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£75 - £100

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About the course

A day to celebrate the Summer Solstice with all the family. There will be solstice inspired games, songs, crafts and nature connection for adults and accompanied children. We will visit a beautiful summer meadow and celebrating our relationship with nature as a community.

We create a connective learning experience that will enable and inspire you to create your own Children’s Forest Planting projects. Through nature connection practices, practical knowledge and ancestral skills we explore connective ways to engage children with nature.

The Facilitator training is in three stages, incorporating experiential, theoretical and practical learning and experience, so that you can feel confident to seed your own Children’s Forest Planting.

We will share songs that are part of a collection called the Song Forest that supports the Children’s Forest project in planting future forests.  These songs have been created to be sung for and to the tress in celebration of them and the gifts they share.

Singing is a wonderful way to connect with each other and nature; it opens the door to to a deeper relationship with the trees.

Who is this course suitable for?

  • This workshop is for adults and will support those working with children in outdoor education such as Forest School facilitators.

The course will cover

  • Create an opportunity to nurture a deep joy and contentment within that will help focus the mind and de-stress your life.
  • You will learn techniques, which will aid your well-being and provide an opportunity to explore your inner worlds.

About the tutors

Anna Richardson: Anna has been a nature mentor and trained forest school leader for over 20 years, working with children of all ages and mentoring adults in plant lore, foraging, nature connection and bushcraft. The 8 Shields deeply informs Anna’s work and approach.  She is passionate about connecting to nature through creativity and reverence for life and is also a forest school trainer through Circle of Life Rediscovery and has co-authored two books : Learning with Nature and The Children’s Forest and am the founder of the Children’s Forest.

Erica Shorter: Erica has been learning and playing in nature as a Forest School Leader and Nature Connection Mentor for over 10 years. She is happiest wandering barefoot in the forest and brings a flavour of deep nature connection into her work with children and adults. She is informed and inspired by the 8 Shields and is passionate about creating spaces for people to deeply connected with nature and their inner landscapes.

Testimonials

Upcoming courses

May 22-25th 2025

Three day Facilitator Training Course ~ Sussex

Standard fee: £500, Supporters fee: £650 (contact us for Concessionary fee). Paying the supporters fee enables us to offer concessionary fees. (payment plans are possible)

This immersive 3-day camp in a beautiful woodland while experiencing the four step journey of the Children’s Forest. Experience deep nature connection practice, practical knowledge and indigenous wisdom.

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May 31st 2025, 10-3pm

Dancing the Land (for adults)

Suggested donation: £10-£20

This workshop will explore ways that moving in and with the natural environment can develop sensitivity and cultivate an embodied connection.  The teachings incorporate principles of both 8 Shields and 5 Rhythms.

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June 9th 2025, 4-6pm

'Greet the Trees' Summer term (for community)

£10 drop-in per family, or Adults £35 for 4 week block (children free)

Weekly outdoor education sessions with games, songs, stories, crafts, food and tree tending as we experience the gifts of the trees.

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