Did you know that offering Forest School as part of your education is one of the best learning and health opportunity for children? Why not make it part of every child’s experience this Autumn?
The Covid crisis has shown an increase in 60% of our population’s appreciation of the natural world. Yet still so many of our children have not had access to nature during these months or as part of their educational experience.
Circle of Life Rediscovery was founded in 2007 to enable those members of our society to have access to nature – 50% of what we offer is free to more vulnerable groups. We decided the greatest impact we could have was to train people to practice themselves.
We are leading trainers in Forest School, with our Director, Marina Robb authoring two books, Learning with Nature and this year’s new publication due to come out end of 2020, ‘The essential Guide to Forest School and Nature Pedagogy’ (Co-authored with Jon Cree, Director of the Forest School Association).
We work closely with experts in the field and across the world to bring the best practice possible to children, young people and adults who work with young people within their service. My previous blog, exposed the link between the deforestation and the wildlife trade, linking to the prevalence of ‘zoonotic’ diseases like COVID 19.
The thing is, we are all connected. By offering learning and health opportunities in nature we can put our well-being and caring for nature at the forefront of all our sectors. We need to mimic natures joined up ways, by joining up our thinking to provide an education that reflects all our human aspects.
Why is this so important? Support the Nature Premium
We are getting behind the new campaign launched by the Forest School Association last week, ‘The Nature Premium’. Their website says it all and the currents statistics are pretty alarming. Our children spend less time in nature than prison inmates. We rely on our Natural Health Service. It is a vital medium to our mental health. It is however not equally accessible for all, leaving many families, young people and adults without many of the benefits.
“Time in nature is crucial for children’s mental and physical well-being: the benefits are far-reaching and well-documented. Nature provides a way to feel refreshed, revitalised, calm and relaxed.
People who visit nature have greater life satisfaction, more self-worth, more happiness and less anxiety. Other benefits include better resilience, improvements in social functioning and social inclusion. Its benefits for physical well-being are critical too: in the UK obesity affects around 1 in every 5 children aged 10 to 11 and in 2014-15 the NHS spent an estimated £6.1 billion on overweight and obesity-related ill health. Research published in 2018 showed that children used more energy on a school day with Forest School (playing in woods), than on a school day with P.E. Wildlife Trust research also found that natural environments can play a key role in increasing physical activity levels. Not all children enjoy organised games and team competition: playing in a nature rich environment is more inclusive.” (The Nature Premium Website).
So why not get in touch to see if we can support you to get your children into the outdoors:
- We can offer you Forest School and outdoor learning days on site or a nearby park, or at our Community woodland near Laughton, East Sussex.
“Thank you so much for another fantastic day of fun and learning at a beautiful site hosted by highly professional facilitators The students really had a brilliant time and had a day to remember. I wish there was time in the curriculum to spend more days like today.”
Steve Green, Ringmer Academy.
- Learn to be a Forest School practitioner – our next training starts in November 2020 – we are endorsed by the FSA and will offer the most extensive learning experience that will set you up to offer the best Forest School practice!
“The Forest School Training was by far the best training I have ever experienced – a great balance of theory and practical skills. Just truly an amazing experience, I feel confident to now deliver sessions.”
“I loved how all the participants were bought together through activities, games and music and how I have noticed nature at a different level. There was an excellent combination of outdoor and classroom lessons.”
“I loved everything about this training, from the skills learned, enthusiasm of the trainers and have learnt so much about nature. Thank you for an AMAZING time with a lovely team.”
The Forest School Activities Online Training Course
Our Director Marina Robb has created a new online training. Marina wanted to offer a quality training resource that is accessible to a wider audience, who can’t get to our woods in person!
It includes over 100 training videos and resources with step by step instructions designed to inspire new ideas for both experienced and novice practitioners.
There is a £60 discount available if you enrol on our Forest School Training Level 3 Course. The course contains 8 modules which cost £30 each if bought separately, so with this discount the bundle price of 8 modules will cost £135.
Click on the image below to find out more:
Transforming education, health and family through nature.
Circle of Life Rediscovery provides exciting and highly beneficial nature-centred learning and therapeutic experiences for young people, adults, and families in Sussex woodlands, along with innovative continuing professional development for the health, well being and teaching professionals who are supporting them.
www.circleofliferediscovery.com
01273 814226
