What is a Forest School?

It’s more than an outdoor classroom.

At Free Haven Forest School we are focused on nurturing a generation of life-long learners. We strive to create an environment that welcomes children who grow to be confident, kind, and curious about life and hold dear all that nature has to offer.

Our Reggio teaching philosophy places great importance on the learning environment, which is why we believe the best classroom is outdoors. Our outdoor education process is holistic and learner-led. It allows children to develop themselves through healthy engagement with risk, problem-solving and self-discovery, all within a natural environment in a hands-on and thoughtful manner. All forms of outdoor education are valuable, but Forest Schools have their own philosophies and ethos that benefit children in unique ways.

We are building a strong foundation for future academic growth by curating an environment dedicated to creating emphasis on self-reflection, which equips learners with emotional and social skills that can stay with them in adulthood and support them into all other areas of their life.

We take play seriously.

Social and emotional development in childhood are the biggest predictor of success in adulthood. Forest school helps develop both academic and social/emotional strengths.
When children have a healthier learning environment, their overall health improves, too. Time spent in nature is proven to increase healthy immune functions, reduce obesity, improve self-confidence, and reduce symptoms of ADHD, anxiety and depression.
Nature is the richest learning environment in existence with constantly changing biological factors that children can explore, tinker with, and experience during forest school.
Our programs are designed to bring people together in nature to nurture connections in your families and our communities.

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We are holding space for children to just be children and do what they do best: play! Most Forest School programs focus on the Pre-K and Kindergarten age group, but our older children find learning outdoors highly beneficial as well. Through a series of programs and special courses and offerings, there are a number of opportunities to get the whole family outdoors and learning in nature!