What should I bring to Forest School?
No matter the session, whether it be Playgroup or a High School Excursion, we recommend children bring the following:
Food
Water
Closed in shoes (we recommend aqua shoes, gumboots or canvas shoes they're happy to get wet and muddy). No thongs please!
Long lightweight pants to minimise the risk of bites and scratches
Insect repellant/sunscreen
Swimmers, rashie, towel
Wet gear if rain is predicted - rain jacket, pants and gumboots
Spare change (or two) of clothes
What is Forest School?
Forest School is an inspirational educational philosophy that offers ALL learners regular opportunities to achieve success and develop confidence and self-esteem through hands-on learning experiences in a wild space or natural environment. Forest School is a specialised learning approach that sits within and compliments the wider context of outdoor and woodland education (www.forestschoolassociation.org).
Are you a school?
Whilst the word 'school' is part of our name, we are NOT a school. We are an outdoor activity provider that follows the Forest School educational philosophy, which is explained above.
What is the difference between Wildlings Forest School and other learning programs?
Wildlings Forest School takes place predominantly outdoors, is experiential, child-led and largely unstructured. We want our children to be able to learn in a natural environment which provides them with risks, challenges and a love and respect for the environment. Because of this, children spend their entire time outdoors at our Forest School driving their own learning through the exploration of the natural environment. We aim to raise a community of empathetic, kind, global minded, environmental stewards. We do not follow the National Curriculum and are not out to tick curriculum boxes (though we of course do this incidentally every single day). We see parents as the child's first and best teacher and nature as the the third teacher and feel that an environment in which they are surrounded by their family and community, is the environment most conducive to learning.
Wildlings Forest School is not registered as an Education Provider by the Department of Education or ACECQA. We aim to be an Activity Provider and are working closely with DETE and ECIS to ensure we stay within the bounds of National Education Laws.
What is the difference between your Forest Kindy program and Playgroup?
Playgroup is a two hour session, run by a passionate parent, that has a heavy focus on free play, simple craft, songs and stories. Forest Kindy/Adventurers day (although catering to a similar age group) is run by qualified Forest School Leader/s and teach children forest school skills such as how to safely use hand tools (including bow/hand saws, pen knives, hand drills, wood planes, hammers, etc.), lighting and cooking over a camp fire, raft building, cubby making and other specialist skills and 'riskier' activities. Playgroup can be held at different locations each week whilst our other programs are generally held in the same location (with the odd excursion to a different environment).
What happens if it's raining?
Then we get to jump in puddles! We go by the old Norwegian saying, “There is no bad weather, only bad clothing”. So if it’s raining, dress your child appropriately, with a rain jacket, gumboots, warm socks and weatherproof pants and send a spare set of warm clothes. It is a great chance for your child to explore and discover how our land changes in all seasons and our children quite often say that wet days are the best days!
Can I drop my child off at your program?
Put simply:
Wildlings Holiday Program (7+) - Yes
Wildlings Forest Kindy - No
Wildlings Drop Off Forest Kindy - Yes
Homeschoolers Program (7+) - Yes
Multiage Forest School- Yes if they are 7 + years old
After School - Yes
School Programs (incursions & excursions) - Yes, children are dropped off with your school and are run on Education Queensland and Private school sites as part of the normal school year and curriculum so are naturally drop-off programs.
Do you have insurance? What does it include?
Wildlings Forest School is insured under leisure liability coverage by ANSVAR. Part of your weekly fee goes towards personal accident insurance for your child. Our insurance policy is very comprehensive and covers $20 million public liability.
Why do I have to pay for the entire term program in advance?
Wildlings Forest School is run by two mothers who home school their own children. Paying for the program in advance minimises administration time, processing fees and invoices, ensuring we get to spend more time with our own children and more time creating and running excellent programs. You can choose to pay and attend any of our weekly programs casually if you would prefer. We hope you understand.
Why do you cost 'so much'?
We are an Activity Provider, not an Education or Care Provider and therefore we do not qualify for a childcare rebate. We are not owned by a big corporation that can back us, buy in bulk and distribute profit and loss amongst many franchisees. We are not a non-profit organisation so do not have access to grants. We are a small business that needs to pay our own way. Our insurance premiums are higher than most businesses due to the perceived higher risk by insurance companies of working outdoors with children and we need more staff on the ground than most businesses due to required ratios. We hire an excellent space and we purchase ethical, sustainable, local resources wherever we can. We run an excellent, unique program and we are passionate about the benefits of Forest Schooling and about taking education outdoors. We hope you understand.
WHAT IS THE EQUITY DISCOUNT?
We want to acknowledge that not all members of society are afforded the same opportunities. In an effort to create greater equity we wish to extend a reduced program rate to individual children who are from marginalised families. In doing this we hope to promote equal opportunity and inclusion for all children who would benefit from play based education.
Please make use of these checkout codes if you wish to access this program: BIPOC or LGTBQIA
We kindly ask that if you are able to access NDIS funding for your child that you leave the discounts for those that aren’t able to access any government funding. We hope you understand.
