FSA Conf 2026 - Wknd day ticket self-catering

one person, staying offsite without catering

Mentored by

Forest School Association

Supporting FS throughout UK

Collection links

Walesby Forest Activity Centre, Newark

Ages: 18+ years

Offsite self catered £145

Next date: Friday 25th Sep, 16:00 – 00:00

FSA Conf 2026 - Wknd day ticket self-catering block mentored by Forest School Association

A summary

Weekend Day Ticket (Friday afternoon/Saturday & Sunday all day) FSA National Conference 2026 – Walesby Forest, Nottinghamshire 25–27 September 2026 This ticket is designed for delegates who are staying offsite and do not require accommodation or catering. It is ideal for those who are local or making their own arrangements, while still wanting to experience the full richness of the conference. What this ticket includes • Access to the conference across the weekend during the following times: – Friday from 16:00 – 00:00 – Saturday from 07:00 – 00:00 – Sunday until 14:30 (event close) Access to: – Saturday keynote (Penny Wilson) – Sunday keynote (Chris Martin) – Three workshop sessions to chose from – Evening entertainment and gatherings – All conference spaces including The Muddyfaces playscape, hammock fields fire circles, and connection areas Forest School Show Access This ticket also includes full access to the Forest School Show, taking place on site throughout the weekend. You will need to show your FSA delegate wristband to access the show. Please note • This ticket does not include accommodation or catering • Delegates are welcome to bring their own food or access the food vans at the forest school show. Embers: The Power of Play Join us for a weekend of connection, learning and play within a vibrant Forest School community.

About your mentor

Forest School Association

Supporting FS throughout UK

The Forest School Association is the professional body and UK wide voice for Forest School, promoting best practice, cohesion and ‘quality Forest School for all‘.

About the event

Welcome to Walesby Forest – Site Overview The FSA National Conference 2026 takes place at Walesby Activity Centre, Nottinghamshire — a residential woodland venue designed for immersive outdoor learning, connection, and community. Across the same weekend, and in an adjacent field on the Walesby site, the Forest School Show will also be taking place as a separate but collaborative event. Together, the two events create a vibrant national hub for Forest School and outdoor education. The Forest School Show brings together traders, equipment suppliers, publishers, craft makers, and training providers, increasing opportunities to explore, connect, and engage with the wider sector throughout the weekend. For one weekend, Walesby becomes the meeting point of the Forest School community. All FSA delegates will have full access to the Forest School Show (Sites 35–48) during the weekend. Conference Spaces (Sites 1–10) The FSA Conference will take place across Sites 1–10 (please refer to the map provided). This main field area is the heart of our gathering—a space for workshops, connection, rest, and shared experiences. Within this space, you’ll also find our gathering area, where you can rest, relax, and decompress or Visit the Forest school community Café, offering tea, cake, and drinks throughout the event Our opening and closing ceremonies will also take place here on the main field. Main Marquee & Evening Events (Site 26) We will be sharing the Main Marquee (Site 26), which will host: Keynote talks Friday evening Open Mic Night Saturday night Ceilidh This area will also include our event sponsors, with opportunities to connect, explore, and engage with their work. The surrounding field will feature playful and interactive spaces as part of the conference experience. Please keep an eye on our social media, e-bulletin, and website for updates and announcements. Food & Catering: All meals will be served in the Catering Barn, located near the main buildings of Walesby Forest, just to the right of the main field. Accommodation & Camping Glamping Tents: Site 17 Kemp & Walesby Lodge: Site 51 Camping & Campervans: Main field (Sites 1–2) Need Help? If you need support during your visit or help finding your way, please look out for one of our friendly conference volunteers in purple t-shirts—we’re here to help. Embers: The Power of Play “Play shapes the brain, opens the imagination, and invigorates the soul.” — Stuart Brown, Psychiatrist and Founder of the National Institute for Play An ember carries heat long after the visible flame has quietened. It holds potential. It can reignite. It sustains warmth and light. We chose Embers: The Power of Play as our theme for 2026 because play, like an ember, is often underestimated—yet it is foundational. Forest School is a play-based pedagogy. It is through play that children explore, take risks, build relationships, and make meaning of the world around them. Play is not an addition to the work—it is the work. Like an ember, play holds potential. It can be nurtured, protected, and reignited. It sustains connection, curiosity, and growth over time. Across the UK, children’s time and space for meaningful play is narrowing. Academic pressures intensify. Screen-based engagement expands. Access to natural environments declines. Practitioners are witnessing rising anxiety, reduced resilience, and fewer opportunities for risk-taking, autonomy, and exploration. And yet, the evidence remains clear and compelling: Play supports cognitive development Play strengthens emotional regulation Play builds resilience and risk literacy Play fosters belonging and social connection Play protects mental wellbeing The Power of Play is therefore not a nostalgic theme—it is a strategic and urgent one. It asks us: How do we protect play within education? How do we sustain practitioner confidence in risk-positive practice? How do we ensure access to nature-connected childhoods? How do we champion play as a right, not a reward? Play in Practice – The Conference Experience Throughout the conference, this theme will be lived, explored, and embodied. You’ll find: Research-informed workshops exploring play theory, child development, and the neuroscience of play Hands-on sessions creating playscapes, environments, and invitations to play Games, storytelling, and participatory experiences that invite you to reconnect with play yourself Keynotes and discussions that challenge, inspire, and deepen practice Interactive activities and spaces woven throughout the site—offering opportunities to join in, experiment, and explore This is not a conference where play is simply discussed—it is experienced, shared, and reignited. A Collective Movement The FSA National Conference 2026 brings together practitioners, trainers, researchers, and leaders who are shaping Forest School practice across the UK. To gather under the theme Embers: The Power of Play is to stand alongside a movement that believes: Childhood deserves time, space, and freedom Play is essential, not optional Connection to nature is vital for wellbeing and development To support and be part of this event is to stand alongside a community committed to long-term child development, evidence-informed practice, and the wellbeing of both children and practitioners. For one weekend, Walesby becomes more than a venue—it becomes a living, breathing expression of what Forest School can be. A place to tend the embers. To reconnect with play. And to carry that fire forward into our work.

