Forest Club values child-led play, exploration, risk-taking, community, storytelling, imagination, make-believe, songs and folklore.

We allow children ample opportunity to develop their motor skills through lots of physical play, climbing, rough and tumble, running, and bush-crafting. We aim to provide children with valuable life skills for the outdoors as they learn how to safely light fires, cook outdoors, build shelters, and safely use ropes and tools.

We persevere to strengthen children’s connection to the natural world around them by allowing them to spend time developing a relationship with the plants, insects, and environment around them. We model respectful interactions with nature and actively encourage behaviours that foster care for people and planet. We encourage children to consider their roles as stewards of nature and to love all around them.

We believe that childhood beliefs are extremely valuable to imagination, creativity and play, and actively encourage make-believe and storytelling. We aim to empower children to be independent and resilient and to have a deep connection with each other. We encourage them to express their feelings and to explore their understanding of how their bodies and the physical world around them interact. We model how to safely assess risks while working with fire and tools and allow them to assess their own abilities to take certain risks while climbing and playing.

We act with love and compassion and will pick a child up for a hug when they need one. Similarly, we will allow a child time alone in a tree or hammock if they ask for it. We believe that dirt is healthy and an integral part of outdoor play. We do not discourage children from getting their clothes and hands dirty! We share food and drink together during each session.