What once started as a week long celebration of women’s contributions has come a long way! Soon after, the week-long movement was further mobilized by communities, organizations and school districts which led to the month long commemoration of women’s achievements across history we know of today as Women’s History Month.

It is a remarkable thing to be a woman with a vision in the world. We’re honored to be surrounded by such a rich ecosystem of women in Austin — paving the way across Science, Art, Technology, Education and beyond. We want to give our roses this year to a local educator who has helped reshape what a curriculum and a classroom can look like when we bring it outdoors into the natural world.

Meet Lauren Zappone Maples, co-founder of P.E.A.S Community Farm & Urban Orchard at Cunningham Elementary and founding executive director of P.E.A.S.!

Lauren shared a few words with us about herself, her work and P.E.A.S community:

Camila Restrepo: What does access to outdoor education and green spaces mean to you?

Lauren Zappone Maples: We are nature. Nature is all around us. We want to make sure that everybody feels connected to the nature that surrounds us and gets the benefits from making inquiries and exploring nature in their own community.

Camila Restrepo: What are some things you have learned regarding the value of time spent outdoors throughout your teaching career?

Lauren Zappone Maples: Personally, I feel the way it balances me. It helps lower my stress levels. It helps me appreciate the abundance of resources that come from our planet and makes me want to create that reciprocal relationship. As the planet thrives we can thrive. I find it more crucial to try to make sure that as many people love the planet and care for it.

Camila Restrepo: What did you learn from visiting other places, like New Zealand, where outdoor education is a part of the curriculum?

Lauren Zappone Maples: There seems to be, within the public education system, a different value and expectation that the kids will be outside all day. All the way down to the way the schools are built. There are no hallways. I visited 25 schools. Some had porches with awnings to protect from rain and the elements, windows on both sides so that students always have the visual aspect to the outdoors.

Camila Restrepo: What are some tips you have for folks trying to increase their time outside as well?

Lauren Zappone Maples: Go for a walk! Daily walks if it is a safe and accessible space. Research is showing 15-20 mins a day walking outside helps reduce cortisol levels. The bare minimum can help people clear their head and put their devices down.

Finding opportunities to get involved with groups that encourage outside time like group camping, etc. Austin has a a lot of opportunities for individuals and families to get outside.

As you know I’m a fan of growing your own food.. getting outside of growing things. Taking care of pollinator plants, taking care of our ecosystem. Around your neighborhood or with other groups .

Camila Restrepo: What about for folks trying to increase their environmental literacy?

Lauren Zappone Maples: Direct time in nature is the key. It naturally leads to questions like “What is that bird that is making that cool sound?” Curiosity will inspire you to look things up.

We see it with the kids, we don’t have all the answers but their curiosity starts the questions that we want to get answered.

Camila Restrepo: P.E.A.S recently received the largest Urban Forest Grant ever awarded by the City of Austin - How has this impacted the organization? What have you been able to accomplish with it?

Lauren Zappone Maples: Well we went from being in 19 schools to 32 schools and we are piloting a middle school program. It’s been a huge learning experience with amazing outcomes. There’s been some scheduling challenges of course.

This year we’ve really been able to prioritize the trees that have been planted on campuses. Seeing the development of the relationships between students and trees has been great. Once the kids get to know the trees and develop that relationship with them they they’ll say: “That’s my baby! - I gotta check on it!”