Forest School and Nature Inspired Camps and After-School Clubs
Forest & Family holiday camps and after-school clubs create outdoor memories to cherish, knowledge to share and a deep love and appreciation of the natural world.
Our outdoor camps and after-school clubs are life-enriching and transformative experiences for children from 4-9 yrs. Your child will experience the joy of nature connection and develop natural curiosity and ability through outdoor play and discovery. Led by our team of inspiring and experienced professionals our alternative outdoor camps and clubs are rooted in nature connection theory and practice and the richness of child-led play, experiential learning and awe and wonder in the natural world.
We take a holistic and Nature-immersed approach to what a holiday camp and after-school club should be and operate within beautiful natural settings across London.
Holiday Camps Dates 2022
SPRING HALF-TERM
FOREST SCHOOL, NATURE ART AND CREATIVITY CAMP @ ALEXANDRA PALACE
SUMMER HALF-TERM
FOREST SCHOOL, NATURE ART AND ECO CAMP @ ROUNDWOOD PARK
SUMMER HOLIDAYS
18TH-22ND JULY, FOREST SCHOOL, WILDLIFE AND ECO CAMP @ ROUNDWOOD PARK
25TH-29TH JULY, FOREST SCHOOL AND NATURE ART CAMP @ ROUNDWOOD PARK
1ST-5TH AUGUST, FOREST SCHOOL AND STORY MAKERS CAMP @ ROUNDWOOD PARK
AUTUMN HALF TERM
24TH-28TH OCTOBER, FOREST SCHOOL, NATURE ART AND ECO CAMP @ ROUNDWOOD PARK
After-School Club Dates 2022
**Bookings Now Open to School or Class Groups** with a minimum of 8 per group (max of 12) @ £14 per child/per session for a full-term block
AUTUMN TERM
Forest School After-School Club – Fridays @ Roundwood Park
Programme Outline
Forest & Family camps and after-school clubs embrace a range of outdoor and nature-inspired approaches and activities, including games, art, crafts, mud play, den building, survival skills, storytelling and plenty of free play. Children experience Forest School at their own pace, without competition or comparison, and develop a range of skills spanning teamwork, collaboration, creativity, imagination, communication, observation, coordination, gross and fine motor skills, experimentation, independence, self-efficacy, problem-solving, risk-taking, persistence, woodcraft and using tools.
Benefits of Forest School
The physical, developmental and psychological benefits of Forest School are well researched and evidenced. These include, child-led and child-centered play; self-confidence, self-esteem, resilience and independence; physical activity and movement; nurturing kindness and empathy; teamwork and collaboration; assessing and taking appropriate risks; playing and learning with different people; improved mood, sleep, energy and overall wellbeing; time and space for personal, social and emotional development; sense of awe and wonder, environmental awareness and nature connection.
Our Staff
Our staff are highly experienced and inspiring Nature connection professionals with experience working with children. Forest School camps are led by a qualified Level 3+ Forest School Leader and follow high adult-to-child ratios. All staff are fully DBS checked.
About Forest & Family
Forest & Family is a Londo- based Forest School and Nature connection social enterprise founded in 2018. Our mission is to promote the links between Nature, health and happiness and provide opportunities for children and families to experience, explore and learn outdoors through Forest School and other forms of Nature connection. Our Forest School camps are life-enriching and transformative, rooted in Nature connection theory and practice, experiential learning and child-led play, and inspired by awe and wonder of the natural world.
FAQs
Times: Camp times vary depending on each site but typically run Monday-Friday from 9:30am until 3pm, with the option of wraparound care till 4pm (for £5 extra per child).
Weather: Camps and after-school clubs run in all weather, rain or shine, with the exception of thunder and lightning or high winds. In the unlikely event of extreme weather we seek alternative indoor options where possible.
Clothing: All children need weather-appropriate clothing, with arms and legs covered and sturdy closed footwear. A warm top, waterproof jacket and sunhat should be packed each day.
Food & Drink: All children need a full water bottle. Full-day camps also require a packed lunch plus two snacks each day. We request details of allergies and dietary restrictions when booking.
Health & Safety: Our site and activities are safety checked and risk assessed each day. Each camp has at least one certified first aider and all tool and firework are directly supervised by our trained Forest School Leaders.
Location: Our Forest School basecamps are set within sheltered woodland areas within a variety of London green spaces and parks. We work closely with site authorities to ensure our sites are well managed and suited to our activities.
Toileting: Toilets and handwashing facilities are onsite.
Staff: All our staff are enhanced DBS checked and every camp/club session has at least one trained First Aider.