“No one will protect what they don't care about; and no one will care about what they have never experienced.” Sir David Attenborough

Based on the Forest School ethos and principles, our weekly child-led Forest Explorers sessions aim to provide children with opportunities to immerse themselves in nature, developing deep nature connectedness as well as independence, resilience, confidence and creativity.  Thanks to recent research, we also know that time spent is nature is brilliant for our mental health and this is a very important reason why we are offering the children at Bentley these weekly sessions.

‘Forest School is an inspirational process that offers all learners regular opportunities to achieve and develop confidence and self-esteem through hands-on learning experiences in a woodland or natural environment with trees’.

(Forest School Association)

Forest Explorers is led by Madame Jones, who is a qualified Level 3 Forest School Leader, assisted by school staff. Every child at Bentley is offered a half-term series of sessions, with the exception of Year R who attend a one hour session each half-term. The Monday afternoon sessions run from 1-3pm with the children split into two groups, allowing each group one hour in the woods.  Every session is themed e.g. birds, tools or fire and linked as much as possible to the season.  We always start and finish the sessions as one group with time in the middle for self-directed play. This could involve muddy play, den building, bug hunting or a craft. During each half-term unit, we aim for all the children to experience using tools such as peelers and palm drills, as well as cooking on the fire.

Here are some of the children’s thoughts about Forest Explorers:

Year 2

• “I love Forest Explorers because we had a lovely time around the fire.”
• “I liked Forest Explorers because I like birds and I got to see lots of them.”
• “I enjoyed Forest Explorers because I like to go outside and see nature.”

Year 3

• “I love Forest Explorers because it’s really fun spending time outdoors.  I really liked making mud food, litter picking, having a fire and everything else.”
• Forest Explorers was the best thing to ever happen in school because you get to do so much. “
• “The best thing about Forest Explorers is that we get to see nature in the woods and I just love being in nature.”

Year 6

• “Forest Explorers was amazing. I really enjoyed it. It helped with my stress and anxiety.”
• “Forest Explorers was the best part of my week because I love connecting with nature.”
• “I loved Forest Explorers because it made me really happy and calm.”