Forest School Activities
Free Taster Course

Try a few activities from our Forest School Activities Online Training

Learn one of our fun 'boundary games' which reinforce safe boundaries on your site and can be used to help learn the names of the plants and trees around you.

Learn how to make clay eggs and nests, make a crown out of willow, a pencil from elder and create your own plaster of paris moulds from real animal tracks!

Here is a sample video with clips from our Forest School Activities Course

Curriculum

Introduction (1:34)

About the Instructor

Nature Awareness Games: Only Safe If Game for Early Years and Older (1:28)

Natural Crafts: Leaf Crowns (2:22)

Natural Crafts Volume 2: Clay Eggs & Nests (3:12)

Using Tools: A Simple Elder Pencil (3:17)

Nature Awareness Games: Plaster of Paris Animal Tracks (3:53)

Course Feedback Form

Whom you learn from matters

I'm Marina Robb

I'm the Founder and Managing Director of Circle of Life Rediscovery Community Interest Company and The Outdoor Teacher Ltd, and a qualified teacher with over 30 years experience in outdoor learning and nature connection, and a leading Forest School endorsed trainer and practitioner.

I'm a national expert in nature based education and therapeutic interventions and my aim is to share my knowledge and experience with teachers and others wishing to work outside the classroom.

I've pioneered nature programmes within the health sector for my work with teenagers, families and young people with mental health issues, disabilities, dementia and early psychosis.  

I'm the co-author of ‘Learning with Nature’ a must-have book for Forest School & Outdoor practitioners, and ‘The Essential Guide to Forest School and Nature Pedagogy’ which contains everything you need to know from theory to practice.

I'm also the host of The Wild Minds Podcast.

When you learn from an author and outdoor practitioner with 30+ years of experience, you learn from someone who has gained wisdom through practice.

And can refer to results that back up everything they teach.

As a result, you'll know how to connect the dots of the various activities you learn.

You'll be able to grasp the concepts better.

You'll see how they plan and organise activities.

Consequently, you'll achieve tangible results from your training materials.

Excellent forest school online modules that are brilliantly user friendly

Marina and her team have created the most excellent forest school online modules that are brilliantly user friendly. She approaches the tasks with passion and simplicity and the quote 'Fear replaced by knowledge' encompasses exactly the reason people are afraid to try foraging. Each stepped approach to gaining the information is clear and succinct with the overriding feeling of being right there in the outdoors. It made me want to go find the nettles in my garden and make some of those crisps!

Phil DeanCareers, Enrichment and Outdoor Learning Leader, St Oscar Romero Catholic School

I can't wait to head outside and try some Nettle Pakoras

WOW! All of the films provided clear step by step instructions to ensure that practitioners feel confident with the stages of making with consideration given to health and safety, allergies and medical awareness, plant ID and how to adapt using different resources. I loved this module and can't wait to head outside and try some Nettle Pakoras. This has really given me 'food for thought' and made me feel so excited about the different ways to involve children with every element from gathering, plant identification, preparing, cooking and then considering how to show gratitude and give back to nature. Thank you Marina - another wonderful module.

Louise HackEducational Consultant and Director of Whoosh Learning

It is brilliant and anyone can do it!

These nature awareness games give children of all ages an opportunity to tune into their senses. In the classroom we can spend time and money on creating sensory work; in the outdoors, with Marina's guidance, nature does a lot of the work for us. Marina's course teaches us games which we can use with children of all ages. It is brilliant and anyone can do it!

Jennie CaseyForest School Practitioner and Trainee Play Therapist

FAQ

When does the course start?

The course starts as soon as you register. You work at your own pace and you will receive a certificate when you complete (paid courses only).

How long do I have access to the course?

Our paid courses come with lifetime access to the lessons and videos for as long as you like, across all your devices. The free course is limited to 10 days as it is your chance to try before you buy.

Is my tutor qualified?

Yes, Marina Robb is an author and UK Forest School Association Endorsed Trainer and has been training Forest School Leaders since 2011. She has been working with groups in nature since 1995 and you can read more here.

Our organisation can’t pay using a credit or debit card – can we still buy the course?

Yes, we understand that many schools and other organisations can’t pay by card – contact us and we can send you an invoice to pay us by bank transfer in UK Sterling, Euros or Dollars. We can also accept cheques from UK bank accounts.

