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positively newsworthy GOOD NEWS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE.
1 Nature as Educator FOREST SCHOOLS. by Alison McEvoy
Forest Schools are growing! The demand for child places has surged in the past 12 months. As parents begin to realise the power of nature, watching their children in playgrounds and parks the past year or so, Forest Schools are feeling the shift in awareness. At Forest Schools children spend long periods of time in a woodland or natural area, interacting with and experiencing the natural world. Traditional school set-ups see children enclosed in classrooms, with only very
small periods of time spent in an often concreted, play or sports area. It is becoming understood that connection with, and immersion in, nature increases optimism, confidence, creativity, curiosity and natural learning abilities such as observation and critical thinking. Children are engaged in a multitude of ways: gardening, tree-planting, bird watching, sea-swimming, forest therapy and nature clubs. The experience is one of a kind, especially for city-living folk! As one child put it, “Forest School has
“…connection with, and immersion in, nature increases optimism, confidence, creativity, curiosity and natural learning abilities” brightened every Thursday up. It’s really fun and energetic…I love how they taught us to make swings and forts. My favourite memory was definitely pulling up a really big branch because it showed strength, teamwork and hard-working.” If you don’t have kids but love the idea, Forest School Leader training might be the thing for you. Let’s bring nature back as educator to ourselves and our children! forestschoolireland.ie
