How to set up a Forest School - 7 Steps to Start a Forest School Programme

[@ForestSchoolLou]

Dive deeper into the Forest School ethos with our FREE experiential video series - kzbin.info/aero/PLM_3b0QSEkWm6BRf_BWDDdSlRr6Khd9yA or invest in accredited training with us - www.birchwoodlearning.com we are excited to be restarting face to face training from March 2022!

[@sandrat8547]

HI Lou I'm currently undergoing my training but had hit a bit of a mental block over the last month or so and was feeling pretty overwhelmed at it all. I managed to get focused again this week then stumbled upon your channel ... my positivity and determination has returned! I'm working my way through your videos making notes. Thank you so much 😊

[@ForestSchoolLou]

Thanks Sandra! So happy to hear you are feeling groovy about Forest School again. The training is process can be a big chunk of time and energy, but its worth it - to share time and discoveries with the kids and seeing them grow and flourish! 😀 Wishing you many happy adventures in the woods! 🌳🍄🔥

[@geneoluminology]

little by little dear Sandra.....the power of the present....and PASSION...follow passion....kids needs us....l m almost 50 and starting waldorf education...CHILDREN on this planet really need help

[@janer1726]

Hello, I am a qualified teacher looking to either setup or work at a forest school and this was so helpful, thank you

[@ForestSchoolLou]

Thanks for watching!

[@lucylou111]

Lou. Thank you in advance for what you've done for me in realising the missing piece of the jigsaw in my entrepreneurial (& spiritual!) endeavours ❤🙏🏼 you're amazing!

[@ForestSchoolLou]

Ahh, Thanks for watching! I'm curious to know what the missing piece is now! 😀

[@lucylou111]

@ForestSchoolLou forest schoooools😁🌳 haha I'd love to chat more if that's at all possible whenever. I'm UK based too so this is all so helpful 😊🙏🏼

[@ForestSchoolLou]

Groovy. Feel free to drop me a line - [e-mail]

[@lucylou111]

@ForestSchoolLou thanks very much I shall 💚

[@xsnoopybrownx]

Amazing video! Very informative, clear and easy to understand. Thank you! 😊

[@ForestSchoolLou]

Thanks for watching!

[@nicolahoath6124]

I'd love to see more videos that provide further information about setting up on your own. I'm still putting together my portfolio & handbook for level 3 forest school leader although my aim is to set up on public land with council permission for toddler/preschool groups, weekend & holiday clubs for school aged children and provide some sessions for adults. Alongside this I'd love to work with local schools on this piece of woodland or in their own grounds.

[@ForestSchoolLou]

Thanks Nicola, Is there any particular aspect/s or topics of setting up that you'd like more depth on? Sounds like you have some great plans for your FS - best of luck with it!

[@cherrycampbellmasters4004]

HaHa the military plane bit was good comic relief :) I live in New Mexico and am so blessed to live on a beautiful property that is so perfect for a forest school. I have a 4 year old and a 9 month baby and we’re slowly growing our small group. Thank for your contributions 💚

[@ForestSchoolLou]

Thanks for watching! How lovely to have nature on your doorstep. Wishing you and your family many outdoor adventures! 🌳🌻🙂

[@karendorman7252]

First off, I love watching your videos! They are so informative! I am planning to do a forest school in the future. We live in states so there are only a few of them. I own my own forest so I have the site. I currently work at a private school but plan on leaving to start my own pre- k program. Any videos you put out would be great! The one you did with fire safety taught me a lot. I’m new to living in the country. Lol

[@ForestSchoolLou]

Thanks Karen, glad you've enjoyed the vid's. Great to hear that more Forest School programmes are popping up in the States, and how wonderful to have your own forest! wow!

[@marianakamimura6561]

Your edits are absolutely amazing! Hahaha Put a smile on my face. Such a great informational video, thank you so much!

[@ForestSchoolLou]

Thanks for watching! Glad it was useful to you 😀

[@HoaPham-hs2eq]

thanks a lot for your video. They are very helpful. I am living in Vietnam and want to set up a forest school

[@ForestSchoolLou]

Glad you've found the videos helpful - great that you are planning on setting up a Forest School - I bet you have amazing forests on Vietnam!

[@wildbearsforestschooloutdo3457]

Thank you so much for this. I've just done my training week and this is really comprehensive and informative for the business side of forest school. I'll be watching again with note pad and pen 🙂

[@ForestSchoolLou]

Thanks Lisa, glad you've found the vid useful!

[@KirstieCarson-z1z]

Really useful! I'm a teacher currently doing my L8 training so very good to get a clearer insight into the set up. Thank you Lou

[@ForestSchoolLou]

Glad it was useful - thanks for watching!

[@heidisourwine]

The baby sleeping sounds 💓

[@ForestSchoolLou]

Thanks for watching!

[@karendorman7252]

Please expand on this! I’m learning so much and am opening my forest school next fall.

[@ForestSchoolLou]

Thanks for watching Karen! Do you have any thing in particular that you would like more information on?

[@karendorman7252]

@@ForestSchoolLou Is there any way you could show a video of a typical day in forest school? I’m going to be working with ages 2-5. Do you recommend any kind of curriculum that I can order to go with the seasons?

[@ForestSchoolLou]

@@karendorman7252 Thanks. Its tricky to say because Forest School is play based it follows the needs and interests of the individuals in the group - so there is no set curriculum. You might find my video on short term planning helpful - kzbin.info/www/bejne/a6uTY5qLq9yKpdU in this vid I go through an example session rhythm/routine that may give you an idea of how a session may flow. Also my vid on long term planning - kzbin.info/www/bejne/op2zpWyAqrarnZo shows how you can plan for different topics in advance. Hope they help!

