Pedagogy to offer a grounded, humanistic approach to outdoor practice. Rather than a set of rules to follow, this course invites you into a way of thinking - one that sees children and educators as capable, needs-driven people doing their best in the moment.
The Phoenix Cups® Framework - grounded in Self-Determination Theory - provides the central lens, alongside research on nature-based learning, educator wellbeing, and the guidance approach pioneered by Dr. Louise Porter.
This course features recorded sessions from a live professional learning day, delivered by Phoenix Support for Educators and Educated by Nature.
Enrol now to access the full course, downloadable tools, and certificate.
Access Thriving in Nature →