ONLINE TRAINING
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ONLINE TRAINING ⁘
FOREST SCHOOL SKILLS FOR SCHOOL ONLINE
Supercharge your Forest School or Nature School program without the paperwork overwhelm COMPLETELY ONLINE
Forest School Skills is a complete ONLINE training package that focuses on the practical, on-the-ground skills you’ll need to master the implementation and supervision of adventurous nature play activities such as using hand tools, fire, tree climbing, building temporary structures, ropes and water play with children.
With best practices, procedures, and systems that will give you the confidence to deliver adventurous play programs that will empower children to play boldly in the natural world.
⁘ MODULE ONE ⁘ Forest School Basics
[Philosophy and Pedagogy]
Together we will explore the origins and evolution of Scandinavian Forest Schooling, unraveling its roots and understanding its impact across the world but specifically how it is implemented in Australian learning settings as Forest School or Nature Immersion programs.
Participants will undergo self-reflection to clarify their beliefs about education, learning, and the outdoors. The historical context of Forest School offers valuable insights as to why we must challenge conventional measures of academic success, advocating for an environment where children can fail and achieve a deep state of focus through risky play within nature.
At the end of this module you will have clarity around why Forest School is important in your setting.
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Reflective practise
What is Forest School and Bush Kindy
History of Forest School
Philosophy and Pedagogy
Children’s Autonomy Framework
Create your vision and Mission for Bush Kindy
Benefits, Statistics and Concerns
Safe spaces, cultural awareness and inclusivity
⁘ MODULE TWO ⁘ Outdoor Learning Barriers
Getting outside can be easier said than done. In this module we address the common barriers we face to getting our programs up and running with practical, tried and tested solutions!
You will also have a detailed policy roadmap for the logistical side of running a Forest School, such as, what to do about ratios, risk assessments, toileting, severe weather and optimal play locations.
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Weather including Extreme Weather Policy and Procedure
Logistics like toileting and access to water
Transit - getting children safely to your site
Insurance
Transforming uninspiring spaces
Plant safety, identification and seed collection
Ratios
Risk Averse stakeholders and staff
Finding a location
Wildlife
Emergency Policy & Procedures
⁘ MODULE THREE ⁘ RISKY PLAY
Help ensure your Nature Play program is as safe as necessary, without watering down children's experiences. This module is your complete guide to why children need Risky Play and how we risk assess to ensure they have access to adventurous play.
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The importance of Risky Play
Risk Benefit Assessment
How to use the Risk Benefit Assessment Template
Venue Specific Risk Assessment and Template
Dynamic Risk Assessment
This module comes with a completed General Nature Play Risk Assessment, Venue Risk Assessment Template, Dynamic Risk Assessment tool, Risk Assessment policy and procedures - all downloadable and customisable to your context.
⁘ MODULE FOUR ⁘ Advanced ADVENTURE Skills
[Practical Sessions]
Hold onto your hats, this is where the real fun starts!
We’re going on a comprehensive journey addressing the challenges and many advantages of managing groups of eager children in untamed natural environments. You’ll be guided on the practical aspects of safely facilitating tree climbing, creek play, mud play, rock play and stick play as we share our proven strategies for managing children’s needs and your duty of care as a play provider.
From mastering hammers, handsaws, hand drills, and whittling knives to implementing captivating campfires, these comprehensive lessons guides participants through fire safety, bush cooking, and risk assessment documentation.
We will go beyond theoretical insights, providing essential checklists, templates, and resources for practical application.
We give you all the Hand Tools, Fire, Tree Climbing, Water Play and Rope Play Specific DONE-FOR-YOU Checklists, Risk-Benefit Assessment, Policy and Procedure, and Safety Briefings. We will also give you a copy of our tried and tested ‘Ultimate Bush Cooking Handbook’.
Lessons include:
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All the tools, resources and procedures to keep children safe as a group including group recall and setting boundaries
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How to ensure that children have access to everyday nature play experiences with sticks, rocks, mud and more. This lesson includes a Nature Play and Outdoor Learning Policy Template.
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Everything you need to dynamically risk assess tree climbing in group settings. Includes a Tree Climbing Risk Benefit Assessment Template and Policy Template
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Demonstration videos that cover:
Personal Protective Equipment
Clamps
Secatuers
Saws
Bit and Brace
Hand Drills
Hammers
Whittling with Pocket Knives
Policy templates and risk assessments
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Safety Equipment
How to choose safe fire pit locations
How to build and start a fire
Splitting wood
Your role as Fire Keeper
Cooking safety
Kelly kettle safety
How to extinguish a fire
Risk assessment and policy documents
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Temporary Structures like cubbies and dens
Raft Building
Rope play and rope swings
Types of ropes
Knots and lashings
Risk assessment and policy documents
⁘ MODULE FIVE ⁘ Relationships
The success of our programs will come down to the relationships we form with the children, their families and the wider community.
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Respectful Communication
Educating Parents
Building Community
Behaviour Support
Your Role
⁘ MODULE SIX ⁘ EQUIPMENT AND PLANNING
This module is set up to help you with all of the on-the-ground logistics and planning from what to wear, what equipment you need and how to plan in response to your curriculum. We also give you tools to assess for sustainability and environmental impact.
