Learning about Forests (LEAF)

In the kindergarten Velenje, students spend a lot of time in nature. There are lots of opportunities out in the forest, which enable children to train many new skills, develop physical abilities and practice nature observation. Children have created forest playrooms, gymnasiums, camps, homes and houses. Small ones for dwarfs and fairies, some bigger ones for us and big ones, just in case the little mole Ligi joins!With some clear rules set up, playing zones have been designed. The forest playing rooms offered endless possibilities for imaginary games. And there's no place like imagination, where dwarfs, fairies, unicorns and other creatures can join children while they play. In the forest, children were able to pick up different materials and forest products each time. From these materials, real forest pictures and sculptures were made. In each visit to the forest, children were encouraged to use all their senses; observe the tall trees, listen to the birds singing, the rustling of leaves, touching the tree bark, hugging trees as well as all their friends! A sensory path was created with some of the forest products children collected, sometimes, children even walked through the forest barefoot.“We are too rarely aware that the forest is a teacher that can teach children more if we enter it open-minded, experience it in silence, by observing, listening, touching, or if we just let ourselves to SIMPLY BE in the forest. Only in such a way, will children experience the peace, joy and love that they deserve. They will enter it unobtrusively, respectfully, which for sure also is what the forest deserves.” I still remember When we went to the forest playroom, one of the students said very loudly: “ I love the forest!Maruša Kozman and preschool teachers of kindergarten VelenjeChildren also got to visit a carpenter to create wood pieces for the forest playrooms. The carpenter presented them with his work and showed them how to make a wooden crate. After having met the carpenter, children even gave up themselves to some carpenting. The children highly enjoyed grinding, constructing, glueing and sawing the wood. Hardly anyone cared about the hurt fingers while hammering nails and the pain, they were so proud of themselves and their success!The forest was also used as a math classroom. The children compared sticks, cones, different forest fruits, they observed trees, got to know forms, sorting, counting, stringing, comparing. They had real fun! In the forest gymnasium, forest ranges were created and physical activities were carried out. The forest is not always silent, there are different sounds coming from it. In the forest, sometimes students find materials which serve them to perform all kinds of music such as playing the drums!The children got the idea that our forest is protected by a very special creature. Together with the children, we believe as well, so that it will remain a clean and magical place also in the future. We will return to nature in future to continue to explore, get to know new things, discover and ensure that the forest remains our priceless experience, shelter and a warm home.

Stanger is a town in KwaZulu-Natal, located inland from Blythedale in the midst of sugarcane fields, and is part of the Zulu Heritage Route and the Sugar Route. However, the area is afflicted with poverty and high youth unemployment, which has led to an increase in the crime rate. Stanger Training Centre was established 35 years ago and is a facility that takes care of and educates children 6-18 years old, who are severely intellectually impaired with down syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism and epilepsy. The centre has a total of 252 children who attend the school, where environmental education is a part of the curriculum. The school was registered as a LEAF school in 2019 to expand its ongoing projects and gain a better understanding of its local environment. Through their participation in the programme, the school developed its own indigenous biodiversity garden - one which helped enhance students’ opportunity for creativity and connection to nature, which consequently stimulated their curiosity. Various tree-planting sessions took place, with outdoor biodiversity lessons revolving around the value of trees and their importance to conserve nature and sustain healthy school grounds. Students gained leadership skills and self-confidence. They gained a deeper understanding of the value of their surroundings and human interactions with the environment and were able to solve local sustainability challenges by increasing native biodiversity. "The garden was turned into something special: an outdoor classroom where students and teachers can look, observe, learn and flourish."Cindy-Lee Cloete, LEAF South Africa National OperatorThe project exposed students to the natural environment and outdoor education experiences. Giving them a chance to experience nature instilled a sense of responsibility and provided a different and beneficial brain stimulation. The natural experience provided students with meaningful opportunities for discovery, creativity, problem-solving, and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. Spending time outdoors, interacting with the natural environment allowed children to learn by doing and experimenting with ideas. Learners gained new knowledge and curiosity and were inspired to start taking care of their local nature and school grounds. “The positive impacts of this project will be felt for years to come” Principal MR KP Hira

A Nesting forest or Nestlebos is built in a forest. Ideally, a Nestelbos is very varied: water features, open terrain, dense forest, etc. Located in a forest, a place in the middle of nature that is spacious but demarcated, so that the children can experiment and move freely from one ‘nest’ to the other. Here children can play, romp, relax, but always with respect for nature. Where necessary, additional plants and trees are planted, a wasteland can be turned into a tiny forest, and invasive exotic species if necessary are removed. Working in a Nestelbos means that you have to take care of it. Care for nature, but also ensure that the forest is resistant to the effects of climate change. Where possible, children look to make certain choices in planting shrubs or trees. In addition, during the warm periods, while the streets, squares and the often still concrete playgrounds can be really hot in the summer, children enjoy the shade in the forest, or the sun shining through the trees. Depending on the location and accessibility, people from the neighbourhood or residential care centres can also be involved. By building this bond with nature, children/youngsters realise just how important it is to protect forests. Where necessary, additional plants and trees are planted, a wasteland can be turned into a tiny forest, invasive exotic species are tackled if necessary. “There was a child, a 6-year-old refugee, who had only just arrived in our country. In class she was always withdrawn, she made little contact. However, she found an owl's cape in the Bellenbos. When she put it on, she changed: she flew around the whole forest, made contact with everyone, it was really beautiful to see.”Caroline Bosteels, LEAF Netherlands Coordinator"Nesting Forests" project provides an opportunity to reconnect with nature as a classroom and that too regularly. The teachers can observe, join the students in the play and offer the children the freedom to discover themselves. In Bellenbos which is 0.6 Ha. in the area, there is a stream and a water hole, which makes this place even more valuable. Students planted over 670 saplings to make it even more greener. One can look for aquatic life, experiment with the current, etc. In the process of discovering the place and participating in activities, the children not only learn to respect nature and its beings, but also each other, which ultimately builds their social skills through playing and working and dealing with conflict together. Children’s curiosity allows them to look for possible solutions, where trial and error are possible and a ‘must’. Children also learn to deal with their thoughts, behaviour and emotions to be able to control them more effectively. Playing and learning in the forest also gives an extra boost to the sensory and motor development that is so much needed throughout our digital age.Children, to the surprise of their teacher, bloomed in the forest, making contact with other children, creating goals for their daily lives connected to the forest. Children developed skills of resilience, respect for one another, problem-solving, and self-management. Caroline Bosteels reflects on her experience, “as a kindergarten teacher with more than 10 years of experience, I wanted children to reconnect with nature, and offer them a place where they can fully experiment, explore, learn through play or find peace where necessary. After all, this is what children need, but unfortunately often do not find in regular education. From that idea arose the ‘Nesting Forests (Nestelbossen)”. In different places in the forest, which can also be called ‘nests’, children can develop various skills in playful ways: building and carpentry, working with mud, making music, playing theatre, and developing their interests and qualities. In Affligem, Belgium, the first educational ‘Nesting Forest’ was created, called Bellenbos, and consequently, more nesting forests were created across Belgium, with the idea that every child can play freely and can find calamity and peace in a forest nearby, with their families, or with their class. "If you are sad and you come to the Bellenbos, you will soon be happy again!" Student, 10 years old