What to Expect from a Free Forest School Meeting

When you join a Free Forest School gathering, you can expect to spend time outdoors with other local families while children explore and play freely.

Defining Elements of Free Forest School

Anyone can choose to organize a group and host events that follow the Free Forest School format.

• Free Play-  each FFS session includes AT LEAST 60 minutes of uninterrupted free play.

• CHILD-LED & EMERGENT - facilitators do not have a detailed agenda for the day’s learning, but rely on environmental phenomena and the interests of the children to dictate the day’s learning.

• ROLE OF ADULTS -  Adult participants are encouraged to use a “lightest touch” approach in their interventions with children. Adults will limit use of phones to emergencies.

• SAFETY - Parents/caregivers are responsible for the safety of their own children. Each adult must choose how to manage objective risk at each site, which may include choosing not to participate.

• NATURE IMMERSION - FFS meetings take place in natural areas - places that are minimally impacted by humans. FFS DOES NOT take place at playgrounds, splash pads, pools, groomed gardens, etc.

• PLACE BASED / RECURRENT - Weekly meetings must recur at a site for at least 6 months/ two consecutive seasons. “Pop-Up” or one-time events are to be scheduled sparingly. 

• OPEN AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY - FFS chapters are open to any local families/caregivers with children age 0-6 who wish to attend. Directors must admit any person that meets the basic qualifications.

• FREE - FFS meetings are always free of cost to all participants. 

• ROUTINE - Each meeting adopts a gentle, repeated structure that holds a space for free play.

• FLEXIBLE - To be inclusive of each child's needs, every aspect of the daily routine is considered optional; each family should participate as it works for them.  

• NO TOYS OR PETS - Toys are not permitted at FFS. Pets (other than service dogs) are not permitted for many reasons, including participant safety. 

• NO STROLLERS* - Strollers are generally discouraged. Many trails are not safe for strollers, and strollers do not support child-led exploration. *Strollers are warmly welcomed at accessible sites when needed to accommodate special needs.

• RAIN OR SHINE - FFS meetings take place in all types of weather and are only cancelled in the case of threatening or dangerous weather conditions. See Cancellation Policy.

• VOLUNTEER-RUN - All local leadership and facilitator positions are unpaid volunteer positions.

Every group is unique. Your local Host determines the details of their gatherings, so reach out to the group directly for information about meeting times, locations, communication platforms, and what to bring.