Top Forest School Activities to Engage Young Learners

Welcome to the world of Forest School activities, where young learners can explore, discover and learn in the great outdoors.

The Branches, an outdoor learning company based in Manchester, UK, offers a range of engaging Forest School sessions for Primary Schools & Nurseries.

In this blog, we will be handing you our top Forest School activities that are sure to get your young pupils interested and keep them engaged!

Let's dive in!

Nature Scavenger Hunt

Encourage children to explore their surroundings and discover the beauty of nature with a fun and educational scavenger hunt. Provide them with a list of items to find, such as leaves, rocks, and feathers, and watch as they eagerly search and learn about the natural world around them.

Mud Kitchen Play

Get ready for some messy fun with a mud kitchen activity.

Children can use natural materials such as mud, water, leaves, and sticks to create their own imaginative recipes and dishes. Not only does this activity promote creativity and sensory play, but it also helps children develop fine motor skills.

Shelter Building

Teach children the importance of shelter in the wilderness by engaging them in a shelter-building activity!

Using natural materials like branches, leaves, and twigs, children can work together to construct their own shelters and learn valuable teamwork and problem-solving skills in the process.

Who knows, you could be inspiring the next Bear Grylls

Animal Tracking

Turn young learners into nature detectives with an animal tracking activity.

Explore the forest floor for tracks, fur, feathers, and other signs of wildlife, and challenge children to identify which animals have passed through the area.

This activity not only teaches children about local wildlife but also encourages observation and critical thinking skills.

Storytelling Circle

Foster a love for storytelling and imagination with a storytelling circle around a campfire.

Encourage children to share their own nature-inspired stories or read aloud from a selection of nature-themed books.

This activity promotes literacy and language skills as well as creating a sense of community and connection with the natural world.

Conclusion

These top Forest School activities are designed to engage young learners in hands-on, experiential learning experiences that promote a deeper connection with nature.

If you're a Primary School or Nursery Educator looking to enhance your outdoor learning curriculum, consider incorporating these engaging activities into your Forest School sessions.

Let The Branches help you guide children on a journey of discovery and exploration in the great outdoors.

If you are ever looking for Forest School sessions for your school, why not give us a call? With over 20 years experience we would be more than happy to help.