[@ForestSchoolLou]

Wondering how to plan learner-led Forest School sessions? Join me for a live lecture 'Planning for play' on Tuesday 13th Sept 2022, 7.30pm (UK time). Claim your FREE place on my Buy Me a Coffee page - www.buymeacoffee.com/forestschoollou (and click on 'extra's) or listen to me explaining more here - kzbin.info/www/bejne/p2rWeqeae7KCgJY

[@ckgoam6791]

Nice

[@organicgardenmamavictoriab2768]

I've been thinking about starting one

[@ForestSchoolLou]

Thanks for watching Victoria - wishing you many wild adventures on your path to Forest School!

[@organicgardenmamavictoriab2768]

@@ForestSchoolLou Do you need to have a teaching degree? I don't have one.

[@beetooex]

I'm surprised you didn't mention planning permission issues in regards to finding a site. By the letter of the law you need to apply for a 'change of use' if using a woodland for anything that isn't forestry for more than 28 days a year. I'm sure many outfits fly under the radar but I bet people do get shut down too. I can imagine that the planning authority would freak out over parking and toilet provision that they'd then deny permission to build. As a side note I've read that compost toilets often don't work well in the UK- it's a bit cold for them to break down the 'material' fast enough to keep up.

[@ForestSchoolLou]

Thanks for watching! Yes ,I've also heard that some Forest School businesses have encountered issues around planning. As I understand it, it mostly has affected independent Forest Schools setting up on private land, of which there are fewer. The majority of people training to become Forest School Leaders are coming from existing work places such as schools, early years settings, outdoor organisations etc and use their existing grounds to run it from, rather than sourcing a new area. Those that look for a patch of woodland belonging to someone else often approach landowners who already have educational/recreational objectives and thus the planning use may already be changed. There is also added grey areas of the woodland being multifunctional and the Forest School aspect being just one element. I have also heard a mix of responses about planning authorities - some very concerned about the use and others telling the FS leaders not to bother approaching the council - so it must be an area that varies hugely by council to council.

[@dwylhq874]

Great Video Lou! 😍 Follow-up question: what is the smallest forest hosting a school you have seen or heard of? 💭

[@ForestSchoolLou]

Thanks for watching. In answer to your question - here in the UK many schools offer Forest School programmes in their school ground rather than a 'forest' so they might only have a couple of trees in the corner of their playing field or a school wildlife garden where the grass is left to grow a bit longer! In these situations the practitioner has to be more resourceful and creative and bring natural items in from elsewhere so it could be considered harder work to do this than visit a woodland. :-)

[@nickexley2637]

Hi Lou, I'm enjoying your forest school content. I'd love a bit more detailed information on setting up a forest school if you could please? Particularly info on obtaining land to operate on, such as site size, location and obtaining permission to use it as a business. Also the lease vs purchase decision.

[@ForestSchoolLou]

Thanks Nick, glad you've enjoyed the vid's. Thanks for your feedback, great ideas for topics - we'll try to do a vid with some more details about sites in the future!

[@ForestSchoolLou]

Hi Fabulous Forest Schoolers, Do you have any tips to share about how to set up Forest School programmes? Or anything you would like to know about in more depth? Do comment below - we'd love to hear your thoughts!

[@patriciamoloney5]

Thank you 🙏

[@ForestSchoolLou]

Thanks for watching!

[@ckgoam6791]

Can you guide me to set up forest school? I'm from Malaysia . Very inspire when watching your video

[@ForestSchoolLou]

Thanks for watching - if you'd like you can send me an email [e-mail] . I have noticed that there is some Forest School starting in the Philippines - there are some videos on youtube.

[@organicgardenmamavictoriab2768]

I haven't seen any forest schools in NYC. I would love to be apart of a forest school and get some training.

[@ForestSchoolLou]

Thanks for watching Victoria! Here in the UK we have some Forest Schools in cities like London, they often use parks and community spaces like gardens and allotments.

[@organicgardenmamavictoriab2768]

@@ForestSchoolLou We have a beautiful forest named forest park . I was thinking I'll start a forest playgroup

[@ForestSchoolLou]

@@organicgardenmamavictoriab2768 I bet that would be amazing and hugely valuable for urban

[@breee4093]

What might you suggest for an area with a lot of poisonous bugs/snakes?

[@ForestSchoolLou]

Thanks for watching! All Forest Schools will have risk management systems in place for their site and activities. Through these systems aspects which are 'high risk' will be identified - such as poisonous species. The next step would be to consider whether these high risks can be controlled in any way through actions that may reduce the risk level. For example with poisonous species it would be important to be able to identify those species, be aware of their habitat and behaviours to recognise where the highest likelihood of encountering them may be, as well as the severity of their poison. Additional factors would also be considered such as; individual's allergies, first aid equipment carried, location of nearest medical support (with anti-venom) etc. Considering all these factors would be part of the decision making process about using an area. I am hoping to do some more videos on risk assessment to share more about this topic.🙂

[@sophietreloar5345]

Looking at setting up a Forest School based at my home which is a short walk to the South Downs. Can I run a forest school on public land?

[@ForestSchoolLou]

Hi Sophie, Thanks for your question. In the UK the majority of land is owned by someone or organisations - even land which has public access (there are a few exceptions to this). I would recommend seeking permission from the land owner or whoever manages the land beforehand. Certain activities, such as harvesting natural materials and lighting fires require landowner consent by law. Also you may need to share insurance information with the landowner.