Forest School Activities Online Training
Module 1: Fire & Pedagogy
Feel Confident With Fire
If you would like to feel more confident at lighting fires and working safely with fire then this course is for you. We will teach you different methods of fire lighting and show you how to safely get children involved in the process.
We will guide you through all the stages from setting up your space, gathering your firewood, extinguishing your fire and how to 'leave no trace' when you finish.
What makes the Forest School Activities Training Course so important
Today more people understand the necessity for outdoor learning.
Moreover, the importance of securing nature’s future.
Sir David Attenborough said: "No one will protect what they don’t care about, and no one will care about what they have never experienced."
We know working with nature is the best solution for climate change...
What’s more, Covid 19 has taught us that immersion in nature positively benefits children’s and adults' health, mental health and wellbeing.
Which is why now more than ever, it’s vital to show people of all ages how to engage with nature.
"Spearheading the transformation of education and health through nature"
This video-based online learning course gives you everything you need to run engaging outdoor sessions…
From acquiring the skills … to mastering the techniques … to health and safety risk assessments …
Remember, this extensive nature-based training programme comes from my 30 years of experience teaching Forest School to outdoor practitioners and teachers like you, in face-to-face settings … and now online.
I understand the barriers you face: namely space, time and cost.
This comprehensive training will equip you with the outdoor learning knowledge and skills you need to overcome perceived barriers and take your classroom outdoors.
You’ll get clear guidance … on how to run engaging activities for early years, primary and secondary children.
You’ll get practical tips on … conducting risk and benefit assessments.. and much more.
You’ll get lifetime access to my highly visual training videos that let you see and hear in detail the outdoor activities taught. You can replay the videos as many times as needed.
So that by the time you complete the Forest School Activities Online Training Course
You’ll have all the information you need to plan engaging outdoor sessions…
Take a look at some of the activities you’ll learn
Foraging Firewood
The key thing that enables success in fire-making is the preparing, gathering and sorting of resources. The ‘kindling’ – the thinnest wood you gather, needs to be as dry and thin as possible and you often need quite a lot of it!
Making Fire with Nursery Children
In this video, you will see how we engage the nursery children into the process of making the fire. With very young children you may begin with a pretend fire, followed by a candle in a lantern before moving to an open fire. You could put a candle in a metal bowl and carefully feel the heat on the bowl. Our nature pedagogy approach is not trying to get to a specific outcome, rather take time to be with the process of discovery!
Using Fire Steels
Whilst matches or lighters can be very useful, we love to use first steels in the outdoors. Some of the great benefits of a fire steel is that they can get wet and last a very long time! The rod is made up of ferrocium which includes iron (ferrum) and cerium (rare-earth metal).
So, whether you’re a teacher who wants to embed outdoor learning into the curriculum or an outdoor practitioner looking to refresh your skills and gain inspiration…
The Forest School Activities Online Training Course can get you to where you want to be…
What do other people say about the course?
Juliet Robertson
Educational Consultant in Outdoor Learning and Play
"I have been involved in creating a practical fire course with a local authority Countryside Ranger team. The fire video is a really useful aide memoire and it’s good to see how someone else sets up a site, introduces fire and provides guidance. Thanks for creating this Marina. The courses are great."
Stephen Green
Environmental Coordinator, Ringmer Academy
“These well produced and easy to use training modules will give you the skills and confidence to start your outdoor learning experience.”
Lynne Shersby
Special Educational Needs teacher
"I found the ‘Fire and Pedagogy’ module really clear and informative with very useful, interesting videos. It was good to see the practical process of collecting wood, preparing the site, lighting a fire and extinguishing it, in an instructive, enjoyable progression of making a fire with a group in different ways. Marina shared her wonderful enthusiasm and passion for the outdoor world in the videos and sent a clear message that whilst making fires is fun and exciting, we need to respect fire as a natural wonder and also take care of how we leave our trail behind us."
Course Curriculum
- Welcome to the Fire Module (4:18)
- Get Prepared - What do you need? (1:40)
- How to Forage Firewood (4:05)
- The Fire Circle Routine: Setting up the Space (3:53)
- Key Safety Considerations (3:28)
- Making a Spark - How to use a Fire Steel (3:18)
- Making a Fire with a Nest of Cleavers (5:46)
- Making a Fire with Cotton Wool, a Fire Steel and a Shell (5:10)
- Making Fire with Nursery Children (3:23)
- Look After Your Space and Leave No Trace (9:54)
- Fire and Pedagogy Reflection
- Downloadable Resources
- Course Feedback
What's Included in Module 1?
✔️ 10 video lessons full of tips, ideas and essential safety knowledge designed for anyone who wants to introduce fire making into their practice.
✔️ Lessons include key safety features, fire circle routines and how to light fires using fire steels, cotton wool and cleavers.
Plus downloadable resources:
✔️ A Fire Making Risk and Benefit Assessment
✔️ A Fire Steels Risk and Benefit Assessment
✔️ 5 page guide about fire safety explaining different types of wood, fire set ups, lighting methods and lots more.
What will you learn?
