I wanted to resurrect this blog after a long hiatus and thought I would start with some reflections about being a Level 3 Forest School Leader trainer.
I’m having a lot of reflections about this right now, because our latest cohort’s certificates have just come through, so we’re organising a brunch in the woods for them to come and collect them (and putting some in the post for those who can’t make it).
For those who don’t know, Level 3 training is the comprehensive course for those who want to lead Forest School - whether that be as part of a school team, or self-employed on different sites, or setting up your own company.
As soon as Lewis and I had been running Children of the Forest for a few years and we felt like we were getting the hang of it, I remember a strong urge for us to become trainers.
Having worked in state education for 9 years before migrating to Forest School, I felt the effects of being in the woods so positively. I knew for sure that the ethos and practice of Forest School worked, for so many young people, for communities and also for the practitioners facilitating it. Either as an alternative or an enhancement to young people’s education, Forest School supported holistic development in a way that blew me away.
However, truth be told, I did feel sad - and little guilty - that I had gone from interacting with and supporting over 200 young people per week as a school teacher, to a much smaller number in Forest School.
I knew that if we could share the value of Forest School with other adults and educators, they could take the magical suitcase of forest goodness on wider travels, opening it up in different places, to share with people we might never meet. And the ripple effect would cascade out. If we couldn’t have all the young people in the world along to our woods, at least we could help adults to bring Forest School to them!
I spoke it out loud to Lewis one day: “I would love to run our own Forest School Leader Training one day…” imagining a time in the future, the two of us having the wonderful opportunity of being with adults in our woods, sharing insights and knowledge together and creating community where the next generation of Forest School leaders and advocates could be born.
True to his nature, Lewis immediately looked into how we could become trainers and our journey began. Tinder and a spark, that’s what you need.
Since then we have run several cohorts, in several different ways - some over an intensive period, some over several months. Tweaking our delivery each time, observing and reflecting, in exactly the same way that we would whilst delivering Forest School sessions to groups.
We’ve settled upon the model of 10 days of face to face training, meeting for 5-6 days weekly in the Autumn, followed by 4-5 days in the late Spring. This way, we can be in the woods with our trainees across different seasons (matching the FS Principle of long term!), it gives a longer opportunity for digesting new knowledge, reflecting on responses and attitudes, and practising new skills. The in-between time is spent completing coursework, with monthly Zoom calls to keep in touch with trainees and support them with each piece in their portfolio.
We realised that the more we were able to run Forest School leader training like our Forest School sessions, the better we felt about it. Pivoting to meet the needs of the group; breaking up the more academic bits with games; creative crafts being open-ended and full of choice; moments of mindfulness and lots of play and silliness - it took a while to realise we could teach knots by playing at pirates but once we were there, there was no turning back…we also ensure that we make time to deep-dive on the topics we’ve found to be super important in our own practice: the theories of play, the idea of human needs, a non-judgemental approach to behaviour, and neurodiversity.
We have had a wonderful range of people on our training - from Primary and Secondary school teachers, nursery workers and childminders, those working in additional needs education, to horticulturalists, botanists, arborists and artists! Some people travelling from the local area, some from other areas of the UK and some as far as New Zealand! Each cohort brings an entirely fresh vibe to the woods, bringing their own culture, beliefs, and experience that have led them on a journey to this point. Some may have a deep connection to nature; others are passionate about helping children and know that many of them benefit from being in nature.
Each cohort is like a big old pot, held safely in the woods, each person adding flavour through their own perspective and knowledge, and it all mixes together into a delicious soup. We, the trainers, are there to deliver the course content, ensure everyone is proficient and knowledgeable, but also to hold space - for learning, for awe and wonder, for connection, and sometimes powerful emotions, as lightbulb moments happen. It’s not that we’re running a cult, I promise, but Forest School sometimes has a life-changing effect on people.
We are currently running just one cohort a year, so that we can give each learner our full attention and still concentrate on the other communities we have in the woods. Being trainers alongside still delivering Forest School to children and families is important to us.
I’m so grateful to all those Level 3 learners who have taken the leap into Forest School with us, and can’t wait to meet the next group joining us in September.
