Building Teen-Centred Communities

Building Teen-Centered Communities

In a pedagogy frequently described as ‘child-led’, join Becky Wilkinson (Royal Forestry Society) and Sarah Lawfull (Where the Fruit Is / FSA) to discuss what Forest School looks like with teens. Come to reflect on barriers to participation, explore different ideas about what can work and benefit from the space held by two experienced practitioners and coaches, and consider how this frequently underserved group can be brought into the centre of our communities.

We know of young people who are struggling in mainstream education, refusing to attend school, are thriving at Forest School, where they develop agency and build a sense of worth through learning practical, sustainable woodland management methods and how to take responsibility for improving biodiversity in their Forest School site.

We will explore routes Forest School practitioners take to enhance teenagers' skills and how caring for woodland changes and improves outcomes for young people. By sharing a range of case studies, resources, and qualifications open to young people to augment their Forest School experience, we will offer ways of embedding Forest School in a young person's life, in school, in alternative and SEND provisions.

Explicitly integrating Forest School learning into the classroom, for example, in Science, English, and IT, is a surefire way of gaining support from senior leaders. Forest School is highly motivating for teenagers struggling to access the mainstream curriculum and provides rich material to create evidence of their learning.

How can you add value to the experience teenagers are having at Forest School and beyond? How will you help your young people see their time in the woods with you as preparation for a career or foundation for a life well lived?