Sunrise Bushcraft is now delighted to offer a full Forest School programme to local schools.
In the past five years Forest School has become increasingly popular with a number of Local Education Authorities and a wide range of teachers.
Through the involvement of the Forest Education Initiative it has also become more widespread. Forest School has been defined in Britain as 'an inspirational process that offers children, young people and adults regular opportunities to achieve and develop confidence through hands-on learning in a woodland environment.' The approach is in line with the 'Learning Outside the Classroom Manifesto' produced by the Government in 2006 to encourage pupils to experience the world outside of the classroom.
The development of Forest School in Britain began in the mid-1990s; it is based on a Scandinavian idea that considers children’s contact with nature to be extremely important.
All sessions are designed around the needs of the group, ensureing that they are learner-led. Sessions are designed around a theme, themes are sometimes subtle such as evolving or exploring the site or more obvious such as Romans, butterflies, spies, fairies or nature investigators.
Many areas of the National Curriculum Foundation to KS4 are intrinsically covered, in the Forest Schools experience without the programmes needing to be curriculum led.
We set up your activities so they are within the capabilities of every person within the group (small achievable tasks). Teamwork skills are developed through games and activities. Individual skills and self-esteem are heightened throughout activities such as hide and seek, shelter building, tool skills, lighting fires or environmental art, the list is endless. Each activity develops intra and inter-personal skills as well as practical and intellectual skills.
Tools are used in Forest Schools in a traditional woodland manner and are introduced gradually with a structured safety base that your children become familiar with. The use of tools in the wood promotes trust and self-confidence within those taking part; their use will develop both gross and fine motor skills.
