Waldorf-Inspired: Forest Fridays
Rooted in the rhythms of Waldorf education, our Forest Friday tradition invites learners into a weekly experience of freedom, beauty, and connection with the natural world. Every Friday, all four of our studios—Spark, Growth, Discovery, and Adventure—venture into the woods for a full day of outdoor exploration at one of Columbus’ beautiful metro parks, including Glacier Ridge, Shale Hollow, and Blendon Woods.
These aren’t just nature walks. They’re an intentional part of our learner-driven model. At Acton Academy Columbus, we believe in educating the whole child—mind, body, and spirit. And the forest is one of the richest classrooms we know.
The Waldorf Way: Nature as a Foundation for Learning
In Waldorf education, the natural world is not an “extra”—it’s a core teacher. Nature supports sensory development, imagination, and the inner stillness necessary for deep thought. It encourages unhurried growth, allowing children to discover the world at their own pace. Forest Friday reflects these principles through open-ended play, seasonal awareness, and space for wonder.
Whether they’re building shelters from fallen branches, identifying leaves with a Naturalist, or simply watching clouds drift by, our learners are soaking in something vital: presence.
What the Research Says
Science increasingly supports what educators like Rudolf Steiner recognized a century ago. Time spent in natural environments has clear cognitive and emotional benefits:
Sharper Thinking: Studies from the University of Michigan and others show that even brief exposure to nature improves working memory, attention span, and creative problem-solving.
Stress Relief & Emotional Health: Forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku, practiced widely in Japan, has been shown to reduce cortisol levels, lower blood pressure, and improve mood—benefits children also experience through regular forest play.
Stronger Character: In the woods, learners navigate real situations that foster courage, collaboration, patience, and leadership. These moments help shape not just minds, but hearts.
Real World, Real Learning
Forest Fridays have included hands-on lessons with Naturalists, where learners explored animal tracks, erosion patterns, native plant life, and seasonal cycles. But more often than not, the most powerful learning is unstructured. On a recent visit to Blendon Woods, the Eagles found giant rope swings, deep mud puddles, and space to roam. They got messy, took risks, and created memories. There were no screens, no bells, and no scripts—just nature, imagination, and friendship.
These moments are not recess—they’re foundational experiences that build self-awareness, confidence, and joy.
This Is School
In a world of endless digital distractions and academic pressure, Forest Friday is a return to something essential. It is both radical and timeless.
It tells children: your body matters, your spirit matters, your connection to the Earth matters. And it tells parents: yes, this is school. It may look like climbing trees, but it’s actually the hard and beautiful work of becoming whole.