Programme outlines
Forest Schools Programme
Forest Schools is a developmental process delivered by two Forest Schools practitioners. To maximise the effectiveness of the process, delivery takes place over a long period, preferably ten weeks or more, on one day a week. This allows confidence in the setting, self esteem and trust in the practitioner to develop. Ratios of staff to participants are kept high, 1:8 or less with no more than 16 participants and day long sessions are the norm in order to immerse the participants fully in the process. The agreed price includes all planning, resourcing and consultation.
Forest School taster session
Taster sessions range from a two hour introduction to Forest Schools carried out at your location, possibly as a twilight session, to a full day off site with two Forest Schools practitioners. Taster sessions can include a range of activities around play, risk taking, tools, fire making and woodland crafts. Drinks and snacks are always provided and lunch will be cooked over an open fire during the all day session at a small charge per head to cover costs.
INSET and staff training
INSET and staff training sessions can be devised to focus on your staff development needs whether you require group work facilitation in the outdoors or require staff to be trained to support outdoor delivery. There will be an initial consultation and planning process and the session will be delivered by two Forest School practitioners.
Creative Partnership work
Facilitating creative teaching in the outdoors either on site or at a remote location. The programme would includes consultation and planning with teaching staff and the delivery of the programme of activities by a Forest School practitioner with the support of school staff. Groups should ideally be kept to half class size to maximise the quality of the experience and staff should be present to help facilitate the activity and benefit from any peer mentoring. The suggested model is to duplicate the session in the morning and afternoon so allowing the full class to participate during the day.
Adventure Activity days
Adventure Activity days make use of fantasy scenarios in order to facilitate development through a series of linked activities leading ultimately to the main event. Participants will work together and develop the skills necessary to carry out the final task whether it be a “Search and Rescue” mission or cleaning up a “Toxic Spill”. The planning process for these activities is often quite exhaustive and two Forest School practitioners will run the activity with staff support where appropriate from the client group.
Bushcraft
Bushcraft can be delivered in half or whole day sessions or as an out of school club on a regular basis. As tools and fire are often in use, the groups will be kept small though bigger groups can be catered for where additional staffing costs can be met.
Alan Scully is currently working towards the Certificate in Bushcraft Leadership Level 4 award from the Woodcraft School in Sussex.
