Are you ready to step onto the path of becoming a Forest School Facilitator and leading your own sessions?
Kinda Training is part of Kinda Education CIC which promotes equity and kindness by
deepening reconnection to nature.
Kinda delivers cross-generational Forest School programmes, working with people of all
ages, abilities and backgrounds to rekindle a sense of belonging, co-operation and
community
Why train with Wilda Learning at Kinda Education?
Our lead tutor is Mell is a Forest School Association Endorsed Trainer who has 30
years of person centred nature connection facilitation experience. Mell is a behaviour
specialist, an outdoor learning and child led education consultant. Within that time she
has been delivering Forest School to all ages full time for over 15 years. Mell has been
tutoring the Forest School qualifications for the past 7 years and has trained around 500
adults to become facilitators in Forest School.
The Kinda Training Clan have a playful and holistic way of tutoring. We support learners of all abilities and backgrounds to ‘feel’ what it’s like to be held with the forest school
ethos, and then to delve deeper into what that ethos is and how to deliver it within a wide range of settings.
- Mell co-facilitators include Meg Mycelium, Emma Eagle and Eloise Earth who have
worked with her for many years within a range of forest school settings. Together they hold an inspiring space to enable learners to remember and discover in a holistically fun and deeply powerful way. - The training clan are supported by the incredible Dr Sara Knight who is the UK’s
leading author and researcher on Forest School. Sara visits tutoring days and supports with marking and moderating. ( https://forestschoolassociation.org/fsa-members…/… ) - The 11th day training course includes a day visiting Kinda Forest School to immerse into what it feels like to be part of a Forest School community.
- The Kinda Training Team have a wide range of knowledge and experience to share
and absolutely love delivering Forest school qualifications and marking your work! - The practical training happens face to face in both stunning ancient and young
woodland. This gives us a chance to explore and understand how woodland layers
evolve and how different woodlands and natural spaces can be worked alongside for holistic development. - The course has a high tutor ratio that helps us to support and mentor you as you learn new skills.
- During the winter months some of the theory based learning happens in a cabin in the woods.
- We also offer an optional camp over on your last day of face to face training.
What does the course content look like?
Kinda Training is fun, inspiring, wild and supportive. The tutoring days are held within two very different woodlands- one ancient and one young woodland- in Beccles and Halesworth.
- L3 is 10 days of face to face group tutorials within a woodland setting from 9am to 5pm.
- Your training journey will also include 1 day of attending a Kinda Forest School 4 hour session to see what a long term forest school ‘feels’ like.
- 1 session mentoring visit. Every level 3 student is visited by one of the tutors for a bespoke
mentoring session on their own forest school site. There is time for us to observe how your sessions are flowing, and time for you to ask us questions and advice for your next steps. - An optional sleep out! Camp under the stars in a shelter you build yourselves.
When your training is complete and your forest school facilitation experience begins we also offer additional follow up CPD and mentoring to enable you to delve deeper into areas that interest you. This includes seasonal online drop- in tutorials for all our students past and present.
Does it work? Evidence:
There is now a wide range of published data and evidence to show that learners who take part in long term Forest School sessions develop stronger writing and communication skills, are able to concentrate longer; have improved social and personal skills, better physical health and work collaboratively with others.
Some research papers can be found here
Forest School Leve 3 Qualification
This qualification is intended to provide the skills and knowledge required to set up and
deliver safe and effective Forest School programmes and for those who wish to become
Forest School Leaders.
The practical training happens face to face in both stunning ancient and young woodland.
This gives us a chance to explore and understand how woodland layers evolve and how
different woodlands and natural spaces can be worked alongside for holistic development.
The course has a high tutor ratio that helps us to support and mentor you as you learn new skills. During the winter months some of the theory based learning happens in a cabin in the woods. We also offer an optional camp over on your last day of face to face training.
The qualification is composed of two units.
Topics include:
Unit 1: Woodland structure, identification of flora and fauna, and sustainable woodland
management at Forest School.
Unit 2: Deliver, assess and evaluate a Forest School programme.
Unit 3: Application of learning and development theory, understanding of impact of behaviour
to learning and development, holistic learning and development at Forest School.
Unit 4: The development of Forest School ethos supported by policies and procedures and understanding the ecological impact when planning a Forest School Programme.
Unit 5: Facilitating a range of woodland skills, including campfire management appropriate to a Forest School Programme.
Assessment tasks will result in each candidate producing a portfolio of evidence meeting
each assessment criteria in each unit
When is this happening? The Dates
10th, 11th and 12th July 2024
3rd and 4th October 2024
6th , 7th and 8th November 2024
23rd and 24th January 2025
10 days face to face tutoring 9am to 5pm.
*Plus 1 day observation and mentoring at your own forest school Session
*Plus one day observing a Kinda Forest School long term session in action
*You will complete up to 96 hours of home study including the delivery of your Forest School Programme
Cost £1299– includes overnight camp
The minimum age for access to these qualifications is: Level 3 Certificate: 19 years**
**Please note that the minimum age for Forest School Leaders is 21. This is a Forest School Association and Department for Education requirement.
Additional Cost- Forest School 16 hour Outdoor First Aid Course- £185 date TBC
Please click the link below to complete the booking form https://public.3.basecamp.com/p/EoxYmsP2AeaYB2unWa6KzKh6
Payment can be made via our Bookwhen Page link below ttps://bookwhen.com/kindaforestschooltraining
Once we have received your booking form and payment your place on the training will be confirmed and further information will follow.
We look forward to meeting you! The Kinda Training Clan
Kinda Forest School 