Seven Benefits of Forest School for Your Developing Child

Imagine being a child looking up at the expansive sky-tree canopy instead of down at paper below fluorescent lights. What a wonderful setting for curiosity and growth. In our Washington climate we can realistically do Forest School all year round. We say, "there is no bad weather, only bad gear." We have proper gear. We have rain dancers and puddle splashers. We have birds visiting us. We say good morning to the forest. We care for the wildlife, the gardens, and the farm animals with excited kids, while nourishing our souls and fostering holistic development.

Our team (teachers, directors, and board) are very passionate about Fern Gully Forest School. It's been five years since we arose out of a need for outdoor education after Covid, and we have loved every step of the journey.

We've seen and learned a lot along the way, and we want to share with you some of the benefits children receive at forest school. We believe that if more kids had experiences like in Fern Gully Forest School, the world would be a better place. It gives us hope for the future.

Come and listen to our stories. We have many, but have clarified it down to just seven.

Benefit 1: Your kid gets personalized, child-led learning with curiosity-driven play and exploration every day.

We teach mindfulness every day through a short guided meditation practice. This helps kids to be more present and aware and remember to use all their senses. This practice, coupled with our familiar flow of the day and the farm animals, trees, and plants to greet every time they come to class, brings profound natural grounding and a sense of belonging. This in turn gives more awareness, presence, reduced stress & anxiety, and a strong foundation and connection with nature and a sense of wonder and stability to lean on if things get hard.

Benefit 2: We have long-term programming that allows repetition to learn and practice skills. Every day we have breathwork and emotional regulation skills, listening practice, counting, abc's, stories, and seasonal curriculum.

We have a steady flow of the day with circle time, meditation, snack time, forest time, lunch time, learning activities, and free play. Our lead teacher works full-time with our students and guides our seasonal curriculum. Each week we have an animal/plant theme and social-emotional awareness exploration. Students learn important life skills with creative activities and fun games that give them hand-eye coordination, dexterity, flexible mindset and memory practice, amongst many other skills!

Benefit 3: Social Emotional Learning through nature, books, puppetry, and guidance.

Mother Earth and all her fantastic lessons are our main teachers. We make observations, we see how emotions are like weather, coming and going, and all a necessary part of life. We read seasonal nature-based books that have social and emotional themes. We have puppet shows to teach children life lessons and social skills. Small groups allow for students to get one-on-one guidance. Our teachers use an inquiry based approach to mindfully help the students work through problems together, build critical thinking skills, and give them space & grace to feel their feelings,. We share wisdom on how to spread kindness, inclusion, safety, and respect. We understand how the moon phases and seasons affect our children & plan our curriculum accordingly.

Benefit 4: Every child has a voice, especially those who find it more difficult to communicate in a conventional learning environment.

We don't quiet our children - we practice listening. We turn our listening ears on during story time and circle time. Kids of all ages and demeanors feel comfortable to answer questions, ask for help, and tell their teachers whatever they would like throughout the day.

Benefit 5: We embrace seasonal changes & get immune support from the outdoors.

We get immune support by being outside! Yes! Studies have shown that the human microbiota diversifies just from repeated long exposure in nature and to the beneficial microbes in soil. Children also need to be exposed to different microbes so that their immune system recognizes potential threats and "learns". And of course we benefit from the vitamin D our bodies make in the sunlight and the exercise we get from all the space we have to play outdoors. Being immersed in nature's lessons through all the seasons builds inner strength, grits, and reilience that will help them thrive! There are also many psychological benefits of being outdoors on a regular basis.

Benefit 6: Children can undertake new experiences with proper support.

Forest School encourages "risky play", as numerous studies have shown that allowing children to test their physical boundaries is necessary for their growth and builds body awareness, strength, courage and confidence. Doing something for the first time can also be scary, challenging, and potentially dangerous! With our small groups and 6-to-1 child-to-teacher ratio, the kids have a teacher there to give a hand or encouraging words if needed, which helps kids to feel safe and supported to go out on a limb!

Benefit 7: We have place-based Learning, deep connection to magical PNW forests, early natural sciences, and forest inspiration!

Our students know what wild huckleberries look like and how to forage them. They learn basic survival skills, plant identification, foraging and wildcrafting. They help in forest conservation by planting natives and helping us remove invasive plants. During our rainy season, we learn about stream ecology (and love barefoot creek time in the summer!) We run wild with imaginative play and experience the real magic and medicine of our forests where we can make faerie houses, stick tunnels, and plant our wishes on the New Moon.