IOL Forest Schools

Please give details about IOL’s (Institute of Outdoor Learning) forest school, its committee and Forest School Association’s Objectives?

[Kiran Chandar]

As you are looking for I am giving you information about Forest School, it is an inspirational process, that offers children and young people opportunities to achieve, develop confidence and self-esteem, through hands on learning experiences in a local woodland environment.

This is achieved through the following principles:

• Forest School is for all children and young people.
• Forest School builds on a child’s innate motivation and positive attitude to learning
o offering them the opportunities to take risks
o make choices and initiate learning for themselves
• Forest School is organized and run by qualified Forest School leaders.
• Forest School maximizes the learning potential of local woodland through frequent and regular experiences throughout the year, not a one-off visit.
• Forest School helps children to understand, appreciate and care for the natural environment.

IOL FS Committee is following:
Chair - Susannah Podmore
Secretary - Mike Flinn
Treasurer - Alice Savery
Communications - Louise Ambrose
Elected Members: Jon Cree, Sarah Blackwell, Sara Knight, Rowena Kenny, Nick Ward, Clair Hobson, Tina Hutchinson, Chris Harvey

FSA (Forest School Association) Objectives:
The objectives of the Forest School Association are following:
(1) Provide the professional voice for Forest School in the UK to ensure quality assurance and provide central co-ordination and information
(2) Formulate National Occupational Standards (NOS) for Forest School
(3) Build on the current qualifications; develop new qualifications, structures and paths. The Forest School Association will be the national governing body for the Forest School qualifications across the UK
(4) Establish the qualification on the qualification frameworks in the respective UK countries i.e. England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
(5) Provide a framework and signposting service for the delivery of continuing professional development for Forest School practitioners
(6) Share and promote best practice and principles for Forest School across the UK , through the FSA membership, local groups and partner networks
(7) Research and share data for further research and development
(8) Explore funding opportunities for Forest School
(9) Promoting the learning, health and wellbeing of Forest School participants irrespective of age, ethnicity, ability, religion or political view
(10) Promote environmental improvement and conservation by educating, encouraging and assisting local populations in environmental practice, working in partnership with similar groups and organizations

Contact detail:
IOL’s offices are in Warwick Mill Business Centre
Warwick Bridge Carlisle
Cumbria, CA4 8RR
T: 01228 564580
F: 01228 564581