Forest School History & Philosophy
Forest Schools may look like a modern trend, but their origins stretch back for over a century. After World War I, prominent educators, such as Maria Montessori, advocated for the importance of all children, regardless of their background, to be immersed in and connected to the natural world as they develop. These ideas carried through until the 1950's, when the first formal Forest School was developed in Denmark. This first Forest School began with a focus on a child-centered, emergent approach to learning, with teachers as facilitators in children's learning, building upon Montessori's ideals. The core belief that "play is children's work" and that the natural world is the best "first teacher" of children, laid the groundwork for the Forest School philosophy we follow at Oakview Farm Forest School.
Our Guiding Philosophy:
At Oakview Farm Forest School, we strongly adhere to the belief that all children deserve opportunities to connect to the natural world in order to strengthen relationships, cultivate compassion, and spark boundless creativity.
Forest School Curriculum
Oakview Farm Forest School's nature-based curriculum is largely guided by local seasonal changes, enabling children to form a lasting connection to the land, thus instilling a strong sense of place. This sense of place empowers them with the freedom to ask questions and further spark their curiosity about the land beneath their feet. Children in our program build on their curiosity about the natural world by observing the ever-present changes that occur daily and seasonally in the woods and fields of the farm. Teachers, as compassionate facilitators, guide children to find answers by thoughtfully curating the learning environment, through the use of natural materials and well-designed spaces. Learning thus emerges naturally as children explore, discover, and reflect upon their learning within safety of the natural world.
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A strong sense of place comes from a deep connection to the land, our woods and fields of the farm.
Developing a deep connection to a place relies on paying attention to daily and seasonal changes, such as:
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The wildflowers and grasses growing in the meadows and pastures in late May.
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The leaves of the Shagbark Hickory trees budding out in April.
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The wild turkey population taking its seasonal migration across the land in October.
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