What is Forest School?
Forest school is essentially participant-led learning through play in a woodland setting. But it’s so much more than that!
Forest school sessions provide a safe environment for participants to explore and take supported risks without judgement. Through regular play in the same natural setting over a continued period of time, they can build personal skills such as confidence, resilience, risk awareness, problem-solving and creativity. Furthermore, participants can develop their inter-personal skills such as communication, collaboration and general social skills…..all through play!
Forest school can also include any number of activities such as bushcraft skills, campfire activities, den building and exploration, creating art from the gifts of the woods and lots of stories and games!
By attending a series of sessions in nature, participants can develop socially, emotionally, spiritually, physically and intellectually.
But most importantly……it’s FUN!!!!!!!
Forest School Principles
From the Forest School Association:
Forest School is a long-term process of regular sessions, rather than one-off or infrequent visits; the cycle of planning, observation, adaptation and review links each session.
Forest School takes place in a woodland or natural environment to support the development of a lifelong relationship between the learner and the natural world.
Forest School uses a range of learner-centred processes to create a community for being, development and learning.
Forest School aims to promote the holistic development of all involved, fostering resilient, confident, independent and creative learners.
Forest School offers learners the opportunity to take supported risks appropriate to the environment and to themselves.
Forest School is run by qualified Forest School practitioners, who continuously maintain and develop their professional practice.
