Nature and Me: A Guide to the Joys and Excitements of the Outdoors is a book by the School of Life. It’s more than a nature book, it’s a discussion on how to make sense of big feelings through the connection to nature. Life is short, the giant redwood teaches us. There is value in the emptiness of the desert, because we can draw parallels with decluttering our minds to focus on things that are truly important.  The book uses the landscape, creatures and the environment to link a child’s sense of the world to emotions with the intention to create a better understanding both of the world an ..read more

Throwing a party for kids can be an overwhelming task, especially if you’re trying to do something different and special. If you’re looking for creative ideas that will make your forest school birthday party stand out from the rest, then look no further! We’ve got some great tips on fun games, activities, crafts and even food that is sure to impress any child who loves being outdoors. From outdoor exploration ideas to other unique activities – we have it all covered when it comes to planning the perfect forest school party ideas! Before we start: I recommend you engage an experienced forest sc ..read more

If you’re looking for forest school viking ideas, then look no further! Viking culture is a fascinating topic to explore with children and there are plenty of activities that can help bring it alive. From outdoor games inspired by the Vikings to crafting projects, storytelling sessions and more – this blog post will provide some great inspiration on how to introduce your students or young learners to these legendary seafarers in an engaging way. I know, I know, forest school is not curriculum-led. However, many of our readers work in outdoor learning roles, and I’m an Outdoor TA in one school ..read more

This article contains affiliate links at no cost to you. Sand play is an important part of early years education, and it has been proven to have a number of benefits for young children. Whether you’re looking for summer activities that will keep your preschoolers entertained or just want to know what equipment you need to get started with sand play, this article will provide the answers! We’ll discuss why sand play is so beneficial in early years development as well as look at some fun types of activities that can be done in the sand. Plus, we’ll give tips on setting up an outdoor area specifi ..read more

We all know that kids love being outdoors. You only have to look at them (once you’ve wrangled them out of the house) to see how much they love to run around, explore and just be free. And stop to look at a worm on the pavement. As parents, we know that getting out and about it worthwhile. But what we might not realize is how important early years outdoor learning can be for their development – both in the short and long term. So, why is early years outdoor learning so important? And how can it benefit children? As an early years practitioner, working in a UK preschool providing a forest schoo ..read more

When you’re looking for winter scavenger hunt ideas, I think it’s important that we get outside! Even on cold days, we can still go out and see some nature. A scavenger hunt is a good way to convince children to go for a walk on a bright cold day. It gives a bit of focus to getting out, especially if the weather isn’t great. Here is a beautiful winter scavenger hunt printable. You can use it with your primary school children, your family, or in your Forest School setting. There are plenty of things to look for in winter. Be a nature detective and find these items on your scavenger hunt! How ma ..read more

Wondering how to make campfire bread on a stick? We have a super simple, 3-ingredient recipe that works every time. Table of Contents What is damper bread? Ingredients How to make bread on a stick on the fire Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 Recipe notes Fire notes Make it gluten-free Make it dairy-free The end result: tasty bread on a stick ready for jam! What is damper bread? Proper damper bread is an Australian unleavened bread traditionally made on the coals of the fire by Indigenous and Aboriginal people, and the early settlers. Today, damper bread in the UK is a bit of a shor ..read more

This article contains affiliate links at no cost to you. When most people think of mud, they probably don’t think of it as being a particularly beneficial activity for children. But those people aren’t forest school people! There are many benefits to mud play that it’s worth being aware of. If you’re a forest school leader needing to justify why the children in your sessions are coming home caked in mud, or a parent or educator looking for ways to feel better about kids splashing in the mud patch, you’re in the right place! In this article we’ll talk about the benefits of playing in the mud, s ..read more

I’ve been wanting to share this with you but it’s taken ages to put together in a format that I think makes it useful for other people. We’ve been using a PDF forest school planner for sessions, student lists, to do lists, notes, reflections on professional development and more. It’s a simple way of effectively planning a range of forest school and outdoor learning activities. Each time we needed a new template, list, big picture view or detailed planning page, I added a new sheet. Now it’s up to 29 pages and I thought you might get some benefit from it as well. Get the planner here It’s perfe ..read more

Looking for some fun activities to do with conkers? Look no further! We’ve got more than 20 great ideas for you right here. Whether you’re looking for ways to use them in a race or relay, or just want some gross motor skill ideas, we’ve got you covered. So grab those conkers and let’s get started! Conkers are everywhere at this time of year Conker racing Wondering what to do on a dry day? Conkers are a great way to add some fun to a race! Here are a few ideas on how to use conkers in a race. 1. Draw a start line and finish line with chalk on the ground. Place a conker at the finish line. The f ..read more