Forest School After School sessions Nov/Dec

We’re so excited to offer After School in the gorgeous grounds at Larchill Arcadian Gardens near Kilcock again this coming term.

People worry that the late seasons weather, or twilight is too much for kids but our experience is the opposite, they thrive on the sensory stimuli afforded by the shifts in the weather and changes that come with rhythm of the seasons.

We offer After School for age 5 to 10 years near Kilcock on Wednesdays from 3.30pm to 5.30pm weekly from after mid-term to 14th Dec.

So grab a headlight and get ready to send them off to have some excellent experiences. For booking and info see here.

Forest School Ireland is so happy to welcome back our dear friend, Jon Cree for four Masterclasses this October, 2022 designed to meet the needs of our times.

Suitable for Forest School Leaders and trainees, educators and any adults interested in working with groups in the outdoors.

More about the tutor, Jon Cree…

Jon Cree has almost forty years’ experience as an environmental/earth educator and trainer. His passion is helping others ‘get in touch’ with the natural world through dynamic learning programmes and hand-on learning experiences. He has for many years worked in Forest School, particularly with learners who are often stressed by our education system, home circumstances or other situations that set them apart from ‘the mainstream’. And yet we all bring gifts to the communities we are part of.

During the pandemic signs of stress, anxiety and even trauma have become more prevalent and Jon has been diving deeper in ‘somatics’ and body based approaches.  He has been asked to run even more trainings on anxiety, stress and trauma, and how the more than human world and creative practises can support healthy nervous systems.  This is based on the many years he has worked with young people, especially adolescents.

Jon also had a passion for working with handtools and string since he could hold a knife.  This has greatly informed his nature education practise and he has been making greenwood ‘stuff’ with children and young people for the past 40 years.  

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Details of Masterclasses with Jon Cree:

1. ‘Supporting Children through Anxiety and Trauma while in the outdoors’, Sat, 22nd Oct, 2022.*

The course will cover:

● Creating a safe space ● Anxiety and trauma – what are they? How do we recognise?
● Recognising behaviour is communication.
● Working with sensory preferences
● Grounding and centering outdoors – Embodiment and integration
● Polyvagal theory and the five touchstones of somatic practice – how does the natural world inform these and our own regulation?
● Importance of co-regulation
● Working with stories and poetry outdoors in a therapeutic way
● Nature-based meditation
● Reflections and embodiment practices
This course will reaffirm your knowledge of the emotional benefits of working with groups in nature.

By the end of the course participants should have:
● Understanding of working with sensory preferences
● Knowledge of embodiment and integration practices
● Recognise the importance of working with themselves as well as their learners
● Understand the crucial role nature interactions can play in supporting emotional regulation
*This course also requires attendees to do some extra online study prior to the course which includes watching three short webinars on ethos, a needs based approach and the autonomic nervous system and some nature based exercises to do beforehand.

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2. A deeper look ‘Therapeutic storywork with groups in and with the natural world’, Sun 23rd Oct, 2022

In these times of growing anxiety and often unresolved trauma, contact and , importantly, deeper connection, to the more than human can provide essential respite and often resolution to some of the anxieties we all face. We are creatures of metaphor and the language of story can help us find meaning, hope and ways of working through life’s problems.

The day will cover:

●     the therapeutic benefits of storymaking and telling – what is trauma and anxiety and the role of story.

●     Exploring body sensation and emotion through some simple story exercises.

●     techniques of working with traditional tales and their meanings.

●     the key components of a ‘story’ to bring meaning to stressors in the human world.

●     using a non violent communication model when creating stories with the aid of natural world materials.

●     When and how to work with story – it’s all in the timings!

●     Ways of processing story in groups in the nature space – through various ‘emotional
playgrounds’ and ‘activities.

●     Creating and telling our own stories through nature based metaphors.

●     How to effectively work with pace, passion, place, pitch and tone – body and voice together.

●     Resources and stories (old and new) to lean into.

* This course also requires attendees to do some extra online study prior to the course which includes watching three short webinars on ethos, a needs based approach and the autonomic nervous system and some nature based exercises to do beforehand.

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3. Introduction to Making Play with Rope and Wood in the outdoors including ‘play structures’, Tues 25th Oct, 2022

We will be looking at techniques for making:
 
● Rope swings, rope bridges, rope crawls and rope walks.
●     Combining wood with rope including simple rope ladders.
●     Making free standing wooden structures such as ladders and sculptures and
rope courses to climb and play on.
 
Including tips on:
 
●      How to minimise impact of structures on Forest school sites.
●      Keeping within the health and safety guidelines for safe construction and use of
natural structures.
 
We will look at basic tool work, knot and rope work in order to construct ladders, ‘climbing frames’, temporary rope swings and rope courses, as well as putting up and playing with strap-lines. The day will concentrate on how we work with young people in constructing basic structures that includes working with trees or if the trees in your own settings are limited how to construct features by working with A frames and ‘safe anchoring’. 
 
We will cover all the health and safety aspects of working with ‘constructed’ play structures and ropes, looking at risk benefit assessments and key requirements.
 
Aims, by the end of the course participants should:
● Skills and confidence to build safe natural play structures from wood, ropes and
natural features
●     Knot tying skills and techniques for building ladders and setting up rope courses
●     Knowledge on how to minimise impact of natural play structures on your site
●     Understanding of Health and Safety guidelines for safe construction and use of
natural structures

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4. ‘Integrate health and well-being with core curriculum subjects alongside the natural world‘, Weds, 26th Oct, 2022