The concept of Forest Schools originated in Scandinavia in the 1950s, where it was first developed by a Danish teacher named Friluftsskole (which translates to "free air school"). The Friluftsskole movement started as a way to combat the negative effects of urbanization on children's health and well-being, and it quickly gained popularity in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

In the early days of the Friluftsskole movement, the focus was primarily on providing children with opportunities to experience nature and engage in outdoor activities. However, over time, the focus shifted to include a more holistic approach to education, with a strong emphasis on hands-on, experiential learning and the development of social and emotional skills.

The Forest School concept then made its way to the United Kingdom in the 1990s, where it was first introduced by a group of early childhood educators. They were inspired by the Friluftsskole movement and adapted the approach to meet the needs of children in the UK. Forest Schools in the UK have a strong focus on the natural environment and aim to provide children with opportunities to learn through hands-on, experiential activities.

Since then, the Forest School approach has spread to other countries around the world, including the United States, Canada, and Australia. Today, Forest Schools are recognized as an effective and innovative approach to education, and they continue to gain popularity as an alternative to traditional classroom-based education.

A Forest School is a unique and innovative approach to education that involves taking learning outside of the traditional classroom and into the natural environment. This type of education is based on the belief that children learn best through hands-on, experiential learning, and that being in nature can have a positive impact on both mental and physical well-being.

In a Forest School setting, students spend most of their time outside, exploring the natural world and engaging in activities such as building shelters, making fires, and learning about plants and animals. They also learn traditional academic subjects such as math, science, and reading, but these subjects are taught in a way that is connected to the natural world. For example, a student might learn about fractions while measuring the diameter of a tree trunk or learn about the water cycle while studying a stream.

The Forest School approach is based on the principles of self-directed learning, respect for the natural environment, and a focus on the individual needs of each child. Teachers act as facilitators, rather than traditional educators, and work to create an environment where children can take risks, make mistakes, and learn from their experiences.

Acton Academy Columbus is inspired by both the Forest School concept and Waldorf Education. We heavily emphasize self-directed learning, critical thinking skills, and our learner-driven model is built on learners taking ownership of their own education.

In addition, our young heroes spend a portion of each day outdoors, including a lot of time in the woods and in nature, which allows them to gain many of the benefits from the Forest School approach.

Read more: Is Acton a Waldorf School?