Fostering children's relationship with nature : exploring the potential of Forest school

Smith, Michelle A.; Dunhill, Ally; Scott, Graham W.

Abstract

Forest School offers children opportunities to explore the natural environment regularly over an extended period of time. It is based on six key principles, one of which states Forest School fosters a relationship with nature and develops long-term pro-environment attitudes through regular personal experiences in nature. We consider to what extent this aim is achieved by exploring the published evidence. We identify that a relationship with nature could be demonstrated under six themes although there is little robust evidence to support this. We suggest further research is carried out directly linked to this aim of Forest School.

Citation

Smith, M. A., Dunhill, A., & Scott, G. W. (2017). Fostering children's relationship with nature : exploring the potential of Forest school. Education 3-13, 46(5), 525-534. https://doi.org/10.1080/03004279.2017.1298644

• Acceptance Date: Feb 17, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Mar 8, 2017
• Publication Date: Feb 28, 2017
• Deposit Date: Mar 8, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 11, 2018
• Journal: Education 3-13
• Print ISSN: 0300-4279
• Electronic ISSN: 1475-7575
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 46
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 525-534
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03004279.2017.1298644
• Keywords: Outdoor education; Relationship with nature; Forest school; Learning outdoors
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/449257
• Publisher URL: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03004279.2017.1298644?scroll=top&needAccess=true
• Additional Information: This is the accepted manuscript of an article published in Education 3-13, 2018. The version of record is available at the DOI link in this record.