Educator Training
At Worldmind, we offer training that helps educators create learning environments where every student feels safe, understood and capable. Our founder and executive director, Megan Patterson, and our Emotional and Physical Safety director, Caroline Griesel, lead trainings for schools, outdoor and nature-based programs, nature centers, zoos, museums and other education settings.
Background
Megan has built a wide range of school-age programs grounded in outdoor learning, and she originally launched Colorado’s first licensed outdoor, nature-based preschool and kindergarten. This experience gives her a unique perspective on designing programs from early childhood through adolescence.
We also offer guidance for organizations interested in starting and running their own outdoor, nature-based preschool or kindergarten.
Expertise
Both Megan and Caroline hold Level 3 Forest School certification from the UK and are trained in trauma-informed education. They bring deep experience working with:
Neurodiverse students
Twice-exceptional and gifted learners
Students impacted by trauma
Extreme and aggressive behaviors
Their combined experience allows them to support educators across a wide range of learning environments.
What Educators Gain
Educators leave with tools they can apply immediately. They learn how to:
Reduce the impact of challenging behaviors on the whole group
Keep students physically and emotionally safe
Respond to behavior in ways that de-escalate and support regulation
Build a supportive and connected classroom or program culture
Use indoor and outdoor environments to help students focus and thrive
Support all learners, including those with complex needs
Most importantly, they gain strategies that help every student feel supported in a way that encourages meaningful, lasting growth.
Our Approach
Our goal is to help educators create communities that honor each student, support one another and deepen their connection to the natural world. We combine evidence-based practices, hands-on techniques and a relationship-centered mindset to help schools and programs build environments where all children can succeed.
Social and Emotional Learning
Megan and Caroline have developed a social and emotional learning approach that builds emotional awareness and strengthens sympathy, empathy and compassion. Their SEL work is grounded in outdoor experiences, relationship-based practices and nervous system regulation.
Training Focus Areas
Our training blends multiple areas of expertise to give educators a strong, practical foundation. Topics can include:
Forest School training (tools and fire)
Neurodiversity, including gifted and twice-exceptional learners
Supporting challenging, extreme or aggressive behaviors
Trauma-informed practices
SEL: teaching emotions, social skills, empathy and compassion
Teaching outdoors in all weather
Ecology and environmental education
Using nature to support regulation, focus and engagement
We welcome you to be a part of the outdoor and place-based education movement and our commitment to honoring all children for a better, more sustainable world starting here in the Denver Metro area.
