It was really difficult to hear. My Forest Schoolers rarely dishearten me over things they might mention during the sessions but one had stopped on the Timber Trail on one particularly wet Forest School session.
Read moreForest School in the Den
Forest School at Free Rangers is our bread and butter. It's what drives the nursery and it's our aim to get your children learning, exploring and (most importantly) playing outside as much as we can.
Read moreThe Free Rangers Mini 3 Peaks Challenge
You may have noticed recently some of your Free Rangers staff tackled the 3 Peaks Challenge, attempting to climb Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon in under 24hrs. Whilst this challenge fell at the feet of an intrepid few nursery staff, we wanted to extend the challenge to our Free Range kids as well, and set about challenging them to their own sponsored mini 3 Peaks.
Read moreWillow Work
As the trees began to leave a beautiful golden carpet of leaves on site, it heralded the time to tend to the site for Winter. Brambles, raspberries, and trees are all for the chop to promote more manageable and stronger growth for the oncoming seasons.
Read moreDo You Need a Hand?
Forest School offers a lot of freedom. Freedom to explore. Freedom to imagine and create. Freedom to move. Sure, they get these element elsewhere too, but being able to do this throughout the outdoors, largely unfettered by the nuisance grownups sticking their oars in, makes their learning and development meaningful and memorable.
Read moreMacho Macho Kids
Forest School this week has looked at what it means to be STRONG! Against popular belief, I haven't been secretly training my own little army of Forest School minions ready to over-through Midsomer Norton at a moments notice, so I can final establish my Red Fox kingdom! (although that does sound like fun).
Read moreA Healthy Dollop Of Risk and Challenge
When observing play/learning situations on Forest School, I have to weigh up a lot of decisions in my head. Is their play safe? Should I step in here? How could I extend their learning? Which direction is that child taking their play?
Read moreForest School Holiday Club - Red Fox Report
Another Holiday Club has zipped by faster than your wild children down our zip-line. It was another fully booked week of absolute madness and fun. Here's what we got up to!
Read moreUnited Under a Muddy Cause - Our October Holiday Club
Clad in waterproofs and united under a muddy cause, we once again played host to a hoard of faces, here at Free Rangers for another week of exciting Forest School Holiday Club.
Read moreThey came. They conquered.
Forest School: Igniting fires of curiosity to inspire children to explore, play and thrive outside.
Free Rangers once again opened it's doors to what can be only be described as a HORDE of children to come and play, learn and thrive at Free Rangers Forest School Holiday Club. It not only proved to be the busiest Holiday Club we've ever run, but also the most fun!
Read moreStories from Beneath the Apple Tree
The mystery! The intrigue!
Picture the scene: a gaggle of giggly preschoolers sit attentively under the shade of our bowing apple tree. The sun streaks through the leaves leaving dappled sun spots on the ground, as the children create collective stories from a mismatch of natural resources. Not bad.
Read moreForest School at Free Rangers
We've made a Forest School video to highlight why we at Free Rangers think Forest School is such an important activity for us to share with your children.
Read moreSee how strong I am?
Strength and Cooperation. Learning and playing together through self discovery. Is there anything better?
When you ask a child: who thinks they are strong? you will without doubt be faced with the smallest line up to the Mr/Mrs Universe contest, as they flex their muscles and faces in a visual show of their perceived ability. Last week, we moved on from the Big Play activity where we learnt about safe movement over (and off!) our logs and larger play resources.
Read moreEaster Forest School Club
It's been another great week of our Forest School Holiday Club, with the exciting addition of the very first Forest Skills course to boot! Despite the weather threatening to dampen the spirits (and everything else), it luckily held off for the 4 days we ran our course and opened up the days to some excellent play opportunities.
Read more