Meet Shaun Yurcaba | Outdoor Educator and Nature Play Enthusiast

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shaun Yurcaba and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shaun, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
By the time our son was in second grade, his love for learning had virtually disappeared. His anxiety was high. He disliked school and didn’t want to go. We realized that what he needed was a different way to learn than what the school system could provide. He needed more playful, hands on learning, and learning by doing. I saw his needs and in talking with other parents, realized that other children were also not thriving in school. Children were losing their love for learning and in my observations, by second grade. That’s too young to lose curiosity, wonder, and a love for learning. That’s too young to develop anxiety around learning when the world is full of wonder and beauty.

One of my favorite quotes says it best, “For a child there is no division between playing and learning; between the things he or she does ‘just for fun’ and things that are ‘educational.’ The child learns while living and any part of living that is enjoyable is also play.” Penelope Leach

This quote by Leach resonates with me because so much learning happens through play. Rich, meaningful, and magical play can lead to creativity, imagination, problem solving, language skills, mathematics, science, story telling, and so much more.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My educational background is architectural design however I’ve worked with children for as long as I can remember. As an architectural designer, my eyes are focused on the world around and the places, and spaces we live in. As an outdoor nature based educator with a background in architectural design, I look at nature, plants, and animals as our building blocks and materials to work with. The outdoors is our children’s studio, classroom, and play laboratory. When I shifted to working with children instead of buildings, it became clear that just as well designed and thoughtfully placed buildings create a community, children do the same when they’re well guided in their formative years. I began as an outdoor place educator in 2019. At this time, I offered one or two classes a week and at times wondered if anyone would enroll in my outdoor, play based classes. Fast forward to 2022, my classes expanded in enrollment and number of classes per week. In November 2022, I became an LLC and created Nature Play Studio. I enrolled in an entrepreneurial master class which helped me created my business plan, set goals, learn how to create a website, understand marketing, and more. In 2023, I hired a bookkeeper and in 2024 I hired a mom in our community to assist with our classes. I have big dreams for how Nature Play Studio can grow. The work we’re doing with children and their families is magical and so important.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
A favorite spot of mine in the city is the Atlanta Beltline. If a friend from out of town were to visit me in Atlanta, we would enjoy walking and riding bikes on the Beltline. One day we would ride to Piedmont Park from our home in Grant Park while stopping at various places along the way. We would vere off to visit the MLK, Jr. Historic home and museum. We would sit outdoors at a restaurant and people watch or listen to live music. We may grab food from a local restaurant and picnic in Piedmont Park. Another day we would ride in the opposite direction to the Westside Park and Bellwood Quarry. The Atlanta Beltline is a thoroughfare that would take us to Ponce City Market and Krog Street Market where we would grab drinks or dinner. We’d learn about the different neighborhoods that are connected by this pathway and enjoy the beautiful weather that Atlanta often has.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My success as a play based, outdoor educator, would not be what it is today without the wisdom, training, and encouragement I received from Tinkergarten, their co-owner, Meghan Fitzgerald, and the entire Tinkergarten community. In 2019, I teamed up with Tinkergarten as one of their outdoor educators in their outdoor education play based program. That was one of the best decisions of my life and has lead to what I’m doing today.

Website: https://www.natureplaystudio.com

Instagram: @natureplaystudio

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Nature-Play-Studio/100087899809059/

Other: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@natureplaystudio

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/natureplaystudio1/

Image Credits
Jalyn Clemens (photo with me kneeling with children)
Shelbelle Lapidus (photo with me standing with children)