Forest School Activities Online Training
Our Forest School Activities Online Training will give you the confidence and the skills you need to take your students outside to enhance their well being and learning with greater intrinsic motivation.
Our step by step video tutorials will provide you with a bumper tool kit full of tried and tested activities with health and safety advice. This online resource is supportive of the accredited Forest School training but not a substitute.
However, if you are a qualified teacher, this is the perfect resource to give you the tools and confidence to take your class outside. Our online training offers excellent quality and in depth practical tutorials that train you to a high standard, led by an international expert in nature based practice.
Maybe your school already has a qualified Forest School instructor but you would like to be able to assist them running the sessions.
Save £100 by buying all 8 modules for £295 +vat
(contact us for multiple licences or to pay by invoice)
What's included in the Forest School Activities Online Training?
- Lifetime access to all 8 modules.
- 87 Video lessons covering tried and tested activities and games that are a fun way of learning through nature.
- Activities and games that are suitable for early years, primary and secondary children.
- 15 downloadable resources including Risk and Benefit Assessments for each module, Food Safety in the Outdoors, Outdoor Cooking Recipes, Safety Guide to Swings, Guide to Greenlight Plants and lots more.
- Each module includes an assessment and on completion you will be awarded a 'Certificate of Completion' issued by The Outdoor Teacher.
Our Training Qualifies you for Forest School Liability Insurance
Birnbeck Insurance are the UK's leading provider of specialist liability insurance for Forest School and Outdoor Learning Practitioners. Our Forest School Activities Online Training has been approved by Birnbeck Insurance which means you will be eligible for their Forest School Liability Insurance after completing our training.
Testimonials for the Forest School Activities Online Training
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."
Katie O’Connell
Drama Teacher
"The course was great, very simple to use and really informative. The course module gives individuals the confidence and clear safety guidelines to equip you to just get outdoors and enjoy nature in a fun and engaging way."
Louise Hack
Educational Consultant and Director of Whoosh Learning
“The Cooking with Fire Module was such a wonderful training for anyone wanting to gain confidence with cooking outdoors with children. The videos were easy to follow with top tips, health and safety reminders. In my opinion this is great training, affordable and brilliant for anyone wanting a refresher, new ideas or to develop their confidence with working outdoors with groups of children.”
Sample Lessons from the Forest School Activities Online Training
Leaf Bashing & Natural Paints
This video looks at some simple ideas that we can use to make natural paints and crafts. Depending on the season and the research you might like to do, it’s incredible how much colour can come from the natural world, from near and afar! We look at what you might need for leaf bashing both as an educational activity for identification and language development.
Fox Walking Game
Many of the games we enjoy enable a group to develop their natural senses and begin to increase their self and nature awareness. Fox walking, a way of walking that derives from watching and learning from predators like the fox, provides a skill to walk slowly and quietly through the woods.
Popcorn on a Fire
This cooking method is a fun and somewhat dramatic way of cooking popcorn! You will need to buy two metal sieves and then tie them together using some simple wire – you will need to be able to open the sieves, so place the wire in two places, like a hinge!
The Forest School Activities Online Training includes 8 Modules:
Module 1: Fire & Pedagogy (normally £49.99)
Build your confidence and learn to safely light fires with your group using a range of methods. Learn to prepare and set up your fire site in a safe way and see how the children can get involved.
Module 2: Ropes & Knots (normally £49.99)
Learn to feel confident with ropes and knots and to teach them to your groups. Find out how to safely put up swings and hammocks and how to make a rope bridge and ladder.
Module 3: Cooking on a Fire (normally £49.99)
Learn to cook safely on a fire with your group. This module has printable recipes and will teach you how to cook kebabs, pan pizzas, popcorn, toffee apples, flapjacks cooked in leaves and much more.
Module 4: Shelters & Play (normally £49.99)
Learn how to safely erect temporary group shelters using tarpaulins and to work with the children as they build shelters from natural woodland materials and create diverse opportunities for play.
Module 5: Natural Crafts & Play (normally £49.99)
Get creative with natural materials! Lessons include step by step video lessons on a range of activities including clay fairies, teasel hedgehogs, bird feeders, leaf bashing and natural paints.
Module 6: Using Tools (normally £49.99)
Gain confidence in using basic tools with different age groups taking your group's crafting to another level. Lessons include working safely with knives, saws, palm drills and tent pegs to construct a range of items.
Module 7: Wild Food & Foraging (normally £49.99)
Discover the wonder of fruits, plants and trees and get to know them in a safe and respectful way. You will learn to make creams, syrups, teas and pancakes using nettles, hedgerow berries, cleavers and plantain.
Module 8: Nature Awareness Games (normally £49.99)
Learn how to deliver games with clear instructional videos that are a fun way of learning through nature. Lessons include examples of games that can be played with early years, primary and secondary children.
About the Instructor
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 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.
Satisfaction Guaranteed
If you are not happy with the course you can contact us with an explanation for a full refund within 30 days.
Available on all Devices
Our courses are 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.
Testimonials for the Forest School Activities Online Training
Róisín Dexter
Primary Teacher and Forest School Leader, Dublin
"Having learned my outdoor skills on face-to-face courses, I initially couldn't understand how they could be learned online.. but The Outdoor Teacher has shown me that they absolutely can! And, in fact, with some extra advantages. For example, I was able to rewind and watch something again in order to take it in more fully or practise it. Marina brings to the screen her decades of experience teaching in the outdoors. Each technique is explained and demonstrated very clearly, with lots of background information and ideas - perfect for both the beginner and the experienced outdoor teacher. I highly recommend The Outdoor Teacher for educators, parents and anyone wishing to share their passion for the outdoors."
Jennie Lamb
Girlguiding Trainer & Forest School Practitioner
"Outdoor adventure doesn’t need to be expensive and these modules demonstrate how to run safe and exciting outdoor sessions with children of all ages. Excellent videos enable personal learning and explain the safety issues. A very skilled trainer, Marina provides practical demonstrations with detailed narratives to ensure learners have a good understanding. This enables adults to develop their own skills and provides the background safety and risk assessment knowledge needed to use those skills with the groups they lead."
Phil Dean
Careers Enrichment and Outdoor Learning Leader
"Marina and her team have created the most excellent forest school online modules that are brilliantly user friendly. She approaches the tasks with passion and simplicity and the quote 'Fear replaced by knowledge' encompasses exactly the reason people are afraid to try foraging. Each stepped approach to gaining the information is clear and succinct with the overriding feeling of being right there in the outdoors. It made me want to go find the nettles in my garden and make some of those crisps!"
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.
How is this course different from the Level 3 Training?
This new training resource does not give you a formal qualification in Forest School Leadership.
It has been designed at the same standard and beyond as a Level 3, by Marina Robb, an endorsed Forest School Association Trainer with 30 years experience. The course aims to enable and equip people with the practical delivery of Forest School-based activities to a high competency, with all the correct health and safety and pedagogy weaved through the course.
There is no requirement to have a Forest School Qualification to take children out of doors to learn and play. As a teacher or practitioner, you are legally obliged to have risk assessments in place and insurance relevant to practice offered.
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.
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Videos produced by Media Citizens Ltd.