Pricing information

Ticket namePriceInformation

Ticket nameOffsite self catered

Price£145

InformationOne person staying off site no food or refreshments included

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LEARNER REFLECTIONS0 reflections

Where we'll be

Walesby Forest Activity Centre, Brake Road, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG22 9NG

Safety

Enhanced DBS

Risk Assessment

Public Liability Insurance

First Aid Kit

Please note

Please note, it is the responsibility of the booker to satisfy themselves about the adequacy of the safety measures. This platform is merely an introducer and does not verify the items listed here.

Cancellation Policy

FSA Conference 2026 Booking Terms and conditions Booking online for yourself and others indicates acknowledgement and acceptance of these terms and conditions. If you are booking on behalf of another person please forward these terms and conditions. Cancellations and Refund Policy We understand that plans can change, and we aim to be fair, transparent, and compassionate in how we manage cancellations, while also supporting the sustainability of our work. Cancellations by You Cancellations made 14 days or more before the event/session will receive a full refund. Cancellations made 7 -13 days before the event/session may be offered a 50% refund Cancellations made less than 7 days before the event are non-refundable Alternative options Substitute delegates are always welcome provided suitable accommodation is available. Please email enquiries@forestschoolassociation.org 48 hours in advance with new delegate information Within 48 hours please contact us on 07479 960 639 Please see below for admin fees How to cancel Online bookings: Use the cancel ticket function on eequ Invoice bookings: Email enquiries@forestschoolassociation.org with your confirmation of payment email attached Important: You must ensure that your workshop choices and conference tickets have been cancelled on Eequ Refund processing Refunds will be processed as follows: Full refunds, if you paid by card via eequ: refund to your card via eequ’s system Partial refunds, if you paid by card via eequ: refund by bank transfer to a UK bank account. If you paid by invoice or bank transfer: refund to a UK bank account. All refunds are subject to a deduction of £20 admin fee Non-Attendance If you do not attend the event or conference, this will be treated as a late cancellation, and no refund will be issued. Cancellations by Us In the unlikely event that we need to cancel (for example due to severe weather, illness, or unforeseen circumstances), you will be offered a full refund. We cannot reimburse travel or accommodation costs. You will be notified as soon as possible. We will not accept liability for transport disruption to public or private services or individual transport disruption as grounds for a refund. It may be necessary for reasons beyond the control of the organisers to alter the content, speakers, or timings of the events at any time. Changes in this schedule will not constitute grounds for a refund in part or in full. Weather Policy (Outdoor Sessions) Sessions will go ahead in most weather conditions, so please come prepared for the elements. If conditions are deemed unsafe (e.g. high winds), we will notify you as soon as possible with any changes to the event which may include cancellation of the event. Exceptional Circumstances & Discretion We recognise that unexpected and difficult situations can arise. In cases of exceptional circumstances (such as serious illness, family emergencies, or other significant events), we may, at our discretion, offer: A partial or full refund, depending on the situation All requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis, and we may ask for reasonable context to help us make a fair decision. We will aim to acknowledge your request within 48 hrs and aim to fully respond within 15 working days. While we will always respond with care and understanding, we also ask that you respect that: Decisions are made with fairness to the whole community and the sustainability of our work in mind We may not always be able to offer exceptions, particularly for last-minute cancellations that do not fall under exceptional circumstances If something unexpected happens, please get in touch as soon as possible—early communication really helps us support you where we can. Please email enquiries@forestschoolassociation.org Or please telephone 07479 960 639 Important legal information Due to the nature of this event (a leisure service on a specific date), there is no statutory cooling-off period under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 This refund policy is governed by the laws of England and Wales If you have any disputes or questions about a refund, please contact us at enquiries@forestschoolassociation.org We aim to resolve issues amicably, but you also have rights under UK consumer law, including recourse through alternative dispute resolution if needed GDPR and permissions Data protection All delegates’ details will be kept on record We will not share your contact details with anyone other than organisations that are directly related to the event (e.g. the hosting site as a record of attendance) We may contact you about future events using the details provided on this booking, if you wish to opt-out please contact us at enquiries@forestschoolassociation.org Photography and filming Please be aware filming and photography will take place throughout the conference Images may be used in: Printed media produced by the FSA and/or other affiliated stakeholders (Local Groups) Guides, training products, magazines, books, and newspapers Online platforms, websites, and social media hosted by the FSA and other organisations associated with Forest School or Outdoor Education If you do not want to appear on film or in a photograph: Raise your hand towards the camera/operative in a ‘Stop’ gesture with your palm facing the camera The camera operative will cease filming you The editing team will remove you from the final edit and delete the footage Forest School Association is a charity registered in England and Wales (1155616). Forest School Association is a company registered in England and Wales (8164851).

My experience consists of a leisure activity, on a specific date(s), and therefore the 14-day ‘cooling off period’ under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 does not apply.