Forest schools

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Forest schools are educational initiatives that provide children with regular opportunities to achieve and develop confidence through hands-on learning experiences in a natural environment. Here are some key features of forest schools:

1.Outdoor Learning

• Nature-Based Setting: Learning takes place in forests, woodlands, or other natural environments.
• Regular Sessions: Children attend forest school sessions regularly, often weekly, throughout the year.

2. Child-Centered Approach
   • Play and Exploration: Emphasis on child-led play and exploration to stimulate curiosity and engagement.
   • Holistic Development: Activities focus on developing physical, emotional, social, and cognitive skills.

3.Practical Skills

• Hands-On Activities: Children engage in activities such as building shelters, fire lighting, tool use, foraging, and nature crafts.
• Risk Management: Encourages calculated risk-taking and teaches children how to manage and assess risks.

4. Connection to Nature

   • Environmental Awareness: Promotes understanding and respect for the natural environment.
   • Sustainability: Teaches principles of conservation and sustainability.

5. Facilitated by Trained Leaders

   • Qualified Practitioners: Sessions are led by trained forest school leaders who guide and support the children's learning.
   • Observation and Reflection: Leaders observe children’s interactions and adapt activities to meet their developmental needs.

6. Benefits of Forest Schools

   • Confidence and Independence: Children gain confidence and develop independence through overcoming challenges.
   • Physical Health: Outdoor activities promote physical fitness and well-being.
   • Mental Well-Being: Nature-based learning helps reduce stress and improve mental health.
   • Social Skills: Collaborative activities foster teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills.

Forest schools aim to foster a lifelong love of the natural world and promote holistic development by integrating nature and education.

I'm my country i guss no
But I went to Japan before in a training program at and I visited a school which provides the same like forest school all ciriclums based on projects Like animal breeding and Plant cultivation . I have a lot of pictures and videos I'll search for it in my laptop and I'll post it

Hi colleagues,
Hope everyone is going well.

I found this short e-book to set up a forest school. It is useful to discuss the possibility of creating a Forest School with your colleagues, manager, head teacher, in order to include them as soon as possible in your Forest Schools journey. I think this will be able to provide support, advice and help ensure you to gain the most from the whole experience as possible. If you are working for an educational setting, you can begin to identify where you Forest Schools will provide new and important opportunities for your learners, as well as how it can contrive to initiatives and other long-term goals.

Link: https://www.forestschoolassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/How-to-Grow-a-Forest-School-from-the-roots-up-14.pdf

Best,
Mr. Bryan

Hello respected mam i have a question that why we are bound to teach only books and completion of course what does it means??

Hey @Ana_moderator

That's an amazing article, School where I teach is in a rural area, surrounded by agriculture Land, most of the surrounding schools who are less fortunate and their buildings have collapsed but still New Generation teachers use different methods, teaching students under tree in open atmoshpere. Once I was assgined a extra role to inspect schools performance in the surrounding. It was really facinating experience students were more enthusiastic as compared to students living in Urban closed school sitting environment.

It is good idea for children to become more empathetic and inquisitive.

@Ana_moderator
I went to Japan in in a training program. We have visited a school based on projects... it seems like what you write about forest schools... I took alot of pictures to some activities.

@ateeque-soomro It is great to take advantage of the environment! In this case, rural areas can "win" over some urban environments.

@ENG-Asmaa absolutely

@Heba-Ali-Mohamed wow! Could you share some of the pictures you took?

@BRYANb8875625e5
Hello Bryan,
Thanks for sharing the link concerning the implemention of a forest school. School leaders should encourage it in their institutions as it will sensitise our young learners about the importance of the environment. The document you shared highlights the responsibilities of the school leader who is planning to implement a forest school.

In Finland, there's a trend of outdoor schools where classes are held in the forest rather than traditional classrooms. For instance, the "Forest School" approach emphasizes learning through nature, where students engage in activities like building shelters, foraging for food, and understanding ecosystems. These schools aim to develop practical skills, encourage a connection with nature, and promote physical activity and well-being. This model contrasts sharply with conventional education settings and offers a hands-on, immersive learning experience.

@Shazia-Baloch
I already teached the students forest base study check this post of mine

@Burfatmukhtiar its amazing Sir

@Shazia-Baloch it's very important to teach students about agriculture and forest system of earth

@Engr-Zeeshan exactly sir in our educational system unavailability of infrastructure and basic resources in rural areas,automatically converted traditional school into forest school. One of my teaching experience want to share over here.. In flood of 2010 in our Sindh region, I was working in army public school on that time, school management assigned some of the teachers in rural areas where I had been there,teached the students in open area around the trees, students sat on the bare floor. At that time, I hadn't an concept of like that but feeling of that time was very refreshing and calm ful even little bit felt inferior as sitting in open area for many days. Now I'm feeling it was worth experience as described forest school.

@Asmashahzad1985 Aslam o Alaikum dear,

No doubt, we teachers, especially those working in rural schools, are dedicated to enhancing our skills through various assigned activities. If we are here, it means we are seeking beneficial information for our schools.

The term "Forest Schools" might be new to us, but our teachers are very much involved in this concept.

You have won my heart with your passionate work. Stay blessed, strong, and healthy.

I appreciate your dedication. Mashallah.

Regards,

@Engr-Zeeshan Thank you brother for your appreciation, I m also inspired from your creative writing, u can also guide and encourage us as a mentor that I can enhance my skills in my teaching way as well as in language perspectives in this forum

@Ana_moderator
This photos taken by me when I was in Japan . We went to a city Ina in Nagano Prefecture ... it was a training program for Egyptian Japanese school teachers.. I recorded and documented everything and every moment with pic, videos ... it was an amazing journey

@Heba-Ali-Mohamed can you please share some pictures here. So that everyone will learnore about it