So true – and I’d like to add that ‘It takes everyone (including children) to grow a village’!
One of the six principles of Forest School is that it “uses a range of learner-centred processes to create a community for being, development and learning.”
Forest School programmes may start off as just a bunch of people going to the woods together but over time it nurtures the growth of much deeper relationships – with each other, with the rest of nature and with ourselves.
As the weeks pass we co create a community. All of us add our strand to the web – adults, children and the land itself.
Through play in nature our authentic selves and unique gifts are brought to the surface, creativity flows, experiences are shared, connections deepen.
We cannot control this – it would disappear if we tried, just like trying to grasp smoke.
As Forest School practitioners we hold the space and weave a safe container for our community to emerge, mix and fill. It is a delicate art and can be a tricky thing to do in a society where we are so used to being consumers.
· ‘Consumers’ expect to be served, and to be led by others towards a pre-set outcome/goal.
· ‘Co creators’ actively shape the direction and structure of the community through collaboratively participating and creating.
So what does co creating a ‘community for being, development and learning’ look like at your Forest School?
If you want to connect and explore more about how we can hold space for co creation of community at Forest School, join us for our next Community Connection Call (CCC) where we will be exploring this FS principle together.
April’s CCC - ‘Co Creating Community’ – Tuesday 18th April 2023, 8-9.15pm (UK time)
Register for free - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/forestschoollou/e/129588
Join us live online to connect, chat, share (and laugh!) with other groovy Forest School folk.
Soft baby Beech leaves and fluttering Brimstones
Lou & Lily-Roe
P.S. Here is a quick video of me & Lily-Roe chatting about the April CCC call - https://youtu.be/I2ggQf26bzM
P.P.S. We've created a new googledrive folder to share the resources from the CCC calls. The notes from the 2022 calls and those so far from 2023 (including a Springtime Ideas resource pack) are in there and we plan to add to this each month so it becomes a useful collection of Forest School resources. Get access (for free) now - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/forestschoollou/e/110374