SUMMER
2016
|
21
SCHOOL
WORDS | CARAWILLIAMS
ShannonFoley’sdesire toestablishRedTailHawksForestSchool
wassparkedaftershereadanewspaperarticleon thegrowing trend.A formerPrettyRiver
Academy teacher, Shannon’s loveof theoutdoorsandbackgroundasanearly childhood
educatormadeher theperfect candidate for foundinga school suchas this. She connected
withMatt Codeof FreeSpirit Tours andapartnershipwas formed. FreeSpirit Tours is un-
doubtedlyourarea’sgo-to foroutdooreducationandexpeditions,offeringexperiences like
snowshoe tours, caving,kayaking, children’ssummercampsandmore. TogetherShannon
andMatthave teamedupwithahandfulofourarea’smost forward-thinking teachersand
established sister Forest Schools, Red Tail Hawks (ages 3-7, located at 12th Sideroad),
Collingwood)andSnowyOwls (ages7-10, locatedatBygoneDays farm,Collingwood).
Forest Schoolswere first established in Scandinavia, where outdoor education already
makesupaheftyportionof theschoolcurriculum.Since2007,when the firstCanadianForest
School was founded, themovement has been gainingmomentum here. Forest Schools
Canada isa recentlyestablishedassociationunder theumbrellaof theChildandNatureAl-
lianceofCanada. Red TailHawksandSnowyOwls Forest Schoolsare currently in talks to
connectwith thisassociation.
It’s no secret that our youngest generation is spending less timeout-of-doors, particularly
outsideof school hours,which formany, is spent engaging inhandhelddistractionsother-
wiseknownas “screen time”. Forest Schools have increased inpopularityas parents and
teachers recognize thehealthbenefitsofpromotingoutdoorplay-based learningactivities.
It’salsoworthnoting thatmanyexpertssuggest that childrenwith learningexceptionalities
likeautismandhyperactivity tend to flourish inForestSchoolswheresounddoesnotbounce
offwalls.StudentswithADHDbenefit from fullyexpending theirenergyso that learningpat-
ternsarenot interrupted.
Programming is largelybasedonemergent curriculumwithaheavyemphasison science,
art,music, reading,writing,andmath.ForestSchool learning ismorehands-on,and thestu-
dents often returnhome inneedof agoodbath. “Parents have toldus that their kids are
completelyexhaustedafteradayatForestSchool,”explainsShannon.And it’snowonder;
teaching is delivered throughan inquiryapproach,where students arequestioned rather
thanbeing lectured to.Thismethodstimulatesandengagesstudents,promotescuriosityand
establishes a life long loveof learning. Researchalso shows that Forest Schools improve
grossmotor skills, finemotor skills, physical fitness, concentration, self-esteem, self-confi-
dence, languagedevelopmentandanunderstandingand respect fornature.
AudreyMacdonald is akindergarten teacher at BeaverValleyCommunitySchool (BVCS)
andhas been incorporating Forest School ideology intoher classroom for several years
now.“OurcurrentFDK (FullDayKindergarten)program issimilar toa forestschoolprogram
in that it isalsoan inquirybasedprogramwherecurriculum isdrivenbystudent interestand
where teachers guide students indiscovering concepts rather than simply telling them the
answers.”Audrey’sclassvisitedRedTailHawksForestSchool inFebruary toenhance their
learningaboutanimals inwinter.