✔️ Support responsibility and risk taking to increase confidence and sense of achievement
✔️ Explore various types of fire making and lighting for different purposes
✔️ Safely site, build, light and manage a fire
✔️ Be able to demonstrate and explain how to facilitate safe use of a campfire with different client groups
✔️ Learn how to facilitate the safe extinguishing of fire with your client group
Who provides the Forest School Outdoors Activities training?
Marina Robb (Bsc; PGCE; MA; Msc; Author) is Founder and Managing Director of Circle of Life Rediscovery Community Interest Company and The Outdoor Teacher Ltd, both leading organisations that aim to transform education and health through nature.
Marina is co-author of ‘Learning with Nature’ (foreword by Chris Packham), a must-have book for Forest School & Outdoor practitioners, and ‘The Essential Guide to Forest School and Nature Pedagogy’ (foreword by David Sobel) which contains everything you need to know from theory to practice
Marina has more than 30 years experience in outdoor learning and nature connection. She provides a deep understanding of effective nature education at all levels and for a range of diverse backgrounds.
Marina is a qualified teacher (PGCE) and since 1989 has studied Environmental Education (MA), Environmental Management (BSc) and Social Research (MSc). She is a leading Forest School endorsed trainer and practitioner (UK and International). Her aim is to share her knowledge and experience with teachers and others wishing to work outside the classroom.
Complete the full course and you’ll qualify for Forest School Liability Insurance
Birnbeck Insurance is the UK's leading provider of specialist liability insurance for Forest School and Outdoor Learning Practitioners. As such, the firm has approved our Forest School Activities Online Training Course, which means when you complete your training, you’ll be eligible for their Forest School Liability Insurance.
Contact Birnbeck for a quote
Satisfaction Guaranteed
If you are not happy with the course, you can contact us with an explanation and claim a full refund within 30 days.
Know that your course is available on all devices
The Forest School Activities Online Training Course is mobile friendly and available on all types of devices.
If you have an iPhone you can download the 'Teachable' app from the Apple Store and download the videos onto your phone.
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FAQs
When does the course start?
The course starts as soon as you register. You work at your own pace and you will receive a certificate when you complete.
How long do I have access to the course?
You will have lifetime access to the course! Unlimited access to the lessons and videos for as long as you like, across all your devices.
Is my instructor qualified?
Yes, Marina Robb is a UK Forest School Association Endorsed Trainer and has been training Forest School Leaders since 2011. She has been working with groups in nature since 1995 and you can read more here.
Our organisation can’t pay using a credit or debit card – can we still buy the course?
Yes, we understand that many schools and other organisations can’t pay by card – contact us and we can send you an invoice to pay us by bank transfer in UK Sterling, Euros or Dollars. We can even accept cheques from UK bank accounts.
Can I access the course on my mobile?
Yes, the course can be accessed on all devices. If you have an iPhone, you can also download the free ‘Teachable’ app from the Apple Store and complete the course using the app, downloading any videos you like onto your device.
What if I am unhappy with the course?
If for some reason you are not happy with the course, contact us in writing within your first 30 days for a full refund. You will need to include an explanation of why you want the refund.
We don't have access to a woodland - can we do these activities in a playground or park?
Yes, you can. Whether you are near a woodland, park or school playground - all the activities can be adapted for different circumstances.
We have run activities using fire, tools, games, wild food, crafts, swings & ropes, shelters in school yards and playgrounds.
It does take more preparation and consideration of equipment. If you wanted to make fires, you would either designate a small green area of the playground for this purpose or use a fire bowl to lift the fire off the ground. We have also taken many groups on short walks throughout the seasons to gather some plants for many activities.
Posts can be put up to replace trees, so that children can still set up various rope bridges or constructions and with a little thinking you can easily set up a rope swing and tarpaulin shelters.
In schools we often ask parents to contribute a log for our wood pile and ask for help to bring in useful materials we may need over the year.
Can I share my course with my colleagues?
No - the license is granted for 1 user to view the contents of the course. This access must not be shared with any other person and only the named user will receive the certificate and be able to answer the assessments. See next question for bulk licencing queries.
Can we purchase multiple licenses for our staff team?
Yes, please contact us for bulk purchasing discounts. We can set up the user accounts for you and send you access codes and you can pay by invoice.
Do I get a certificate?
Yes, all our courses come with a ‘Certificate of Completion’ from The Outdoor Teacher Ltd. You can view a sample certificate HERE
How can we contact you if we have a question?
Yes feel free to call or email us with any questions - our contact details are on the contact page.
Our commitment to Nature & People:
The Outdoor Teacher, alongside its sister organization Circle of Life Rediscovery CIC aim to transform health, education and family through nature.
We are whole-heartedly concerned about the safeguarding of future generations, human and non-human alike, and the growing understanding of reciprocity between humans and nature. Whilst we are advocates for all people accessing nature and its benefits, we know that this is only healthy if we prioritise the care for the natural world and address issues of equality.
The Outdoor Teacher is working towards becoming a certified B-Corp. Certified B Corps are a new kind of business that balances purpose and profit. They are legally required to consider the impact of their decisions on their workers, customers, suppliers, community, and the environment. We aim to be part of this community of leaders, driving a global movement of people using businesses as a force for good.
We are using Monzo Business Banking which is listed as an ethical bank: https://monzo.com/ethics.
All content is copyrighted and owned by The Outdoor Teacher Ltd.
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