Parties in Nature.
Forest school parties are a win on so many levels, and the good news is that there are more forest schools opening all the time, making it easier to find one local to you. As someone who has experienced the joys of a forest school stay and play programme with my daughter for two years, I can wholeheartedly vouch for the immense enjoyment and benefits it brings: It got us out in the open come rain or shine, taught us both new skills and we had a lot of fun making creative nature based crafts and singing songs round the campfire.
One of the greatest advantages of hosting a forest school style party is the fact that it takes place outside at a designated and appropriate venue. This means you won’t have a bunch of kids tearing through your house or garden! All the activities are already planned for you, saving you the stress of figuring out how to keep the little ones busy and entertained throughout the party. Additionally, these activities will have been thoroughly safety and risk assessed, ensuring a secure environment for all participants. The staff members at forest schools are trained and experienced, further alleviating any concerns you may have about the well-being of the children.
Another significant perk of hosting a forest school party is the minimal need for decoration. The natural beauty of the surroundings serves as the perfect backdrop, saving you time and money that would otherwise be spent on decorations. Moreover, when the party concludes, there is no tedious tidying up to worry about. That’s a huge win in my books!
Forest schools are equipped to handle different weather conditions, enabling year-round parties. You won’t need to fret over organising a backup plan for bad weather; they have it all covered. At the forest school my daughter and I attended, a large tarpaulin was readily available to hoist up over the campfire in case of rain. We could huddle around the fire, sipping hot chocolate and singing songs, much to the delight of the kids.
Undoubtedly, the best thing about a forest school party is that children absolutely love it, making it a hit with parents as well. To add to the excitement, these parties often involve nature-based craft activities that can double as party favors. It’s a win-win situation! You can effortlessly check off another task from your party-planning list.
Busy making potions at Nature Makers, Droitwich & Worcester
The only things you’ll need to organise are the invitations, food (if you plan to host the party over a mealtime) or light snacks, a birthday cake, and potentially party bags. When it comes to party bags, fear not! I have some fantastic nature-inspired ideas below to help you out.
Each forest school has its unique and stunning setting, with varying activities offered at different locations. It’s essential to research and choose the one that best suits your preferences before booking. However, regardless of the specific location, forest school parties guarantee a delightful experience filled with crafts and activities. Below are some of the fun ideas you might be able to incorporate into your forest school party.
Popular Forest School Activities
Nature-inspired treasure hunt
Campfire cooking
Outdoor play
Nature crafts
Storytelling sessions
Learning new skills
Mud kitchen
Bug hunting
Bird watching
S’mores
Collecting sticks for the campfire
Gardening
Lighting the campfire
Chilling
Hot chocolate around the campfire
Hosting Your Own Forest School Party
If you are feeling creative and have some time on your hands, you may want to consider hosting your own forest school style party, either at home in the garden, in your local park or perhaps at the beach. Rachel, from Buttercup, has shared some great ideas below, of some simple activities you could host.
How to Make a Bird Feeder
Here are some instructions from Buttercup, to make your own bird feeder.
You will need:
- Pine or fir cones (they must be dry and closed)
- Bird seed
- Raisins
- Peanuts
- Grated cheese
- Veggie Suet (a kind of fat that birds like)
- Water
- A mixing bowl
- Scissors
- StrinG
- First, we need to mix the veggie suet with some water in the mixing bowl.
Grate some cheese into the bowl
Then, we add the bird seed, raisins, and peanuts to the bowl. Use your fingers to mix everything together until it’s all sticky and holds together like a ball.
Take the pine or fir cones and group them together. We loop the string around the top of them, making a loop that we can hang later. Now, we pack the sticky bird mix around the cones with our hands, making a ball shape.
Lastly, we put our cones in the fridge for about an hour to set. When they are ready, we can hang them outside for the birds to eat!
Forest Themed Party Bags and Fillers
Woodland party bags, by Red Beau
Insect play dough, by Little Play Tribe
Wooden Owl Miragescope, from Little Lulubel
Plant your own strawberries, by Eco Party Bags.
Colourful seed balls, by Eco Party Bags.
Bird feeder kit, by Eco Party Bags.
I have loved every minute of our forest school experience and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend a forest school party! If you are looking for other activity based parties, then take a look at my blog Activity Based Birthday Parties.
