What is Forest School? 7 Things you need to know as an Introduction to Forest School

[@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!

[@romygomez8259]

Thanks fo sharing. I asked a question about behavior issues in another video, this video really makes clear that the student actually leads the class and I am there to focus on their interests. I will look into Forrest School Training L3, as well. I also have to be aware that children rarely get outdoors, much less in the forrest. so I can see how the young children would just go crazy running around out there, when cooped up in a classroom all day and in front of the tv afterward. Thanks!

[@ForestSchoolLou]

Thanks for watching, I saw your other post and have replied there too. Interesting point about some children not spending much time outside - I have also noticed that there is a difference in the behaviour of children who are used to being outside and those who are not. Often at the start of a Forest School programme (Forest School is long term so we work with groups over weeks, months and sometimes years) there can be a 'wildness' in the children as they are very excited to be out and want to 'do' everything. It can take several weeks before they realise that they can come back to things and are able to choose how to spend their time.

[@natureplayfilm7265]

Interesting description of the UK model of Forest School and its evolution in Great Britain. A bit different than the Nordic Model, but it is good for countries to come up with their own models that fit within the cultural context of their country.

[@rolo20ged70]

Thank you for this wonderful presentation 👏 🙏 I have a forest school... it is the most wonderful oasis for young leaners and leaders to develop so many skills... Inspirational and adventurous are two important words that come to mind with this beautiful philosophy ❤️

[@ForestSchoolLou]

Thanks for watching and for spreading the Forest School grooviness! Wishing many inspirational adventures and many adventurous inspirations! 😀🌲🍄

[@duncancoleman8403]

Great Video, I will share with my current FS L3 learners

[@ForestSchoolLou]

Glad you have found it useful. Thanks for sharing!

[@wing2row86]

This is wonderful and very inspiring. Play based learning is a great way to scaffold the children’s learning

[@ForestSchoolLou]

Thanks for watching!

[@dominicslater9656]

A really clear summary of FS and its ethos. Thanks Lou! I shall certainly be watching more

[@ForestSchoolLou]

Thanks Dominic, glad you enjoyed it! Hope you are spending lots of groovy time in the woods!

[@cristinatosta230]

Very useful. Thank you so much

[@ForestSchoolLou]

Thanks for watching!

[@ForestSchoolLou]

Hi there groovy Forest Schoolers! Have you come across any misconceptions about Forest School? Do share them in the comments below!

[@miriparentinginfogroup]

How do we learn it? We are from Sarawak, Borneo. Hope to learn and teach our children here.. Such a valuable lesson

[@ForestSchoolLou]

Wow - I bet you have amazing forests in Borneo! Forest School has been adopted in different ways in many different countries. In many cases this has started by a small group of people in a country who belief in its benefits and want to start it up. The Forest School Association (www.forestschoolassociation.org) has supported people in some countries looking to start up and promote Forest School.

[@NaturallyWanderlust]

im very interested in taking the course. Do i need to be a classically qualified teacher? Is there any must have previous qualifications or specific level of education in order to enroll in the forest school teacher course in the uk?

[@ianwallace697]

I am a retired youth worker, now chair of a group who have saved a woodland from loss by the local community. I am looking for good forest school projects with adolescence where we can get ideas also we are based in the north of Scotland does anything exist up here?

[@ForestSchoolLou]

Thanks for watching Ian. Yes there are Forest Schools happening up in Scotland. Some of my colleagues are based in Scotland running FS training and might know more about what's happening local to you. You can see what they are offering through www.forestschooltraining.co.uk

[@tamdoxuan4926]

so great i want to do that in Viet Nam

[@ForestSchoolLou]

Thanks for watching! I imagine you have some amazing wild places in Viet Nam!

[@interestedpart2650]

‘We’ve only been living indoors for a hundred years’ What???

[@ForestSchoolLou]

What I mean by that is - Modern humans (Homo sapiens) have been around for 300,000 - 200,000 years. We spent most of that time as hunter gatherer tribes wandering the landscape. 12,000 years ago we learnt how to domesticate animals and plants leading us to be more settled. 5,000 years ago in the bronze age most people in the UK lived in settlements but still lived a very outside existence with the seasons and landscape. This was true for many people up until the industrial revolution when many people were forced to move into cities and factory work became common place. So if you called it 1800’s then we’ve been indoors a couple of hundred years which is 0.07% of all human history (not counting our earlier hominid ancestors). Our bodies and brains have not changed since we lived nomadic hunter gatherer lifestyles but how we live our lives has changed massively and we’re not designed for it. According to a survey done by Persil in 2016, 74% of UK children spend less than a hour outside each day (less than a maximum security prisoner) which will affect their development. As a species we have domesticated ourselves and its making us ill physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually.