What Is Forest School
Forest school is an early childhood education model where children spend the majority of their day, typically 3 to 5 hours, outdoors in natural settings like forests, woodlands, or nature reserves. Activities are child-led and unstructured, with educators facilitating rather than directing learning. The program operates year-round in all weather conditions, as outdoor time in rain, snow, and cold temperatures is considered integral to building resilience and connection to nature.
This approach originated in Scandinavia during the 1950s and has expanded significantly across North America. Forest schools operate as licensed childcare facilities or programs within existing early childhood centers. They emphasize sensory play, risk-taking in supervised environments, and learning through natural exploration rather than formal instruction.
Licensing and Accreditation Requirements
Forest school programs must comply with state childcare licensing regulations, which vary by location. Most states require licensed programs to meet standard staff-to-child ratios, typically 1 adult to 4-6 children depending on age group. Staff must hold CPR and first aid certification, and many states require early childhood education credentials or equivalent training.
NAEYC accreditation is available for forest schools that document learning outcomes tied to developmental benchmarks. Programs pursuing accreditation must demonstrate how outdoor exploration supports literacy, numeracy, social-emotional development, and physical development across infancy through pre-K. Documentation typically includes observation notes, photos, and evidence of how children meet age-appropriate milestones.
Forest schools can access Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) subsidies if they maintain state licensure and accept families meeting income requirements. Subsidy reimbursement rates are typically lower for outdoor-based programs, though some states have begun adjusting rates to account for higher facility costs and specialized training.
Daily Operations and Learning Environment
A typical forest school day includes arrival routines, free play in the natural space, snack time outdoors, planned activities like nature journaling or building with natural materials, and rest time. Educators observe children's interests and respond with scaffolding rather than predetermined lesson plans.
Safety protocols are formalized, including boundary maps, emergency procedures, and documented risk assessments. Staff track developmental progress through observation and documentation aligned with early learning standards. Weather preparation is essential, so programs provide layered clothing systems and waterproof gear.
Developmental Outcomes
- Physical development: Children ages 3-5 show improved gross motor skills, balance, and coordination through natural terrain navigation
- Executive function: Self-directed play supports attention span and problem-solving abilities
- Social-emotional learning: Small group work outdoors builds collaboration and emotional regulation
- Cognitive development: Sensory-rich environments support language growth and conceptual understanding
Common Questions
Are forest schools regulated differently than traditional childcare centers? No, they must meet the same state licensing standards as indoor centers, including staff-to-child ratios, training requirements, and health and safety rules. The main difference is documentation of how outdoor learning aligns with developmental benchmarks.
Will my child get sick more often in forest school? Research shows forest school children have similar or lower illness rates compared to traditional classrooms, partly because programs maintain smaller group sizes and operate outdoors where airborne transmission is reduced.
Can my CCDF subsidy cover forest school tuition? Yes, if the program is state-licensed. Contact your local CCDF administrator to confirm the facility is approved for subsidy reimbursement, as rates may differ from center-based care.
Related Concepts
Nature-Based Learning and Outdoor Classroom share forest school's emphasis on outdoor environments, though they differ in structure and implementation within broader educational frameworks.