It’s Official!

I’m registered and will be attending Forest School Canada’s Practitioner’s Course . This will allow me to eventually have a certified Forest School, it’s the very first step. A type of first step that I haven’t taken since my eldest was born. I’m so excited and so ready for this! Ottawa here I come! (In a few months that is lol).

This course will give educators the pedagogical and practical tools they need to safely and effectively establish and run their own quality Forest and Nature School programs. Themes to be covered include Pedagogy and Theory, Practical Skills, and Establishment and Delivery. There is a strong emphasis in this course on self-directed learning, experiential learning, inquiry-based learning, and place-based education. These are the underpinnings of Forest and Nature School, and through this course you will have an opportunity to experience first hand this kind of learning, in order to then shift into being this kind of educator.

The course consists of a five-day intensive, residential program where all educators stay on site to facilitate the formation of  a ‘community of practice’. These five days are physically and mentally engaging, and are meant to be a transformative and immersive nature-based experience for those involved. Following these five days, educators return home to launch into course work, which includes developing a portfolio, various assignments, delivering six practice Forest School sessions to a student group, and video documentation of your practice. During this time you will be assessed to ensure you are meeting all course assessment criteria, and best practices in the Forest and Nature School field.