Staff Development, Teacher Training, Guest Speaker

Carolyn Mulcahy is an educational consultant who specializes in pedagogical development of outdoor educators.  She helps teachers and school leaders develop their method and teaching practices while they are in an outdoor setting.  

As a response to federal mandates seeking to narrowly standardize curriculum, leaders in outdoor education, play based early childhood programs and teachers working within the limits of state governed public schools need to be able to reflect and articulate their own well thought out techniques, practices, and values so they can become advocates for children’s right to a learner center environment that is less formal but has a clear theoretical framework. She also coaches teachers to become skilled at documenting the students process of learning and their own teaching practices to show evidence of the learning and growth that is taking place in a non-traditional setting. Carolyn consults with school administrators who want to structure new outdoor programs for children in nature or just add more nature based practices into their existing school. She is also available for speaking events such as conferences, staff development and parent education meetings.

She developed her approach through her own experiences as an outdoor educator in various settings (recreational, therapeutic and educational). She also have seventeen years experience operating in a supervisory role as a school administrative director. Her formal education in outdoor pedogy was fully shaped at San Francisco State University where she earned her MA in early childhood education. Her thesis was on transforming perspectives in outdoor education.  She has BA in psychology with a capstone in positive psychology and mindfulness. She has child development teacher permit and program director certificate from the CA commission on teacher credentialing. She is a yoga enthusiast and has a meditation teacher certificate from the Center for Spiritual Enlightenment in San Jose.