What do we do at Forest Schools?
A simple answer to that is anything and everything! From hunting dragons and telling stories to learning survival skills and exploring the natural world.
Here are some of the things you might do:
- Learn how to build different types of natural shelters using gathered materials.
- Use man made material to build shelters
- Perform stories and create story spaces
- Create woodland art from bark rubbings to sculpture using hand tools
- Play team building, problem solving and, above all, fun games.
- Learn basic woodcraft skills using a range of hand tools
- Appreciate natural history through tree, plant, animal and insect identification activities.
- Forage for natural foods
- Firelighting skills and fire safety
- Campfire cooking skills
- Free play and reflective time in the outdoors
What are the benefits of Forest Schools?
Here are some of the benefits commented on in research documents and also by settings we have worked with:
- Increased confidence and self esteem in participants
- Improvement in gross motor skills
- Increased understanding of the natural world and seasonal changes
- Curriculum links with Forest School activities
- Increased parent participation in a school project
- Positive atmosphere in school with participants wanting to share their experiences within the school community
- Relationship building within the local community through Forest school celebrations, involving local services such as the police and also local organisation such as Groundworks in projects.