Can I access the course on my mobile?

Yes, the course can be accessed on all devices. If you have an iPhone, you can also download the free ‘Teachable’ app from the Apple Store and complete the course using the app, downloading any videos you like onto your device.

What if I am unhappy with the course?

If for some reason you are not happy with the course, contact us in writing within your first 14 days for a full refund. You will need to include an explanation of why you want the refund.

Does this course qualify me to run Forest School sessions?

This course is not a qualification but is Certified by The Outdoor Teacher and based on Marina's experience and expertise in this field.
All practitioners in the UK need to follow health and safety law, which requires us to provide risk assessments and be competent to deliver activities. Teachers for example are already qualified already to take their practice outdoors but are likely to need a course like ours to get the practical skills in place.
The Level 3 Forest School training and Forest School programmes (long term) are an educational approach and the training is excellent. If you intend to offer long-term forest school programmes, then I would recommend you doing the qualification.
We have a page about Outdoor Learning Myths and a recent webinar where these issues are addressed:
https://theoutdoorteacher.com/blog/outdoor-learning-myths

How is this course different from the Level 3 Training?

This training resource does not give you a formal qualification in Forest School Leadership.

It has been designed at the same standard and beyond as a Level 3, by Marina Robb, an endorsed Forest School Association Trainer with 30 years experience. The course aims to enable and equip people with the practical delivery of Forest School-based activities to a high competency, with all the correct health and safety and pedagogy weaved through the course.  

There is no requirement to have a Forest School Qualification to take children out of doors to learn and play. As a teacher or practitioner, you are legally obliged to have risk assessments in place and insurance relevant to practice offered.

How many hours is the course?

This is a self-paced course so you work in your own time from pre-recorded materials and videos with 2 additional live webinars. The course is organised into the seasons so designed to be worked though over the calendar year.
We estimate that it will take a minimum of 36 hours to complete the course but you will also need to factor in time to practice the activities on top of this. 

We don't have access to a woodland - can we do these activities in a playground or park?

Yes, you can. Whether you are near a woodland, park or school playground - all the activities can be adapted for different circumstances.

We have run activities using fire, tools, games, wild food, crafts, swings & ropes, shelters in school yards and playgrounds.

It does take more preparation and consideration of equipment. If you wanted to make fires, you would either designate a small green area of the playground for this purpose or use a fire bowl to lift the fire off the ground. We have also taken many groups on short walks throughout the seasons to gather some plants for many activities.

Posts can be put up to replace trees, so that children can still set up various rope bridges or constructions and with a little thinking you can easily set up a rope swing and tarpaulin shelters.

In schools we often ask parents to contribute a log for our wood pile and ask for help to bring in useful materials we may need over the year.

Can I share my course with my colleagues?

No - the license is granted for 1 user to view the contents of the course. This access must not be shared with any other person and only the named user will receive the certificate.

See next question for bulk licencing queries.

Can we purchase multiple licenses for our staff team?

Yes, please contact us for bulk purchasing discounts. We can set up the user accounts for you and send you access codes and you can pay by invoice

Do I get a certificate?

Yes, all our courses come with a ‘Certificate of Completion’ from The Outdoor Teacher Ltd.

How can we contact you if we have a question?

Yes feel free to call or email us with any questions - our contact details are on the contact page.

Our commitment to Nature & People:

The Outdoor Teacher, alongside its sister organization Circle of Life Rediscovery CIC aim to transform health, education and family through nature.

We are whole-heartedly concerned about the safeguarding of future generations, human and non-human alike, and the growing understanding of reciprocity between humans and nature. Whilst we are advocates for all people accessing nature and its benefits, we know that this is only healthy if we prioritise the care for the natural world and address issues of equality.

The Outdoor Teacher is working towards becoming a certified B-Corp. Certified B Corps are a new kind of business that balances purpose and profit. They are legally required to consider the impact of their decisions on their workers, customers, suppliers, community, and the environment. We aim to be part of this community of leaders, driving a global movement of people using businesses as a force for good.

We are using Monzo Business Banking which is listed as an ethical bank: https://monzo.com/ethics.

The Forest School Activities Training


Our foundation training course comes with lifetime access to over 100 step by step inspirational videos and resources.
Designed for teachers and practitioners. Single modules are £47 +vat or save £100 when you buy the 8 module bundle