Forest School Activities

Module 8: Nature Awareness Games

Learn how to deliver games for all ages with clear instructions and video demonstrations. So much fun and learning to be had together!

Forest School Activities Online Training

Module 8: Nature Awareness Games

Learning Through Play

Learn how to deliver games for all ages with clear instructions and video demonstrations.

Help the children to become aware of the nature around them by getting them to walk silently like a fox or to cup their hands around their ears to be able to listen like the deer. Encourage them to use all their senses through play to be alert for predators or prey.

Our games will encourage an understanding of the ecology and the web of life, how things relate to, communicate with and consume each other!

What makes the Forest School Activities Training Course so important

Today more people understand the necessity for outdoor learning.

Moreover, the importance of securing nature’s future.

Sir David Attenborough said: "No one will protect what they don’t care about, and no one will care about what they have never experienced."

We know working with nature is the best solution for climate change...

What’s more, Covid 19 has taught us that immersion in nature positively benefits children’s and adults' health, mental health and wellbeing.

Which is why now more than ever, it’s vital to show people of all ages how to engage with nature.

"Spearheading the transformation of education and health through nature"

This video-based online learning course gives you everything you need to run engaging outdoor sessions…

From acquiring the skills … to mastering the techniques … to health and safety risk assessments … 

Remember, this extensive nature-based training programme comes from my 30 years of experience teaching Forest School to outdoor practitioners and teachers like you, in face-to-face settings … and now online.

I understand the barriers you face: namely space, time and cost. 

This comprehensive training will equip you with the outdoor learning knowledge and skills you need to overcome perceived barriers and take your classroom outdoors.

You’ll get clear guidance … on how to run engaging activities for early years, primary and secondary children. 

You’ll get practical tips on … conducting risk and benefit assessments.. and much more.

You’ll get lifetime access to my highly visual training videos that let you see and hear in detail the outdoor activities taught. You can replay the videos as many times as needed.

So that by the time you complete the Forest School Activities Online Training Course

You’ll have all the information you need to plan engaging outdoor sessions…

Take a look at some of the activities you’ll learn

Fox Walking Game

Many of the games we enjoy enable a group to develop their natural senses and begin to increase their self and nature awareness. Fox walking, a way of walking that derives from watching and learning from predators like the fox, provides a skill to walk slowly and quietly through the woods.

Tracking Games

The first thing you need to do is to make a stencil creating the shape of an animal track. Using a stanley knife is really helpful with this. Once you have your stencils, you can create many fun and engaging opportunities to build connection with animals. This activity develops the skill of shape and pattern recognition and stimulates ongoing curiousity about animals. You may decide to extend this activity by finding out more about what the animal eats, where it sleeps, what its habits are and what time of day or night it is active. Using animal toys also gives the opportunity to tell some stories and set up different tracking challenges which fun and exciting!

Bat and Moth Game

Another classic nature-based game, Bat and Moth is always fun and requires the group to work together and apply skills and strategy. As with all these games we begin to consider ecology and the web of life, how things relate to, communicate with and consume each other!

Testimonials

I highly recommend these to anyone working with kids!

Wow! This is the first time I've found such a comprehensive resource for teaching outdoors and it has been very rewarding to try these games out with the children in nature. There are so many hidden treasures in the games​ that have real and valuable lessons, empowering them, reconnecting them to nature as well as their own self awareness and self esteem. I highly recommend these to anyone working with kids!

Deborah LewisHome Educator

It is brilliant and anyone can do it!

These nature awareness games give children of all ages an opportunity to tune into their senses. In the classroom we can spend time and money on creating sensory work; in the outdoors, with Marina's guidance, nature does a lot of the work for us. Marina's course teaches us games which we can use with children of all ages. It is brilliant and anyone can do it!

Jennie CaseyForest School Practitioner and Trainee Play Therapist

I loved having access to both early years and teenage games

The course was a very helpful tool to learn new nature awareness games. I loved having access to both early years and teenage games as wel,l and to see how to progress the learning and complexity as needed during a session.

