Course Schedule

Core Activities

Day 1:

Introduction to forest school and building connections
Begin with an active introduction to a forest school setting, highlighting outdoor education, innovative teaching methods, and sustainability. Introduce digital tools for sharing resources and tool cards for personal reflection, and establish course and personal goals. Create training agreements and set boundaries together. Participants will have an opportunity to introduce their schools and backgrounds and connect with new European colleagues through engaging icebreaker activities.

Day 2:

Exploring forest school setting, values and principles
Start the day with an inspirational morning circle and energisers. Discover the core principles and values of forest school methodology through playful, creative games and social activities. Engage in forest bathing practice. Experience how outdoor settings and nature-connection activities enrich the educational process through creativity and focus. Reflect on the games and well-being practices by completing tool cards. Introduce safety rules for tool use and begin wood crafts projects.

Day 3:

Insights into forest school educational sessions
Begin with nature connection activities in a morning circle. Divide into groups and visit structured outdoor sessions in forest kindergarten or forest primary school classes, where the values and principles of forest school are implemented in practice. Explore various innovative teaching methods that differ from class to class, where children's well-being, self-sufficiency, and academic achievement are equally valued. Reflect on the experiences using hammocks in the woods and learn practical techniques for setting them up.

Day 4:

Hiking and learning in seaside regional park
Embark on a 7 km hike to a second forest school setting. Bring academics outdoors by integrating mathematics and literature tasks with natural learning materials and active games in the wild. Utilise forest bathing techniques for deeper experiences and reflection. Visit a second forest kindergarten to observe the outdoor setting and enjoy lunch together. In the afternoon, partake in cultural experiences such as amber catching at the seaside regional park centre and on the Baltic Sea shore.

Day 5:

Explore the element of fire in forest school education
Begin with a morning circle session based on non-violent communication principles. Learn the safety regulations and procedures for working with fire in a school setting. Prepare a fire-cooked lunch (recipes will be agreed upon together) and experience various tools and techniques that enhance children's learning and development. After lunch, let your creativity soar during the “Games Fair” by creating and presenting educational games in nature.

Day 6:

Transforming learning into outdoor sessions in teams
Reflect during the morning circle on the essential elements of a successful outdoor class. Divide into groups and prepare an outdoor session for the other participants. Enjoy engaging outdoor sessions led by qualified outdoor teachers, with training certificates presented afterwards. Take time to reflect using tool cards, complete feedback forms, and sign the necessary documentation.

Day 7:

Mindfulness and reflection in Lithuanian public sauna and Baltic Sea
Immerse yourself in a Lithuanian well-being tradition with a visit to a public sauna on the Baltic Sea shore. This mindful experience offers an opportunity to relax, reflect, and plan for the future, fostering a sense of calm and focus as you conclude the week.