Living The Next Chapter: E60 – Lauren MacLean, Author of "Me and My Sit Spot"

Host: Dave Campbell
Guest: Lauren MacLean
Date: February 11, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Dave Campbell hosts Lauren MacLean, teacher, former national field hockey player, podcaster, and author of the children's book Me and My Sit Spot. The conversation explores Lauren’s journey to authorship, her passion for encouraging children (and adults) to connect with nature, and the power of finding a “sit spot”—a special place outdoors for observation, mindfulness, and play. The episode is a vibrant, candid discussion about outdoor education, the writing journey, and the joys and challenges of balancing parenthood, creativity, and self-care.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Finding Joy (and Calm) in Nature

• The Sit Spot Concept: Lauren describes the "sit spot" as a nature routine—going to the same outdoor spot regularly to observe, reflect, and use one’s senses (08:12, 09:42).
• Inspired by John Young: She credits learning about sit spots from John Young, founder of the Wilderness Awareness School and author of Coyote’s Guide to Connecting with Nature (08:21).

  “Sit spot is one [nature practice] that I really gravitated towards. …I have a lot of energy. I don’t sit still very well or for very long...And so this was sort of my way of really tapping into something that is underdeveloped in myself.” — Lauren (08:21)

• Benefits for Everyone: Dave and Lauren discuss how both adults and children benefit emotionally and physically from outdoor time and connecting to place.

  “Out of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.” — Lauren quoting John Muir (10:05)

2. Making Outdoor Mindfulness Fun for Kids

• Playful Approaches: Lauren emphasizes adapting the concept for young children through games, turning outdoor time into playful opportunities to observe and be still, even unintentionally (00:02, 10:44).

  “Let’s go play hide and seek. …My 3-year-old is down low in the ferns trying to hide from me. He has to sit still now. He doesn’t know that that’s a sit spot…but it’s still getting into the routine of—it’s okay to get dirty, it’s okay to be down in the mud. It’s just fun.” — Lauren (00:02, 10:44)

• Modeling for Children: She points out adults need to model curiosity and a willingness to engage with nature (12:19).

  “We model that playfulness. We model the fact that we are focused on touching the bark of the tree…They pick up on that energy.” — Lauren (12:19)

3. Navigating Parenting and Personal Challenges

• Balancing Roles: Lauren shares her experiences juggling teaching, parenting young children, and writing—especially during the pandemic and after her children’s illnesses (03:22).
• Coping Through Nature: After being quarantined due to illness, the family’s return outdoors provided “a renewed sense of freedom” (03:55).

  “We can go outside, we can go to the stream and throw rocks and not be worried that we’re contagious anymore. So we’re just so enthusiastic...Silver lining.” — Lauren (03:55)

4. The Writing Journey

• Background and Motivation: Lauren transitioned from a national sports career to teaching and, later, writing and podcasting (05:03).

  “I came into teaching a bit later…my former life was as a national field hockey player for Canada. …That really nurtured my belief in doing things as a team. …Mentoring is such a huge aspect…so once I left field hockey because of two knee surgeries, I went into teaching.” — Lauren (05:03)

• Self-Publishing and School Support: She self-published Me and My Sit Spot, then observed organically growing support from schools, which deeply moved her (16:15, 17:10).

  “I have been surprised how many schools I have seen my book in…as a mentoring support teacher, I travel…and there’s my book right in the front window. I’m still caught off guard…” — Lauren (16:15)

5. From Book to Broader Impact

• Workshops & Teacher’s Guide: Beyond the book, Lauren’s been invited to offer workshops on sit spot routines and is developing a teacher’s guide to help educators introduce outdoor observation and inquiry (19:21, 24:07).

  “People are so excited to learn more about outdoor learning… how to ensure a more successful outing with your learners…especially for learners that have English as a second, third, or fourth language.” — Lauren (19:21)

• Collaborative Projects: She plans to collaborate with friend and fellow author Kelly Schutto on a new children’s book in the What Does It Mean? series, specifically about loving nature (24:01).

