What is Forest School?

What is Forest School?

True Forest School practice is defined by 6 clear principles, as outlined in the video below by the Forest School Association. Not all TWIG sessions will meet these principles, which are held dear by the Forest School community, however my Forest School training was the place where I began my journey and as a result everything I do in the outdoors is inspired by and built upon that foundation. Therefore it makes sense that the ethos is explained here...

Forest School is a child-centred inspirational learning and development process that offers opportunities for holistic growth through regular sessions. It is a long-term program that supports play, exploration and supported risk taking. It develops confidence and self-esteem through learner inspired, hands-on experiences in a natural setting.

Forest School has a developmental ethos shared by thousands of trained practitioners around the world, who are constantly developing their learning styles and skills. Its roots reach back to the open-air culture, in Scandinavia where Forest School began. It arrived in the UK in 1993 and has grown from strength to strength since then.

The process facilitates more than knowledge-gathering, it helps learners develop socially, emotionally, spiritually, physically and intellectually. It creates a safe, non-judgemental nurturing environment for learners to try stuff out and take risks. Forest School inspires a deep and meaningful connection to the world and an understanding of how a learner fits within it. Our approach to risk means that learners constantly expand on their abilities by solving real-world issues, building self-belief and resilience. We believe that risk is more than just potential for physical harm, there are risks in everything we do, and we grow by overcoming them. Forest School therefore, helps participants to become, healthy, resilient, creative and independent learners.