Key Forest School organisations

Forest School Association FSA

“The professional body and UK-wide voice for Forest School, promoting best practice, cohesion and ‘quality Forest School for all’.

FSA aims to provide a nationwide base for Forest School Practitioners and those interested in Forest School and works to

• develop & maintain the curriculum content for approved Forest School qualifications
• increase opportunities for people to experience quality Forest School in the UK
• provide a central point for collecting, storing & sharing information about Forest School & good practice in Forest School (including notes on good practice, advice on choosing leaders, and advice on choosing trainers)
• stimulate, store & share practitioner & academic research & learn from it
• work collaboratively with other organisations with similar goals & in related areas.

“We are open to all levels of Forest School professional and all those interested in providing and growing opportunities for people to experience quality Forest School within our UK nations.”

Creative star – I’m a teacher get me OUTSIDE here!!

We always mention this site as it is so comprehensive and well written. If you haven’t already seen it this is a great blog site for all areas of being outdoors with your groups. Any questions just ask the creator Juliet Robertson – she is so knowledgeable and helpful.

Forest Education Network FEN (England)

The Forest Education Network seeks to engage more young people in forest and woodland environments by supporting delivery of education in forest and woodland settings, networking and sharing good practice, and facilitating communication between the sectors and practitioners involved.

Lots of free resources and signposting. Hosted by the Royal Forestry Society.

Wales Council for Outdoor Learning

"The Wales Council for Outdoor Learning brings together ALL stakeholders involved in Outdoor Learning in Wales. It recognises that each stakeholder has a valuable role to play in contributing towards a collective, coherent voice for Outdoor Learning in Wales, built on an ethos/foundation of being: Collaborative - Neutral - Proactive - Strategic."

IOL Learning Wales

The Welsh branch of the Institute for Outdoor Learning.

Forest School Wales: Facebook group

“Forest School Wales is a practitioners network working to ensure that throughout Wales there is sustainable Forest School provision supported by a national network that will nurture the development of projects, offer advice, provide resources, guide best practice and provide continuing professional development."

Outdoor Learning Wales: Facebook group

Outdoor Learning Wales (OLW) is a national network that aims to increase the understanding, appreciation and sustainable use of Wales’ natural environment.

OWL Outdoor & Woodland Learning Scotland

OWL Scotland is dedicated to increasing the use of Scotland’s outdoor environments for learning.

Learning outdoors, be in in playgrounds, towns, cities, parks or our stunning natural environments, actively engages young people and connects their broader learning with the world around them.

OWL Scotland is supported by Forestry Commission Scotland and evolved out of the Forest Education Initiative (FEI) which has run successfully for over 20 years.

Nationally OWL Scotland supports outdoor and woodland learning for local OWL groups through provision of :

• grants
• resources
• advice
• training
• networking opportunities

Tree Tools for Schools (formerly Nature Detectives)

"We know our activities are valued by teachers and other educators, so we’ve gathered together all our schools' resources and the most popular Nature Detectives activities in one place. You can now access them in our free online learning hub." The Woodland Trust.

American Forest Kindergarten Association

‘Uniting early childhood educators, parents, policy-makers, and other stakeholders in the interest of encouraging children to become attuned with their surrounding natural environment and the American landscape.’

Forest Childcare Association

Childminders giving small children the opportunity to spend time in the great outdoors on a regular basis – members can become Forest Childcare Providers.

Forest Kindergarten Association

Directory & voice of forest kindergartens across the UK – preschool education where children are encouraged to play, explore and learn in a forest or natural environment. also known as a nature nursery, outdoor nursery, or forest preschool.