Who is Forest School for?
Who is Forest School for?
Camp Magnolia: Forest School is for the child who appreciates hands-on learning. It’s for those who want to intake the natural world while learning and playing and not be separated from it for the majority of the day. Studies have shown forest schools are helpful options for children who have a hard time in the regular schooling system and benefit from more time in nature. Forest School is great for curious minds and adventurous hearts. The idea has been around for quite some time. Below you’ll find text from a website summing the history of and purpose of forest schooling.
All further text from: https://www.theforestschoolfoundation.org/background-information-history
What is a Forest School?
A forest school is a progressive, alternative education model held almost exclusively in the outdoors. It is also commonly known as forest kindergarten, outdoor nursery, or nature school. Whatever the weather, children are encouraged to play, explore, and learn in natural outdoor spaces. This provides dynamic and varied learning conditions to challenge and empower students to discover in deeper and more holistic ways than a traditional classroom environment.
What is the history of forest school?
The first forest school was created by Ella Flautau in Denmark in the early 1950s. The idea formed as a result of her with her own children and neighbors' children gathering together in a nearby forest, an unofficial form of daycare which elicited great interest among other parents in the community.
What makes forest school different?
Besides the obvious difference of being located outdoors, another distinctive feature of forest kindergartens is the emphasis on play with objects that can be found in nature, rather than commercial toys. The fact that most forest kindergartens do not provide commercial toys that have a predefined meaning or purpose supports the development of language skills, as children verbally create a common understanding of the objects used as toys in the context of their play.
Creating toys, tools and handcrafts with found natural objects
Learning about the role of trees in nature and society
Discovering the relationship between earth and sky
Noticing the gradual changes of a natural landscape through the seasons
Exploring the complex ecosystem supported by a wilderness
Recognizing and identifying local flora and fauna
Embarking on imaginary voyages and expeditions
Practicing open-ended free play and memory games with loose parts
Playing imaginative games using role play and available resources
Building shelters or other structures from branches and natural materials
Counting objects or looking for mathematical patterns
Listening to stories; singing songs and rhymes
Drawing scenes or arranging natural items to create an image
Climbing trees and exploring the forest, playing hide-and-seek.
Self reflection, rest and meditation
