She pitched, then waited 20 years to hear, “We’re ready for you.”

This week, as fireworks fly and flags wave, we’re talking about a different kind of freedom - one you don’t get from a declaration or a vote.

The freedom to be understood.

If you’ve ever tried to explain what you really do… and watched the other person’s eyes glaze or their head tilt in confusion, you know what I mean.

That’s not just annoying. It’s exhausting. And costly.

Because if your people don’t get what you do, they can’t buy it. Or share it. Or believe it can help them.

Wildly Known exists to set your message free so your words can finally rise to meet the work you’ve worked so hard to build.

If your business is ready for that kind of clarity, reply with “In the Jar.” I’ll know what you mean.

Now, speaking of bold voices...

This week’s feature is one that took 20 years to be heard.

Victoria Hackett was told her outdoor classroom idea was “cute.” Then she brought the data. Now her work is reshaping education on a global scale.

But first… this just in. My friend Minnie’s pretty smart. She builds stuff that converts at 40% or more. She’s got a free class coming up that I wanted to share with you.

And now, without further ado…

From Dusty Courtyard to Nationwide Movement: How One Educator Turned a Wild Idea Into a Wild Success

It started with a patch of dirt.

Not a poetic meadow or enchanted forest. Just a dull, lifeless courtyard next to a school entrance. Most people barely noticed it. Victoria Hackett couldn’t stop thinking about it.

Back then, she was just a mom walking her kids to preschool. But she was also an educator with a stubborn hunch: if that courtyard could become a garden, it could change everything.

She wasn’t wrong.

When Play Becomes the Plan

Victoria convinced the school to let her give the idea a try… quietly, of course, because suggesting kids learn outdoors was borderline heresy in some circles. She rallied volunteers, brought in a landscape designer, and got to work. Soon, that forgotten corner bloomed into a real-deal outdoor classroom.

Then came the magic.

One teacher pulled her aside, stunned. A student who typically couldn’t sit still indoors had just taken the lead outside, totally engaged. Victoria knew what she was seeing: nature worked. And not just for that one child. It worked for the whole class.

Still, the teachers were hesitant. They loved the space. They just didn’t know what to do with it. It felt like an “extra,” not a tool.

So Victoria did what any good rebel educator would do: she hit the road in a minivan full of kids and studied every outdoor classroom she could find. From wildlife habitats to edible gardens and messy mud kitchens, she spotted four clear themes. Those themes became the backbone of her signature framework: the Four Types of Teaching Gardens.

That garden? It was just the beginning.

When No One Gets It… Keep Going Anyway

Victoria had a vision: every school should have an outdoor classroom. Every teacher should know how to use it.

Her district wasn’t ready. But COVID changed that.

Twenty years later, they called her back.

“Remember that thing you wanted to do at all the schools? We’re ready now.”

Let that sink in. Two decades of holding a dream and then FINALLY getting the call to come build it.

She returned, built the programs, and launched a new resource: Outdoor Classrooms. Through it, she now supports educators and parents across the globe with online training, local programs, and a growing podcast that connects fellow trailblazers.

And no, she still hasn’t written the book, but she will. Probably the second she catches her breath.

Not an Add-On. A Way In.

Victoria knows the biggest objection isn’t money or effort. It’s time.

Teachers don’t have enough of it. And if something feels like “one more thing,” it’s a non-starter.

But that’s the myth she’s busting wide open.

Outdoor learning isn’t extra. It’s better. It’s not a detour; it’s the fast lane to more engaged students, calmer classrooms, and deeper learning. The kids with sensory needs, ADHD, anxiety, or just too much bottled-up energy? Outside is where they thrive.

And no, it’s not about tossing the curriculum. Victoria teaches educators how to integrate it. Science, math, reading, even writing. Yep, it all works outside. (Bonus: mud makes a great writing prompt.)

Still, change is slow. Some administrators are all in. Some teachers are cautiously curious. Some are just cold and tired. Victoria’s fine with all of it.

She just wants them to try.

Because once they do, they get it.

Building the Infrastructure for Change

These days, Victoria offers a full Outdoor Classrooms Teacher Certification Program. It’s a year-long experience that includes bootcamps, seasonal masterclasses, and capstone projects.

There’s also a vibrant membership community that meets twice monthly and has become something of a family. (Yes, a family of outdoor-loving, dirt-under-their-nails educators. It’s glorious.)

For those who prefer one step at a time, she offers standalone workshops too. And yes, her programs work in urban settings. You don’t need a forest. You just need the willingness to start.

She even offers one-on-one calls to help people figure out if the certification is the right fit. She likes knowing who she’s working with. And let’s be honest, it weeds out the ones still allergic to dirt.

A Trickle-Up Effect

Victoria’s not just reaching teachers. Her work is shaping kids, and through them, their families.

Parents see the garden, the mud kitchen, the joy. And they think, “We could do this at home.”

They start planting. Playing. Learning alongside their kids. Suddenly it’s not just a school thing. It’s a way of life.

Victoria isn’t pushing fancy setups or Pinterest-worthy perfection. In fact, she’d probably cringe at that. Kids don’t need “polished.” They need permission to get messy, explore, and discover.

And if you think this is just about school gardens, you’ve missed the point.

This is about saving a generation that thinks food comes from plastic and play comes from a screen. This is about helping educators rediscover joy. It’s about building connection, community, and confidence… outside.

The Movement Is Growing. Are You In?

Victoria’s not slowing down. She’s working with schools, mentoring educators, growing the certification program, and running full-day events when she can squeeze them in.

She’s also podcasting, sharing stories from the field and elevating voices that usually go unheard.

But make no mistake: this isn’t some nostalgic, kumbaya hobby. It’s a movement. And Victoria Hackett is leading it one dusty courtyard at a time.

Want to bring outdoor learning to your community?
Connect with Victoria and explore her certification and workshops at https://outdoor-classrooms.com

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