EXPLORE GO WILD FOREST SCHOOL
Welcome to Go Wild Forest School and thanks for stopping by. Go Wild strives to create a space where children can connect with nature through forest school activities such as tree climbing, rope bridges, fire skills, nature crafts, nature identification, tool use, mud kitchen, free play and overall wellbeing in the forest. We currently offer once weekly afternoon sessions, a parent a toddler group and school programmes. Take a look through our site to learn more about us.
ABOUT
...What is Forest School....
“Forest School is an inspirational process, that offers ALL learners regular opportunities to achieve and develop confidence and self-esteem through hands-on learning experiences in a woodland or natural environment with trees. (FSA 2013)
A Forest School is an innovative educational approach to outdoor play and learning. Forest Schools has demonstrated success with children of all ages who visit the same local woodlands on a regular basis and through play, who have the opportunity to learn about the natural environment, how to handle risks and most importantly to use their own initiative to solve problems and co-operate with others. Forest School programmes run throughout the year, for about 36 weeks, going to the woods in all weathers (except for high winds). Children use full sized tools, play, learn boundaries of behaviour; both physical and social, establish and grow in confidence, self-esteem and become self-motivated.” (Sarah Blackwell, FSE)
Go Wild Forest School programme follows the Six Principles of Forest School. Therefore we:
Offer a long term process with frequent and regular sessions. We believe Forest school is a journey. Regular sessions will enable the learner to fully get into the spirit of Forest School and start a wonderful journey of exploration and play.
Offer sessions that will take place in an outdoor environment with trees, to develop, nurture and support the relationship between the participants and nature.
Promote holistic development of participants across all domains of development. We support and nurture creativity, confidence, resilience and independence.
Offer plenty of opportunities to explore supported risky play. We recognize the importance of risky play and how it nurtures all areas of development.
Our sessions are run by a qualified Forest School Leader which maintains and develops professional practice
All activities and experiences aim to create and develop a sense of community within Forest School.
Click here for more info:
at https://irishforestschoolassociation.ie/what-is-forest-school/
THE STAFF
DIANORA BALSIMELLI WALDRON
Founder and Forest school Leader
Go Wild is created by Dianora, qualified Forest School Leader, Early Childhood Educator and Drama facilitator. Dianora has extensive experience in working with children across educational settings since 2010. She felt the need to create a space in the community where children could experience Forest School by exploring, creating and connecting with nature.
Dianora strongly believes in the forest school concept of letting nature be the teacher and in planning activities based around the children's interest and wellbeing by creating a safe and trusty environment where children can develop real connections with the environment and their peers while learning and experiencing positive outdoor experiences.
Dianora has Remote Outdoor First Aid Training, Tusla Children's First Training and is fully Insured and Garda Vetted.
🌿FOREST SCHOOL SESSIONS & EVENTS 🌿
➡️Weekly Nature Clubs, Parent and Toddler groups,School Visits & School Tours, Birthday Parties⬅️
GO WILD- WOODLAND SESSIONS - MONDAYS OR TUESDAYS NATURE CLUBS
Starting Sept 16th/17th. 6 or 12 weeks Term available - Payg Trial sessions available. *If spaces are available - option to join mid- term is available - contact us*
This session is for 5-11yr olds and takes place every Monday or Tuesday afternoon from 3.30 to 5 pm throughout the school year. Ongoing enrollment available. Lots of fun exploring the natural environment through free play, playing with rope bridges, hammocks,mud kitchen, a nature craft table, fire skills, tools, storytelling and lots more.
GO WILD- WOODLAND PARENT AND TODDLER SESSIONS- TUESDAYS 10.30-11.30
New Term starts Sept 10t. 4 weeks term € 40 - Payg Trial sessions available *If spaces are available - option to join mid- term is available - contact us *
A fun weekly hour in the woods for parents/guardians and their toddlers throughout the school year. Starting from walking age up to 3 yrs. Children will have a chance to experience free play in the woods while trying fun activities such as a weekly fun nature crafts table, messy play, mud kitchen, storytelling, songs and lots more, while parents can also connect with other parents/ guardians in the woods.
GO WILD- SCHOOL VISITS & SCHOOL TOURS
🌿Drop us a line anytime to start planning some outdoor fun in your school or at our forest school site 🌿
Are you a school and wish to introduce forest school in the school curriculum?Get in touch with us to make it happen🌿
➡️We offer school visits on school grounds or at our site where we can plan a fun forest school session for the children. ➡️During forest school visits we offer fun activities such as wilderness skills, nature crafts, knots, tools, flora & fauna identification, setting up a mini sensory garden, custom made modules on specific wildflowers and projects around it, celtic festivals celebration activities and lots more.➡️Visits are child centred, hands on and great fun🤸♀️🌿.They can provide a lovely additional resource for teachers in supporting Aistear themes and the SESE (Social, Scientific and Environmental Education) curriculum. ➡️➡️ School tour packages are also available. Bring your class for a wilderness experience this year. Nature crafts activities, marshmallows on the campfire, mud kitchen, hammocks, loose parts play and lots of fun in between the trees 🌳 😀
GO WILD- HOMESCHOOLERS MEET UPS- WEDNESDAYS 11-12.30
Next meeting: Wednesday 26th of June 10-11.30 €13 per child per session. Sibling discount available.
A monthly woodland gathering for homeschooling parents/guardians and their children.Nature Crafts, Hammocks, Ropes, Mud Kitchen, Games and lots more.
BIRTHDAY PARTIES 🥳
A fun nature adventure your child will remember 🌿€13 per child
Go Wild is now offering Forest Birthday parties😍🌿
So if you've a little outdoor lover out there and looking for something different to do on their special day get in touch to start planning the craic🌿❤🎈
- 2 hrs slots- Marshmallows over the campfire- Nature arts and crafts- Games- Music- Mud kitchen, Ropes ,Hammocks and Obstacle course.Large covered table area perfect for serving food.*Parents to bring own food/cake
***SUMMERCAMPS 2024***
🌿Small groups sizes, book now to secure your spot🌿
This year we are offering 3 Nature Camps for ages 5-11 yrs. Four day camps from Tuesday to Friday from 10am -1.30pm.
🌿Wilderness skills , den building, nature eco crafting, mud kitchen, hammocks, ropes , safe campfire skills& tools, games and lots of free play fun outdoors connecting with nature
🌿CAMP DATES
➡️CAMP 1: July 2nd- 5th
➡️CAMP 2: July 16th-19th
➡️CAMP 3: Aug 6th- 9th
WHAT TO WEAR
Forest school aims to take place in any weather conditions, except in high winds or where severe weather alerts are in place and safety can be compromised.We have put together a handy "no matter the weather list below" indicating what items each child needs to wear while in sessions. We would kindly ask parents and guardians to keep an eye on the weather for the current day of session and apply before sessions if needed: - Suncream and Bug spray for hot days.
HANDY "NO MATTER THE WEATHER LIST"
• A waterproof suit/overall and raincoat with a hood
• Wellies or waterproof hiking boots
• Winter hat/ sunhats, gloves and scarves and suncream/bug spray (previously applied by parent/guardian) accordingly to weather conditions.
• A spare change of outfit, socks and underwear in a bag that the child will bring in and out of each session.