  “We’re going to write another book together…we’re going to start talking about what does it mean to love nature.” — Lauren (24:07)

6. Author Advice and Community

• Mentoring Matters: Lauren advises aspiring writers to seek mentors or peers who are just ahead on the journey (22:30).

  “For me, the best, biggest help was having a friend going through it at the same time…She helped me figure out how to get my words down, how to find an illustrator…” — Lauren (22:30)

• Facing Uncertainty: Both the thrill and uncertainty of releasing a book are highlighted (19:21):

  “It is exciting. It’s a little terrifying because I don’t know what the end result is going to be. …It’s just having this trust that we’re just going to see what happens.” — Lauren (19:21)

7. Practical Tips for Outdoor Exploration

• Creating Safe, Engaging Routines: Lauren discusses setting safety rules (e.g., mushroom awareness, wildlife) and adapting routines to local context (14:34).

  “I’m going to be the first person to go out into the backyard…just in case there’s a bear or a cougar or a bobcat. …We have a very strict no touching mushrooms rule…” — Lauren (14:34)

• Making Outdoor Time a Habit: Her children are eager to head outdoors, sometimes reluctant to come back inside, illustrating the pull of nature when it’s part of daily life (14:34).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Out of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.” — Lauren quoting John Muir (10:05)
• “That is his version of a sit spot…It’s okay to get dirty, it’s okay to be down in the mud. It’s just fun.” — Lauren (00:02, 10:44)
• “I always come back to this quote by John Muir…out of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt. I love that.” — Lauren (10:05)
• “We model that playfulness. …They pick up on that energy.” — Lauren (12:19)
• “I have been surprised how many schools I have seen my book in…there’s my book right in the front window. …I’m still caught off guard…” — Lauren (16:15)
• “For me, the best, biggest help was having a friend going through it at the same time.” — Lauren (22:30)
• “The fact that I know my backyard forest so well just makes me so unbelievably happy…I just feel lucky. I feel grateful. I have this connection where I now want to look after it.” — Lauren (25:50)
• “We need that time to tune out. Zone in or zone out. …You can think about something specific. You can think about nothing at all and just see where your mind takes you.” — Lauren (27:16)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:02 & 10:44 – Making sit spot playful and accessible for kids
• 05:03 – Lauren’s journey from athlete to teacher to author
• 08:12–10:05 – What is a sit spot? and its impact for adults and kids
• 12:19 – Adult modeling and practical tips for engaging kids outdoors
• 14:34 – Managing safety and family habits in outdoor exploration
• 16:15–17:10 – The book's growing presence in schools and organic outreach
• 19:21 – Workshops, teacher’s guides, and outdoor learning advocacy
• 22:30 – Advice for aspiring authors: the importance of mentoring and support
• 24:01–24:07 – New collaborative projects with Kelly Schutto
• 25:50–27:16 – Personal connection to place, stewardship, and the lasting calm of nature

Episode Highlights & Closing Thoughts

• Lauren’s passion for outdoor education and personal connection to nature shines through with warmth, humor, and honesty.
• Practical advice for parents and teachers: focus on play, curiosity, and making outdoors a regular, safe routine.
• Encouragement for aspiring authors: mentorship and community are vital, and the journey is both exhilarating and daunting.
• The “sit spot” routine offers calm, creativity, and belonging—a message vital for today’s busy lives.

Additional Notes

• Me and My Sit Spot is available via Lauren’s website, major bookstores, and in school libraries.
• Future collaborations and a teacher’s guide are forthcoming.
• Lauren’s story exemplifies how personal growth, resilience, and a deep connection to place can spark broader inspiration and community impact.

Host’s call to action:
“Everyone, please go find your sit spot and take the book with you and enjoy it because Lauren has something there for you.” — Dave Campbell (31:10)

[Links and show notes are available on the podcast website.]