In this episode, we dive into the fascinating world of children's heavy work outdoors with Jaala Shaw from GO RUCK Tribe Kids. With a wealth of experience in early childhood education and international teaching, Jaala shares her insights on the power of outdoor play in developing resilience and strength in young learners. Key Takeaways: Exploring Heavy Work: Understand the concept of heavy work for children and its role in physical and emotional development. Global Perspectives: Learn from Jaala's diverse experiences teaching in locations like China, Micronesia, and working in conflict zones, and how these have informed her approach to education. Outdoor Benefits: Discover the unique benefits that outdoor activities offer, from fostering teamwork to enhancing problem-solving skills. Fitness and Play: Jaala discusses how her passion for fitness influences her work with children, encouraging active and healthy lifestyles. Practical Tips: Gain practical advice on incorporating heavy work and outdoor play into educational settings effectively. About Jaala: Jaala holds an M.A. in Early Childhood Education, an M.A. in TESOL, and a B.A. in Political Science and Education. She started her teaching career as a United States Peace Corps Volunteer first in Chengdu, China as an English teacher, then in the Federated States of Micronesia (Yap) as an elementary school teacher of agriculture and outdoor education. For many years after that, she was an Instructor at the University of California Santa Barbara, and later at the University of Colorado Boulder. She has received two US State Department English Language Fellowships to train teachers in Afghanistan and Jordan. She has also worked in Israel and Palestine learning about non-violent conflict resolution and peace building. As she worked with refugees in war zones, she realized that children are the people who will change our world, so she returned to the United States to begin her teaching career anew, this time with our youngest learners. Besides teaching, Jaala is a professional coach and lover of all sports. She works for CrossFit Headquarters on their coaching seminar staff and is the creator and director of a worldwide fitness program for kids at GORUCK. She and her husband Larry, along with their dog Carmen, love to do ultra-endurance events, summit big mountains, and rock climb. Jaala also enjoys reading and writes freelance about politics and education for various organizations. She loves languages and *tries* to speak some Mandarin, Spanish, and Arabic (but admits she isn't very good at any of them). Connect with Jaala: GORUCK Tribe Kids free content: https://www.goruck.com/pages/tribe-kids-calendar GORUCK Tribe Kids Info page : https://www.goruck.com/pages/tribe-kids Rucking: The Treatment for Sensory Processing Disorder https://blog.goruck.com/rucking-training/rucking-the-treatment-for-sensory-processing-disorder/ What is Rucking? https://www.goruck.com/pages/what-is-rucking GORUCK Tribe and Training (program for adults)
