Welcome to Forest School S.A
About Forest School
What is Forest School?
Forest school is an educational approach that emphasises the importance of spending time in nature as a means of learning and development. Taking place in an outdoor, natural environment, forest school aims to help children develop skills through hands on, experiential learning. This includes developing social skills, increasing physical confidence and coordination, and learning about the natural world through observation and exploration.
How can Forest School benefit and support my child?
The benefits of time spent in nature are numerous and have been widely studied and reported on. A child's mental health and well-being are bolstered by time spent outside and a connection with the natural world.
Forest School S.A takes a holistic approach to outdoor education which means we promote positive personal development in all areas of our students personality and character simultaneously. The core pillars of our educational approach are characterised as: physical, intellectual, social, spiritual and emotional. Activities and experiences are set up to promote growth in all of these areas. Students are met at their level and activities are fun and achievable and designed to build up a student’s self-awareness, self-esteem, self-motivation and self-confidence.
Who can take part in Forest School?
Forest school provides an equal opportunity for all ages, although children under 5 years old are required to have a parent in attendance. All levels of ability and knowledge are welcome at forest school and activities are tailored to the needs, desired and abilities of the specific cohort.
Who runs Forest School S.A?
Bell Gower is a registered teacher with a Bachelor of Teaching and a Master of Education. She has worked as a public school teacher and an educational researcher writing about the benefits of play-based and nature-based learning. Bell brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the outdoor classroom, offering students a unique and engaging learning experience in the great outdoors. As an advocate for hands-on, experiential learning, Bell's pedagogy encourages children to develop a strong connection with nature, fostering a love and appreciation for nature that will last a lifetime. Bell is committed to creating a world of inspired and engaged learners. All Forest School volunteers have a WWCC and first aid certification. Forest School S.A welcomes enthusiastic parents and caregivers with knowledge and skills relating to the outdoors and nature to join us and share some of their knowledge and perspectives.
A Day at Forest School
Forest school begins with a welcome circle and a walk through the forest. Cooperative games, crafts, cubby building and free play form the day with breaks for morning tea, lunch (which the children help prepare) and afternoon tea. Relaxation is offered in the middle of the day with some of the younger children napping (although this is not enforced, forest school is very tiring!) Activities are designed to meet children where they’re at and at times children will be split into age-based groups for activities, with older children being offered more intricate crafts, open ended building and engineering projects, journaling and art materials and independent and small group, student led activities. Younger children are offered messy, engaging crafts that promote motor skills such as hammering, threading and sculpting and are given frequent opportunities for unstructured, open ended play as well as coached gross motor activities such as cubby building, climbing and slack lining.