Margarida PedrosaForest School Practitioner, Portugal


Curriculum

About the instructor

Welcome to the Nature Awareness Games Module (2:03)

Magic Feet for Early Years and Beyond (0:58)

Only Safe If Game for Early Years and Older (1:28)

Nursery Animal Sounds and Movement (1:44)

Timber Hitch and Log Game (0:39)

Fox Walking (5:26)

Deer Ears, Owl Eyes & Deer Stalk Game (13:22)

Animal Tracking Games (3:02)

Plaster of Paris Animal Tracks (3:53)

Pattern Ball (3:36)

Mingle and Grab (6:35)

Samurai Game (2:48)

Talbot's Game (6:17)

Pattern Ball (3:36)

Bat and Moth Game (4:33)

Beetle Tag and Palm Tag (5:39)

Eagle Eyes (5:51)

123 Where are You? (1:40)

Nature Awareness Games Reflection

Downloads

Welcome to the Nature Awareness Games Module

Nature Awareness Games Risk Benefit Assessment

What's Included in Module 8?

✔️ 16 video lessons full of tried and tested nature based games that are a fun way of learning through nature. The lessons include examples of games that can be played with early years, primary and secondary children.

✔️ Lessons include making animal tracks, deer ears, fox walking, bat and moth, nursery animal sounds and lots more.

Plus downloadable resources:

✔️ A Risk and Benefit Assessment

What will you learn?

✔️ Deliver tried and tested nature-based games for all ages that increase nature awareness

✔️ Inspire young people to observe their environment by heightening their senses and awareness of space

✔️ Apply teambuilding activities to increase group unity, sense of fun, cooperation and social skills

✔️ Cover all health and safety considerations

The Forest School Activities Training


Our foundation training course comes with lifetime access to over 100 step by step inspirational videos and resources.
Designed for teachers and practitioners. Single modules are £47 +vat or save £100 when you buy the 8 module bundle

Whom you learn from matters

I'm Marina Robb

I'm the Founder and Managing Director of Circle of Life Rediscovery Community Interest Company and The Outdoor Teacher Ltd, and a qualified teacher with over 30 years experience in outdoor learning and nature connection, and a leading Forest School endorsed trainer and practitioner. I'm a national expert in nature based education and therapeutic interventions and my aim is to share my knowledge and experience with teachers and others wishing to work outside the classroom.I've pioneered nature programmes within the health sector for my work with teenagers, families and young people with mental health issues, disabilities, dementia and early psychosis.  

I'm the co-author of ‘Learning with Nature’ a must-have book for Forest School & Outdoor practitioners, and ‘The Essential Guide to Forest School and Nature Pedagogy’ which contains everything you need to know from theory to practice.

I'm also the host of The Wild Minds Podcast.

Complete the full course and you’ll qualify for Forest School Liability Insurance

Birnbeck Insurance is the UK's leading provider of specialist liability insurance for Forest School and Outdoor Learning Practitioners. As such, the firm has approved our Forest School Activities Online Training Course, which means when you complete your training, you’ll be eligible for their Forest School Liability Insurance.
Contact Birnbeck for a quote

money back

14 day Guarantee

Risk free

14 Days Money Back Guarantee

If you are not happy with the course, you can contact us with an explanation and claim a full refund within 14 days.

laptops and tablets

Know that your course is available on all devices

The Forest School Activities Online Training is mobile friendly and available on all devices.

If you have an iPhone, you can download the 'Teachable' app from the Apple Store and download the videos onto your phone.

FAQ

When does the course start?

If you are paying in full, you will get access to all 8 modules and all bonus materials as soon as your purchase is complete.

How long do I have access to the course?

You will have lifetime access to the course! Unlimited access to the lessons and videos for as long as you like, across all your devices.

Is my tutor qualified?

Yes, Marina Robb is an author and UK Forest School Association Endorsed Trainer and has been training Forest School Leaders since 2011. She has been working with groups in nature since 1995 and you can read more here.

Our organisation can’t pay using a credit or debit card – can we still buy the course?

Yes, we understand that many schools and other organisations can’t pay by card – contact us and we can send you an invoice to pay us by bank transfer in UK Sterling, Euros or Dollars. We can also accept cheques from UK bank accounts.

