OUTDOOR LEARNING

Once upon a time...

"During the past five years I have asked many students of early education to recall their happy childhood play memories. The response is the same time after time: faces light up, eyes begin to shine and stories emerge. Stories of uncut meadows, favourite trees, of sheltered hiding places and open stubble fields. Memories are relived - of jumping on dry crackling leaves or splashing in pools of rainwater. The majority of happy memories recalled in those instances happen outdoors in nature!" (Johanna Davis)

Project Afterschool wants to help participating children to create countless happy memories outdoors and in the process reap the many benefits of outdoor learning which reach far beyond physical wellbeing into emotional, social, spiritual and academic areas of learning.

Forest Schooling

The Forest School Community in the UK developed a set of six principles which were agreed in 2011 and are published on the website of the Forest School Association. At Project Afterschool we aspire to fulfilling these principles in our Outdoor Experiences on the school grounds and in Mungret Park. The following five principles in particular guide our planning:

Forest School (FS) is a long-term process of regular sessions, rather than a once-off or infrequent visits; the cycle of planning, observation, adaptation and review links each session.
FS takes place in a woodland or natural environment to support the development of a relationship between the learner and the natural world.
FS uses a range of learner-centred processes to create a community for being, development and learning.
FS aims to promote the holistic development of all those involved, fostering resilient, confident, independent and creative learners.
FS offers learners the opportunity to take supported risks appropriate to the environment and to themselves.

For more information and to read the criteria for good practice relating to each of these principles please refer to the website of the Forest School Associtaion by clicking here:

www.forestschoolassociation.org

Children in Nature

Details to follow

Early Learning Schools Donegal

Thanks to Sally O'Donnell of the Early Learning Schools in Donegal for this video which gives a first hand glimpse into learning and exploring outdoors in Ireland.

Forest School Anchor

Earthforce Education

Assisted Environmental Awareness

Thanks to Sally O'Donnell of the Early Learning Schools in Donegal for this video which gives a first hand glimpse into learning and exploring outdoors in Ireland.

Thanks to Ciara Hinksman of Earthforce Education for this excerpt from an RTE Nationwide documentary (as part of RTE Goes Wild). We get to see Ciara at work, helping children to connect with the land, and hear about the many fun ways in which we can benefit from being in nature.