The Wild Ones Forest School
Donation protected
This year has been transformational! After a lot of introspection, Cassie and I have decided to pursue our passion. We're opening The Wild Ones Forest School in September in the Golden/Evergreen area of Colorado!
When you think back to your childhood, do you have memories of playing outside with long stretches of time completely available to fill up as you saw fit? Maybe you were a tree climber, or made up games with your friends, or perhaps enjoyed reading a book on a cloudy day... Our children today are often over-scheduled, urged to avoid risks, and spend increasingly more time indoors. Beginning this autumn, we will be offering a rain-or-shine 35 week forest school program with three available days from which to choose that will help address the need for unstructured time and connection. Our initial program will be for children ages 6 – 12 years old, with plans to extend our program to adolescents and adults as well.
Forest Schools are long term participant-led outdoor programs that create lasting, meaningful experiences to self, others and nature by exploring and nurturing participants as well as the space.
We create the above by the following approach:
-Focus on Wellbeing
-Co-create the Experience
-Nurture Development
-Develop Community
-Allow for Character & Connection
In addition to an emphasis on building community within the group, participants will be introduced to woodland tools (bowsaw, loppers, sheath knifes, fire building etc). As facilitators, we are creating the time and space for our participants to direct their learning. This might look like den/fort building, whittling a hiking stick, engaging in imaginary play, story telling, group games, having tea by the fire, or even sitting on the dirt observing a line of ants march by- the opportunities are truly limitless when there is unstructured outdoor time!
We began our Forest Schools Education Level 3 certification in the United Kingdom last summer. In order to launch our program this fall, we are seeking funding for:
-Assessment for Certification in the UK this summer
-Start up costs for insurance, tools & materials
-Set up a scholarship fund for financially disadvantaged participants
Please check out our website to learn a bit more about what we do and why we love it! Thank you in advance for any financial contribution you are able to extend!
When you think back to your childhood, do you have memories of playing outside with long stretches of time completely available to fill up as you saw fit? Maybe you were a tree climber, or made up games with your friends, or perhaps enjoyed reading a book on a cloudy day... Our children today are often over-scheduled, urged to avoid risks, and spend increasingly more time indoors. Beginning this autumn, we will be offering a rain-or-shine 35 week forest school program with three available days from which to choose that will help address the need for unstructured time and connection. Our initial program will be for children ages 6 – 12 years old, with plans to extend our program to adolescents and adults as well.
Forest Schools are long term participant-led outdoor programs that create lasting, meaningful experiences to self, others and nature by exploring and nurturing participants as well as the space.
We create the above by the following approach:
-Focus on Wellbeing
-Co-create the Experience
-Nurture Development
-Develop Community
-Allow for Character & Connection
In addition to an emphasis on building community within the group, participants will be introduced to woodland tools (bowsaw, loppers, sheath knifes, fire building etc). As facilitators, we are creating the time and space for our participants to direct their learning. This might look like den/fort building, whittling a hiking stick, engaging in imaginary play, story telling, group games, having tea by the fire, or even sitting on the dirt observing a line of ants march by- the opportunities are truly limitless when there is unstructured outdoor time!
We began our Forest Schools Education Level 3 certification in the United Kingdom last summer. In order to launch our program this fall, we are seeking funding for:
-Assessment for Certification in the UK this summer
-Start up costs for insurance, tools & materials
-Set up a scholarship fund for financially disadvantaged participants
Please check out our website to learn a bit more about what we do and why we love it! Thank you in advance for any financial contribution you are able to extend!
Fundraising team: The Wild Ones (2)
Erin Pyne Vance
Organizer
Evergreen, CO
Cassie Friesen
Team member