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Essential Equipment
Clothing for the Outdoors
Resource Provision
Planning
Mapping tools
Sustainability
PAYMENT PLAN $249 x 12 months [MOST FLEXIBLE]
UPFRONT PAYMENT $2499 [BEST VALUE]
👇 Plus you’ll get THESE epic BONUSES 👇
ADDITIONAL POLICY TEMPLATES INCLUDING: Toileting and Hygiene, Transit, Ratios, Snakes, Emergency Management, Missing Children, Severe Weather and ORGANISATIONAL Culture & Values
Our ultimate EYLF Nature Play Mapping Tool and ACARA Nature Play Learning Area Tool (Prep & Year 1)
Three-Year Sustainability Management Plan Template & Ecological Impact Assessment
Our signature Children's Autonomy Framework
Minor & Major Incident Report Template
Yearly seasonal planner
Insurance Proposal Template
Communications Kit for Parents ATTENDING YOUR PROGRAM
Behaviour Support Plan Templates, Risk Assessment Templates, Behaviour Management Flowchart and Follow Up Email Template
OUR SIGNATURE Emergency Pocket Protocols PDF
ONLINE ACCESS
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ONLINE ACCESS ~
👋 Hello, We’re Nicki & Vicci!
We are former Teachers turned Co-Founders of the Wildlings Forest School. We’ve gone from being stuck indoors trapped under mountains of paperwork and departmental pressure to taking the roof off learning - quite literally!
Over the last seven years, we’ve empowered thousands of children to return to the old ways of learning by playing with hand tools, adventure and the wild, natural world.
We show up to work each day with a smile on our faces knowing that not only will we have an amazing day outdoors (shout-out to our mate, Serotonin) but also that children are benefiting from our time together in nature now and far into their future.
And wanna know what’s the absolute best bit?
We are taking all of our expansive knowledge and hitting the road with a game-changing, in-person training program that will show you how we run our award-winning programs and how you can do the same.
Push the limits of nature play with the best practices and hands-on knowledge from WOMEN leading the way in Australia
Frequently Asked Questions
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Absolutely! Lifelong learning is just that... life long! If this floats your boat, do it!
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No, this is not a Diploma, or Certificate 3 in Wild School Skills (AKA University, TAFE or RTO equivalent accredited course), nor a Level 3 Forest School Leader Course (UK). But please be aware that doing a Level 3 from a UK provider does not simply equate or transfer to Cert 3 here in Australia. It is not accredited here in Australia and currently, there is no accredited Wild or Forest School skills course here in Australia. Our course concentrates only on what we truly believe you really need to get outdoors, without the waffle and heavy load of assessments these institutes often require.
That’s not to say we don’t have assessments - we do, but only where safety or values are concerned.
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Yes! As much as we can - remembering that ratios are dependent on many factors, not limited to: your country/state/industry requirements, mentor experience/skills/quals, needs, ages and skills of children, weather, activity, location etc. But yes, we do give you guidelines for each adventurous activity
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Absolutely. We offer group discounts for those centres/schools that want multiple team members or their entire team to all get a completion certificate for insurance purposes. Contact us at hello@wildlingsforestschool.com for our group package rates.
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What we offer is similar in many ways as many of us are training people in the same skills. However, modules we offer that are different/additional to a typical Level 3 Forest School Leader qualification include:
Adventurous Activities
Water Play
Tree Climbing
Temporary Structures (cubbies/raft building) including safety briefing scripts, policies, procedures and how-to’s
Everyday Nature Play - including rock play, stick play, mud
Safe Outdoor Spaces, Cultural Awareness and Inclusivity
Play and your role in the Forest
Breaking Down the Barriers Module including
Wildlife
Plant ID
Transport and Transit
Logistics such as toileting and water (drinking and washing)
People - Risk averse directors, helicopter parents, uninspired staff
Insurance
How to fix Uninspiring spaces
Ratios
Children and Risk Assessment
Dynamic Risk Assessment
Venue Risk Assessment
Risky Play
Programming and Planning including
Respectful Communication
How to educate parents
Building Community
Group management (for each adventurous activity and in general)
Behaviour support
Resource provision
Planning (including multiple planners and tools that link to EYLF and ACARA)
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Throughout the course you will be required to submit some small written assessment pieces, complete multiple choice questions and submit videos to demonstrate your understanding and competence in Hand Tools and Fire Safety. You will also be required to produce a handbook outlining the policy and documentation that is required to run a Bush Kindy or Forest School program safely.
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Item description
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Know students and how they learn
Understanding child development in outdoor contexts
Adapting to diverse learning needs in nature-based settings
Know the content and how to teach it
Demonstrating knowledge of environmental education
Integrating nature-based learning with curriculum areas
Plan for and implement effective teaching and learning
Designing engaging outdoor learning experiences
Implementing play-based and inquiry-led approaches in nature
Create and maintain supportive and safe learning environments
Managing risks in outdoor settings
Fostering inclusive and respectful outdoor learning spaces
Engage in professional learning
Reflecting on and improving bush kindy practices
Staying current with research on nature-based education
Engage professionally with colleagues, parents/carers and the community
Collaborating with families to support nature-based learning
Engaging with the local community and environment
