Activities and Learning
Our Activities
We offer a range of activities for our learners to choose from. By combining practice and knowledge from across the experiential education world, with a holistic and learner-led approach, we work to develop learners’ connection to nature, physical health, interpersonal skills, wellbeing, and sense of self.
Campfires
Fire building is probably the most exciting and iconic activity associated with forest school. During our sessions learners will have the opportunity to make and maintain fires for a variety of purposes.
Fire can be a dangerous element, and making fires during our sessions teaches our leaners how to follow safety rules, how to take personal responsibility, and how to be mindful of their actions.
Learners will get the opportunity to practice the use of different fire-starting tools, like fire strikers and matches, and learn new fire building techniques. They will also learn all about the fire triangle and the basics of thermodynamics.
Making a fire is hard work, therefore learners building fires practice perseverance, dedication, determination, and patience.
Tools
During our session, learners will have opportunities to use a variety of tools. Some of the tools we will use on our sessions are bow saws, pruning saws, loppers, bill hooks, hatchets, mallets, and whittling knives.
The tools we use can be dangerous if used improperly or recklessly. Similarly to fires, this provides us with the opportunity to teach learners about taking responsibility for their own safety, as well as the safety of others.
Using tools is a very physical activity, getting leaners active and moving, while also practicing their gross and fine motor skills, and improving their hand eye coordination and mobile range.
Tools serve as a stepping stone activity for learners achieving other goals during our forest school sessions. Learners might use tools to prepare materials for crafts, for shelter building, or for preparing firewood.
Crafting
Crafts can range from very simple designs, like making a skewer from a stick, to more elaborate and creative endeavours, like an intricate wood carving.
Craft making is an accessible and inclusive activity, regardless of skill level, and offers a creative outlet for self-expression to all learners.
Crafts use lots of different techniques and skills, most of which require concentration and determination, and help learners to develop their fine motor skills, focus, perseverance, creativity, and attention to detail.
Some of the crafts learners might make during our sessions are mallets, tripods, leaf prints, weavings, wood carvings, walking sticks, necklaces, flower pressings, charcoal drawings, statues, rain sticks, clay people, wands, and more.
Play
Joy is a crucial part of healthy development! Play is vital for reinforcing learning, strengthening social bonds, and building a lasting relationship with one's local environment.
Games create an environment of low stakes and high reward, prompting learners to try new things, to stretch their comfort zone, and to make new friends!
When playing in a group, learners practice all kinds of social skills; collaboration, teamwork, conflict resolution, communication, empathy, and leadership to name a few.
Games can be built, taken apart, reinvented and adapted one hundred ways and two hundred times over, making play the most inclusive and accessible way for people of all ages to learn about themselves and each other!
Foraging
At Where The Wild Things Are we define foraging as "the act of acquiring natural materials from our surroundings for personal purposes". We can forage for food, but also for crafting materials, fuel for the fire, parts for games, and keepsakes.
Foraging helps people connect to the natural world, and gives us a greater sense of respect and appreciation for where food comes from and the importance of caring for natural resources.
Through foraging, learners explore their local environment, learn about taking only what we need, and about how to best take care of nature.
Shelters
Making a shelter is a big undertaking, usually needing a few learners working together as a team, and can sometimes even take a few sessions to make perfect.
Having to work together on a shared vision requires learners to not only communicate their ideas with each other, but to also negotiate and compromise. This physical task requires gross motor skills, balance, and strength and helps to build coordination and trust
Shelter building can also involve more intricate work, from knot tying to waterproofing and insulation. This encourages use of fine motor skills and focus, and attention to details.
Connecting With Nature
Nature connectedness is one of Forest School’s core principles and our most cherished value. That’s why we create moments in our sessions for learners to touch, play, explore, and learn about the world around them. Learners will get busy hunting for minibeasts, playing with mud, making potions, camouflaging with grass, climbing trees, or simply taking it all in.
Alongside play and exploration we empower our learners to become active stewards of the land. We might do that by removing invasive plants, planting trees, seeding wildflowers, building bug homes, and even creating safe zones for rare species and nesting birds. These activities are always undertaken with the landowner’s permission.
Spending time in nature is really powerful and has been shown to improve one’s physical and mental wellbeing, promote pro-environmental behaviour, and even help with reducing climate anxiety.
Food
During some of our sessions, learners will have the opportunity to prepare simple campfire foods for themselves or the group.
Preparing food gives learners a chance to practice following instructions, sharing resources and patience!
Preparing and eating food together can also be an important social experience. Enjoying a snack by the fire with friends on a cold day is often just the energy and mood boost children need!
Find Out More
This is just a taste of what we get up to at Where The Wild Things Are. If you'd like to find out more about a specific activities, or if you are wondering about an activities not mentioned above, please get in touch! We would love to hear from you and tell you more about what it is we do here at Where The Wild Things Are.