What Are Forest Schools, and Should You Enroll Your Kids?
I was introduced to the concept of forest schools in 2017 while reading the outdoor parenting book There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather by Swedish author Linda Åkeson McGurk. She went into detail about Swedish schools that were conducted exclusively outside no matter what the weather was. Curious, I googled ‘forest schools in Canada’ and found a couple in British Columbia.
Fast forward five years, and my small farming community of 1,200 people in southern Alberta now has a forest school. The concept has really taken off!
When Coulee Critters opened in Lethbridge, I enrolled my then three-year old, Tynan, for the twice-a-week program. We met in a large city park; he carried a backpack with spare clothes, warm gear and snacks.
Rachel Richards
Ty was always super excited to start, though when the temperatures dipped below zero, he questioned me as I zipped him into his snow gear. At the end of every class, I would stand and watch the children file out from the woods one by one. As soon as he saw me, Tynan would immediately begin whining or crying about how unhappy he was. Speaking with his teacher, he was 100 per cent fine the entire time until he saw me. In the end, I enrolled him in traditional pre-school because he needed speech therapy and this way, I could combine the two.
Curious parents might be wondering, what are forest schools? What are the benefits? How do you know if it’s right for your child? I answer all of this (and more) below.
What is a Forest School?
Coulee Critters
The Child & Nature Alliance of Canada defines forest/nature school as “an educational ethos and practice that centres around the Land and the child-at-play.” Some of the basic principles of a forest school are:
- Takes place in any outdoor space
- Regular and repeated sessions in the same outdoor space
- Led by educators who utilize play-based and inquiry-driven teaching and learning methods
- Values children’s play
- Views risky play as an integral part of children’s learning and healthy development
- Relies on loose, natural materials to support open-ended, creative play and learning
- Values the process as much as the outcome
Advantages of Forest Schools
Coulee Critters
“Forest schools provide several advantages that a traditional pre-school doesn’t,” says Kelsey Boulton, Founder of Coulee Critters Forest & Nature School in Lethbridge, Alberta. Boulton started her forest school after reading McGurk’s book during the pandemic.
“One of the big advantages of forest school is that children have more agency—more control and choice—than in the typical classroom, which is more structured,” says Boulton.
The ethos of these programs is that children are given space, freedom and time to explore and learn in a natural environment. Learning through play and child-led learning results in higher levels of interest, which in turn improves a child’s attention and concentration.
Coulee Critters
Another advantage is that outdoor environments can be less stressful than a traditional indoor school environment. Because children are more relaxed outdoors, they find it easier to learn how to regulate their behaviour.
“I noticed that [children in outdoor classrooms] were calmer and that kids [who] were often distracted inside seemed to have a greater curiosity,” says Julia Donnelly O’Neill from the Toronto Nature School.
Spending so much time playing outdoors has a positive physical impact on children. It improves physical stamina and can help develop motor skills.
Lastly, spending so much time in nature helps children appreciate the natural world and encourages an interest in conservation and stewardship as they grow. The Toronto Nature School program takes place in the East End of the city near the shores of Lake Ontario, a ravine and a forested area. “I think showing kids that you can find natural spaces to explore within an urban environment equips them with the knowledge to seek out natural areas as they grow, regardless of where they are located,” says Donnelly O’Neill.
What is the Curriculum in Forest Schools?
Coulee Critters
There is no set curriculum in forest schools because the focus is child-led, play-based learning. “We very much plan our learning around the seasons, the land and the weather at hand,” says Donnelly O’Neill. “We have a plan for the day but are prepared to flip the plan on its head based on where our students take us, how their play emerges, and the questions they have.”
“At forest school, the children drive the learning process while practitioners support them,” says Boulton. “Thus, we uncover the curriculum as we go with the child’s interests at the forefront. We value the process, not the product.
Is Forest School Right for My Child?
Coulee Critters
Every child is unique, and parents want to make the right choices for their needs. There is no checklist of the ideal forest school student.
“Taking children outside of the classroom removes the pressures of academia and allows children to play to their own strengths and learn at their own pace,” says Boulton. “I wouldn’t say that some children do better than others, as forest school isn’t about getting children to achieve specific learning outcomes but rather to follow their own curiosities and interests. So ultimately all children can do well in forest school.”
Without the pressures of a set curriculum, all children have an equal opportunity to learn and develop at their own pace through play.
“I think that with the right supports, all children can be successful in an outdoor learning environment,” says Donnelly O’Neill.
Toronto Nature School
What do the children think? ‘C’ is a six-year-old girl who attended Coulee Critters. She shared her thoughts on attending forest school:
“I really liked that we were playing but that we were in a natural playground.” says C. “I learned that you can play without having to be on a playground. I loved seeing deer and playing on the thick ice in the winter. I loved when I waited for the birds to go on my hand.”
“When I saw this program advertised, I immediately registered our daughter,” says Heather Loewen, mother of ‘C.’ “She LOVED forest school. The only reason she isn’t still going is that she is in grade one. But on PD days that line up, I ask if she can drop in.”
What About Winter?
Rachel Richards
This is the number one question I got from other parent’s when I enrolled Tynan in forest school, and it was something I wondered about myself. How do outdoor schools deal with frigid Canadian winters?
Most schools have an indoor back-up plan for when the temperatures are dangerously cold. It can include making shelters, using camp kitchens with a fireplace, or finding an indoor space like a local museum or nature centre. Typically, though, parents are educated on how to layer and what outdoor gear is best to keep children warm and outdoors for as long as possible.
“You will need to make sure you have good layers and weather appropriate outerwear and shoes,” says Loewen. “It doesn’t have to be new, you can find secondhand snow suits/mitts and wool base layers. Pack multiple mitts for winter and a spare change of clothes.”
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“All children can benefit from spending more time outside, exploring nature at their own pace with time to pursue their own interests and curiosities and therefore I believe forest school is a good fit for almost all children,” says Boutlon.
“I think that all kids regardless of their circumstances should have access to Natural spaces and outdoor education,” says Donnelly O’Neill. “My hope is we will continue to see more schools across Canada specifically in urban areas.”
Many forest schools are focused on the pre-school/kindergarten ages which means many kids head to traditional school once they hit grade school. There are some programs emerging that run up to Grade 3 and we’ll likely see more grade school forest schools pop up as the demand increases.
If you’re a parent looking to supplement or replace traditional school with outdoor play-based learning, forest school is an excellent option.
