Raising Earth Keepers: Nature, Agency, and the Future of Early Childhood with Gabby Millgate
When children are connected to nature from the beginning, they don’t just learn about the world they learn how to care for it.
In this week’s episode of What We Teach Our Children, I sit down with Gabby Millgate, former actor and broadcaster turned Nature Pedagogy Leader.
Through her work, Gabby is reimagining early childhood spaces, not as places of containment and compliance but as living, breathing environments where children can explore, connect, and contribute.
Because nature is not a luxury, it’s a human right.
And in a world facing climate uncertainty, perhaps the most important question we can ask is this:
What do we teach our children… about the Earth they will inherit?
In this episode, we explore:
- Gabby’s transition from film, theatre, and radio into early childhood education
- How reconnecting with nature in adulthood reshaped her purpose
- Why nature is essential, not optional in early learning environments
- The concept of Nature Pedagogy and its impact on child development
- Children’s role in climate awareness and action
- The importance of place-based learning and Indigenous knowledge systems
- How early learning centres can become living ecosystems of care and connection
Acknowledgement of Country
We acknowledge Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as the first inhabitants of this nation and recognise the Traditional Owners of the lands where our volunteers, staff and community partners live, learn and work.
We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging, honouring their deep cultural, spiritual and ecological knowledge of Country.
SOCIAL Connection
linkedin.com/in/gabbymillgate-nature-pedagogy
youtube.com (Other)
Websites
aaee.org.au (Company)
wodenvalleychildcare.com.au (Company)
Connect with me
If you care about creating a better future for humanity and want to belong in a movement for change, join our What We Teach Our Children community, by subscribing on my website and following me – Kim Kleidon on LinkedIn or Instagram and WWTOC on Facebook or Instagram for updates and new releases.
Together, we can be the change we want to see in the world – one story at a time.
