Forest School/Cooking- Hartcliffe (HAF)

Join us for a nature-based community programme at the Heart of BS13 Climate Action Hub, where you can learn to cook simple, nutritious, and tasty recipes on the open campfire, whilst enjoying a variety of fun-based Forest School activities on offer.

A great opportunity for children and families to come together and enjoy a fantastic outdoor space. Our programme is packed with exciting activities designed to spark creativity and curiosity. Children and young people can direct their own learning, including woodcraft, whittling, fire building, den building, scavenger hunts, charcoal making, bug hotel creations, bird box crafting, and foraging. Plus, there’s plenty of free play with rope swings, digging tools, nature art, musical instruments, and loose parts to inspire endless fun!

This spring, reconnect with nature, make new friends, and create memories in the great outdoors.

Children aged between 5-7 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Children and Young People aged 8-15 can be dropped off and collected.

Funded by Bristol City Council's Holiday Activities and Food programme, children and young people who receive benefits-related free school meals can enjoy these activities for free.

11am-11.15am: Arrivals

11.15am-11.30am: Group Check in

11.30am- 12pm: Group activity (scavenger hunt, foraging firewood, sorting firewood, bug hunt, bug hotel making, dead hedge making, gardening, etc)

12pm- 1pm: Food prep, campfire, outdoor cooking, lunch (free play and exploration in and around this activity). All meals will take in account dietary, cultural and religious requirements

1.30pm- 2.30pm: Activities, there will 2 or 3 on offer for children to choose from (whittling, wood craft, nature art, wood splitting, conservation, Kelly Kettles, den building, adventure play equipment, etc), plus free time and exploration

2.30pm - 2.45pm: End of session Circle Time

2.45pm -3pm: Pick up

Understanding Risk at Forest School:
Forest School is all about learning through exploration, play and challenge. Activities may include adventure play, tree climbing, den building, loose parts play, whittling, outdoor cooking, campfires, nature exploration and environmental activities.
All activities are supervised by staff and delivered in accordance with our risk assessments and insurance requirements. Equipment is regularly inspected and maintained where appropriate.
Unlike many indoor environments, Forest School encourages children to recognise, assess and manage appropriate levels of risk for themselves. This is an important part of developing confidence, resilience, independence and sound judgement.
Children have access to loose parts and open-ended play materials that they can move, build with and adapt during play. They may choose to construct dens, balance structures, obstacle courses or put up hammocks. While staff supervise throughout and intervene where necessary, children are encouraged to make decisions, assess risks and learn from the outcomes of those decisions within clearly defined safety boundaries.
Minor slips, trips, bumps, scrapes, splinters or falls can occur during adventurous play.
Adventure play equipment and loose parts are selected and set up within agreed safety limits, including consideration of fall heights. Staff continually monitor activities and adapt or stop them where necessary to maintain everyone's safety and wellbeing.
We believe these managed risks are an important part of children's learning and help develop confidence, resilience, problem-solving skills and sound judgement.
Outdoor Environment
As sessions take place in natural environments, children may encounter:
Uneven ground, mud, slopes and tree roots
Nettles, brambles and low branches
Insects including bees, wasps, mosquitoes and ticks
Changing weather conditions
We recommend checking your child for ticks after each session.

Clothing:
Please dress your child appropriately for the weather. We spend most of the day outdoors, so suitable clothing is essential.
Long sleeves and long trousers are recommended to help protect against scratches, nettles, insects and ticks.
Bring spare clothes and extra warm layers in a bag.
Waterproofs are recommended in wet weather.
Sturdy, closed-toe footwear must be worn. Please do not send children in sandals, Crocs or open-toed shoes.
In hot weather, please apply sun cream before the session, pack additional sun cream if needed, and ensure your child wears a sun hat.

Medication and Welfare:
Please ensure your child brings any essential medication, such as inhalers, EpiPens or other prescribed medication.

What else should my child bring?
We provide drinking water and food where advertised.
Children are welcome to bring:
A labelled water bottle
Extra snacks (please no nuts, due to allergies)
Please avoid bringing valuable items

Questions?
If you have any questions about the activities, risks or how we support children's safety and wellbeing, please get in touch.
If you would like to stay for part or all of a session to see how activities are delivered or help decide whether the provision is suitable for your child, you are very welcome to do so