Bringing forest school to P.E.I.

Many of us have memories of playing outside as a child for hours at a time: the enjoyment of designing and building snow forts, the delight of finding ladybugs in bushes, and the excitement of finding a bird nest are familiar feelings to many of us. We know that some of our young people don’t have access to the same kinds of experiences today, but between the race of school, sports, and music lessons, life is busy. There doesn’t seem to be time to let your child play outdoors in an unstructured, yet still safe, manner.

Forest Schools are gaining in popularity around the world as a way to connect children to nature by providing them with regular repeated exposure to natural settings. In forest school, children are given the freedom to develop their own interests and passion for the natural world. They engage in risky play (e.g. tree climbing), observe and interact with the living things around them, and develop a sense of wonder and confidence with the guidance of skilled educators.

To help encourage childrens’ interest in the outdoors, the Atlantic Chapter of Sierra Club Canada Foundation is bringing Forest School programs to P.E.I. For information contact: wildchildpei@gmail.com .

Hannah Gehrels,

PEI Wild Child Programs co-ordinator,