Forest Schools and Nature Kindergartens

Below are international case studies, reports and blog posts from different countries. Click on the images to check out each resource. Please get in touch if you have any queries or wish to find out more.

I Ur och Skur "Rain or Shine": Swedish Forest Schools

This report covers the history of the outdoor nurseries in Sweden that led to the Forest School and nature kindergarten movement in the UK and elsewhere. Juliet wrote this after her Winston Churchill Travelling Fellowship where she spent time with Siw Linde, one of the founders of the first I Ur och Skur. In 2010 the report was been translated into Japanese where there is a large "Skogsmulle" movement.

Mulleborg and Skogsknattarna Kindergartens

This case study focuses on two very different, but equally inspiring I Ur och Skur nurseries in Sweden. Mulleborg is the oldest "Rain or Shine" pre-school in Sweden. There are also further blog posts about this school on I'm a teacher, get me OUTSIDE here! blog.

Utsikten Primary School

Interested to find out more about an outdoor primary school in Sweden? This case study takes you on a wee tour of Sweden's oldest I Ur och Skur primary school. It is one of 20 outdoor primary schools in Sweden.

Czech Pre-schools - A Forest Project for All

This blog post covers an innovative and shoestring project that supported pre-school practitioners to take children to their local woods on a monthly or more frequent basis.

Toulcuv Dvur Nursery in Prague

An environmental education centre in the suburbs of Prague has a hugely popular on-site nursery on site where the children experience a variety of beautiful habitats, tend a garden and do many other outdoor activities.

Bringing Nature into a Czech Nursery

This remarkable school and nursery has been developing its outdoor space in partnership with a local technical college. Based in a rural part of the Czech Republic, it had a similar feel to a rural school in the UK.

A Farming Project at the Waldorf School in Prague

This is not the run-of-the-mill farming project. Juliet accompanied this P5 class on a visit to a farm just outside Prague where the children visit monthly to prepare the ground, plant wheat, care, harvest and then finally bake bread for the whole school. Hands-on learning at its finest!

A Nature Pre-school Walk

Find out how the Seattle Nature Pre-school create a daily routine which involves getting out and about in different natural habitats. An interesting fusion of nature-based Montessori approach to early years education.

Woods for Learning Case Studies

This series of case studies highlights woodlands as a rich context and resource for learning. For example involving parents in community action, developing woodlands for play at lunchtimes and using Forest School as part of an Intermediate Biology course in S4. The case studies cover early years, primary and secondary sectors. This work was funded by Forestry Commission Scotland and is available to read on the Education Scotland website.

Glasgow and the Clyde Valley Forest Kindergarten Pilot

This has been an ongoing project. Lynnette Borradaile, Penny Martin, Steve Alker and Toni Clark have all worked alongside Juliet on different contracts relating to this exciting initiative. Back in 2009 we produced a feasibility study. In 2011 we put together a mid-term evaluation. In 2012, Juliet is working with Karen Boyd, Forestry Commission Scotland, to develop an early years training package for pre-school practitioners in this area of Scotland.