Can I access the course on my mobile?

Yes, the course can be accessed on all devices. If you have an iPhone, you can also download the free ‘Teachable’ app from the Apple Store and complete the course using the app, downloading any videos you like onto your device.

What if I am unhappy with the course?

If for some reason you are not happy with the course, contact us in writing within your first 14 days for a full refund. You will need to include an explanation of why you want the refund.

Does this course qualify me to run Forest School sessions?

This course is not a qualification but is Certified by The Outdoor Teacher and based on Marina's experience and expertise in this field.
All practitioners in the UK need to follow health and safety law, which requires us to provide risk assessments and be competent to deliver activities. Teachers for example are already qualified already to take their practice outdoors but are likely to need a course like ours to get the practical skills in place.
The Level 3 Forest School training and Forest School programmes (long term) are an educational approach and the training is excellent. If you intend to offer long-term forest school programmes, then I would recommend you doing the qualification.
We have a page about Outdoor Learning Myths and a recent webinar where these issues are addressed:
https://theoutdoorteacher.com/blog/outdoor-learning-myths

How is this course different from the Level 3 Training?

This training resource does not give you a formal qualification in Forest School Leadership.

It has been designed at the same standard and beyond as a Level 3, by Marina Robb, an endorsed Forest School Association Trainer with 30 years experience. The course aims to enable and equip people with the practical delivery of Forest School-based activities to a high competency, with all the correct health and safety and pedagogy weaved through the course.  

There is no requirement to have a Forest School Qualification to take children out of doors to learn and play. As a teacher or practitioner, you are legally obliged to have risk assessments in place and insurance relevant to practice offered.

How many hours is the course?

This is a self-paced course so you work in your own time from pre-recorded materials and videos with 2 additional live webinars. The course is organised into the seasons so designed to be worked though over the calendar year.
We estimate that it will take a minimum of 36 hours to complete the course but you will also need to factor in time to practice the activities on top of this. 

We don't have access to a woodland - can we do these activities in a playground or park?

Yes, you can. Whether you are near a woodland, park or school playground - all the activities can be adapted for different circumstances.

We have run activities using fire, tools, games, wild food, crafts, swings & ropes, shelters in school yards and playgrounds.

It does take more preparation and consideration of equipment. If you wanted to make fires, you would either designate a small green area of the playground for this purpose or use a fire bowl to lift the fire off the ground. We have also taken many groups on short walks throughout the seasons to gather some plants for many activities.

Posts can be put up to replace trees, so that children can still set up various rope bridges or constructions and with a little thinking you can easily set up a rope swing and tarpaulin shelters.

In schools we often ask parents to contribute a log for our wood pile and ask for help to bring in useful materials we may need over the year.

Can I share my course with my colleagues?

No - the license is granted for 1 user to view the contents of the course. This access must not be shared with any other person and only the named user will receive the certificate.

See next question for bulk licencing queries.

Can we purchase multiple licenses for our staff team?

Yes, please contact us for bulk purchasing discounts. We can set up the user accounts for you and send you access codes and you can pay by invoice

Do I get a certificate?

Yes, all our courses come with a ‘Certificate of Completion’ from The Outdoor Teacher Ltd.

How can we contact you if we have a question?

Yes feel free to call or email us with any questions - our contact details are on the contact page.

Our commitment to Nature & People:

The Outdoor Teacher, alongside its sister organization Circle of Life Rediscovery CIC aim to transform health, education and family through nature.

We are whole-heartedly concerned about the safeguarding of future generations, human and non-human alike, and the growing understanding of reciprocity between humans and nature. Whilst we are advocates for all people accessing nature and its benefits, we know that this is only healthy if we prioritise the care for the natural world and address issues of equality.

The Outdoor Teacher is working towards becoming a certified B-Corp. Certified B Corps are a new kind of business that balances purpose and profit. They are legally required to consider the impact of their decisions on their workers, customers, suppliers, community, and the environment. We aim to be part of this community of leaders, driving a global movement of people using businesses as a force for good.

We are using Monzo Business Banking which is listed as an ethical bank: https://monzo.com/ethics.

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