Forest Schooling is outdoor learning which is learner – led and emphasizes self discovery, risk taking, and problem solving.
The first official forest school was in Denmark. It started as what they called a “walking kindergarten” in the 1950s. Interestingly, the concept actually derived from the Waldorf approach.
Soon the concept arrived in Sweden. They saw it as an extension of the now hundred-year-old concept of “friluftsliv” or “free air life” (open air culture).
In the US and UK, the modern concept of forest schooling didn’t officially kick off until the mid-1990s. Forest schooling has grown considerably since. In the US, forest preschoolers in particular have seen a boom. With a 66% increase in one year alone.
Many studies have shown that outdoor play greatly benefits the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of children. Navigating natural environments helps both motor skills and independence develop. Forest schooling students learn plant and animal identification, map reading, foraging, knot tying, and survival skills, etc. They also free play and complete wild crafts. Some combine forest schooling with traditional subjects to create a hybrid approach. It has become more and more popular for homeschool families to include some aspect of forest schooling in their learning.
Q: Is forest schooling seen as an education path until adulthood or just for younger children?
A: Generally, it is the exclusive method for younger kids (especially pre-k + K). And then becomes a hybrid method when the kids are older. There are also forest schooling co-ops, that offer programs for different age groups (sometimes up to middle school). Your kids would participate in that a few days a week and then be home for the other days.
For a very simple introduction to forest schooling activities, perhaps check out “A Year of Forest School” and “Play the Forest School Way”, both by Jane Worroll and Peter Houghton.
Emmy Goulet 