Forest School Adventures - Hodgepodge Homesteading

My kids and I have been lucky enough to have gotten to experience a few types of Forest Schools over the years. All of them have been wonderful experiences, and something I would highly recommend if you can manage it. Before we ever set foot in a formal program though, we started occasionally showing up for walks with one of the most interesting people I have had the privilege to know…

In which the author would like to assure you that this is not a sponsored post, she just happens to know really cool people.

I have always loved walking, but wasn’t sure where a lot of the local nature trails were when my kids were young. I was also looking to meet other parents. I joined a random Facebook group aimed at taking nature walks with our children. I had no idea I was going to get so much more than that!

Our walks were organized by a woman named Jen. We would follow her and her children through so many different places that I didn’t even know were in our city! She taught us so many new plants, how to identify mushrooms, signs that certain animals had passed by, and which species needed protecting. We learned how to slow down and really see what was there. Even when they were just walks, she was sharing her knowledge freely and teaching the kids to explore and trust themselves.

Then, a few years ago, she had the opportunity to move to a wonderful property that would let her live the life she had always dreamed of. Now she lives in the most beautiful forest every day. She cares about that land deeply, and stewards the land in the truest sense of the word. She has started a small farm, lives as consciously as possible, and shares what she makes and knows at their farmstand and at various community events. She has also started running her own Forest School!

We were lucky enough to be visiting during one of her Monday sessions recently. Despite it being a cool spring morning that was threatening rain, people still came out to join us. (Thankfully, because there is something wonderful about seeing the same bit of forest in all seasons and weathers.)

In just one short morning, we walked the trails. sat in circle to open and close, sang songs, and planted our own seeds. Even the smallest children felt that their voices were heard. They helped spot tiny trillium plants on the trail (and avoided trampling them!), looked for signs of spring, and showed Jen plants and mushrooms that she had taught them to identify.

We did all of these things without ever feeling rushed. It was a calm and beautiful way to spend our morning, and one of the highlights of an all around wonderful visit.

I feel like Forest Schools really embody the kind of childhood that most of us want for our children. Time outdoors, learning to trust their bodies, and a sense of wonder in the world around them. I can’t recommend this type of program enough, if there is one near you that you can afford, and if you are lucky enough to live in the Commanda area, please be sure to check out Fun in the Forestschool!

You can find the information on her forest school here:

https://mailchi.mp/576f5166380/funintheforestschool

facebook.com/funintheforestschool

@funintheforestschool on Instagram