20+ Forest School Activities Fun Outdoor Learning Ideas

Forest school activities offer a wonderful approach to learning that takes you beyond the traditional classroom walls and into the beauty of the natural world.

By engaging in these activities, you immerse yourself in an educational experience that is as enriching as it is exciting, fostering a unique sense of wonder and curiosity about the environment.

Fun and Creative ideas for learning and engaging with nature through Forest School Activities. These Nature Activities allow children to connect with the natural world. From Art, Crafts, Sensory Play, Science, and so much more. These outdoor activities are perfect!

Forest School Activities: Engaging Ideas for Outdoor Learning

Whether you’re building dens, creating art with leaves, or foraging for natural materials, forest school provides a platform to develop practical skills, enhance sensory perception, and cultivate a deep, respectful relationship with nature.

This hands-on learning style is suitable for all ages and encourages you to take the lead in your own learning process.

It’s not just about identifying tree species or learning survival techniques; it’s about employing creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork in a setting that is constantly changing and full of life.

Forest schools offer activities designed to bolster confidence, social skills, and a sense of accomplishment as students navigate tasks ranging from the simple joy of mud play to the intricate challenge of safely managing a campfire.

Fun Outdoor Learning Ideas

Imagine a classroom without walls, a space where the ceiling is the sky, and the seasons dictate the lessons. That’s the essence of forest school activities.

They are about reconnecting with the natural rhythms of the landscape, learning to read the subtle signs of the wild, and discovering the fascinating layers of the forest ecosystem.

It’s a place where learning occurs not only in the mind but also in the hands, feet, and heart.

Essentials of Forest School Philosophy

The Forest School philosophy is a cornerstone of this educational model, aiming to foster a strong connection between you and the natural world through learner-led, play-based, and hands-on experiences.

Learning and Development

Forest School values your learning and development, focusing on holistic growth.

You are acquiring knowledge about the natural environment and developing critical life skills such as resilience, confidence, and independence.

Holistic Growth: Emphasizes your overall well-being, including emotional, social, and physical development.
Learner-Led: Encourages you to take ownership of your learning through exploration and discovery.
Play-Based: Facilitates learning in an unstructured, creative, and joyful manner.
Hands-On Experience: Engages you in practical activities for a tangible understanding of the world.

Your experiences are characterized by freedom and spontaneity within the outdoors, which is essential in fostering a lifelong appreciation for nature and an intrinsic motivation to learn.

Planning Forest School Sessions

Effective planning is the bedrock of successful Forest School sessions. Your focus on safety, educational alignment, and structured activities will ensure sessions are rewarding and engaging for all participants.

Safety and Risk Assessment

Before you commence any Forest School session, your top priority is to conduct a thorough safety and risk assessment. You need to:

Identify potential hazards in the outdoor setting, such as uneven terrain or poisonous plants.
Determine the necessary precautions to mitigate risks, such as establishing boundaries or having a readily available first aid kit.
Review weather conditions and prepare for any changes that could impact the session.

Incorporating Curricular Objectives

To maximize the educational experience of Forest School sessions, you should:

Align activities with educational standards and learning outcomes from your curriculum.
Craft activities that target specific skills or knowledge areas.
For example, den building can be linked to geometry concepts, or plant identification can reinforce science curriculum.

Forest School Structure

Structure is key to keeping your Forest School sessions focused yet flexible. Your session should generally follow this outline:

Welcoming and Introduction
- A brief introduction on the goal of the day.
- Outline of activities.
Main Activities
- List of planned tasks, games, or learning modules.
Reflection and Closure
- Time to discuss what was learned.
- Opportunity to share experiences.

End your sessions in a group, allowing children to relax, share, and absorb their learning experiences.

Whether it’s a nature scavenger hunt or a full-on outdoor classroom with nature themed activities like birdwatching, a scavenger hunt, or leaf collecting, you’ll find fun ideas for exploring nature here.

Forest School Activity Ideas by Age Group

It’s important to tailor activities to each age group’s developmental needs and interests to ensure your forest school sessions effectively cater to different learning stages.

Start with these amazing Nature Paint Brushes!

Forest School Activities for Early Years

Sensory Exploration: You can enrich the sensory experience of young learners by creating a natural touch-and-feel path with items like leaves, pine cones, and smooth stones.

Encourage them to walk barefoot and describe what they feel.

Nature Art: Create transient art with materials collected from the forest floor.

Young children can arrange leaves, twigs, and petals to make temporary patterns or figures on the ground, stimulating creativity and fine motor skills.

Nature is one of the best ways to engage your children’s senses. So, enjoy a sensory walk with your kids while in nature.

If you want a fun nature activity with flowers, fine motor skills, and the alphabet, try this Daisy Letter Board!

Kids can gather art supplies as they go on a nature walk, then make beautiful Nature Mandalas!

If you have a child who would rather be out filling their pockets with rocks than sitting still at the kitchen table learning to count, I have some fun hands-on nature math ideas for you.

Preschool painting doesn’t have to get boring! Try it with a twist and replace those paintbrushes with flowers.

Activities for Primary School Age

Mini Shelters: Challenge children to build miniature shelters using sticks, leaves, and other natural materials found on-site.

This hands-on activity develops spatial awareness and problem-solving abilities.

Scavenger Hunts: Organize themed scavenger hunts to help kids hone observation skills.

Provide a checklist of items to find, such as different types of leaves, seeds, and flowers, which can later be used in a nature study session.

Children love making this fairy house project. It can be as simple as collecting and using natural items to make your very own DIY fairy house.

Welcome to the colorful world of Leaf Confetti! In this delightful activity, your child will embark on a journey of creativity and fine motor skill development as they transform fallen leaves into their very own confetti.

Take a walk to collect natural materials and turn them into an art weaving project with sticks and yarn or twine!

Make fairies come to life with an enchanting Flower Fairy Craft using real pieces of nature!

Forest School Activities for Older Children

Advanced Bushcraft: Teach older children basic survival skills like tying knots, reading a compass, or building a fire (where it’s safe and permitted).

These skills encourage self-reliance and practical application of knowledge.

Nature Journals: Encourage them to keep a nature journal where they can sketch and note their observations during forest school sessions.

This practice promotes mindfulness and the importance of documentation and reflection.

Making tree boggarts from clay is a great group activity for forest school, combining creativity and folk tales.

Make a nature mandala! They are beautiful; kids can get creative and have fun with natural materials.

Make paint from nature and bring art and nature together. Also included is a perfect paints made by nature printable.

Seasonal Activities for Kids

Engaging in forest school activities allows you to connect with nature and embrace the unique offerings of each season. Each season, from spring’s blossoming flowers to winter’s snowflake science, provides distinctive learning and fun opportunities.

Spring Activities

In spring, nature awakens, providing a perfect backdrop for:

Plant Identification: Discover budding flora, such as trilliums or wild violets.
Bird Watching: Observe migrating birds returning and use guides to identify them.

Summer Activities

With the warmth of summer, it’s ideal for activities that require more time outdoors:

Den Building: Construct shelters with sticks, leaves, and moss.
Insect Hunts: Explore habitats and note the insects you find while respecting their homes.

Autumn Activities

Autumn’s rich colors set the scene for creative and educational endeavors:

Leaf Art: Use colorful fallen leaves to create natural mosaics and patterns.
Seed Collecting: Gather different seeds and learn about how trees spread their offspring.

Winter Activities

While it’s colder, the winter forest is still full of learning experiences:

Storytelling Circle: Share stories nestled in a cozy forest nook with warm beverages.
Snowflake Science: Inspect the intricate designs of snowflakes, emphasizing their uniqueness.