Enhance your school offering with Heritage funded Outdoor Learning / Forest School Sessions. The Heritage in Schools Scheme is the Heritage Council’s national primary school programme delivered by a panel of Heritage Specialists, recruited and Garda vetted by the Heritage Council. School visits are part-funded by the school and the Heritage Council. You can find out more information and see Ellie's Heritage in Schools Profile here.
You can chose between short sessions so every class enjoys time out with Ellie or longer sessions for groups of up to 30 to delve deeper into nature crafting and outdoor activities. Or have Ellie on a regular basis and request the Heritage In Schools 6 week, Forest School Programmes for 1.5-2 hours a week, over the 6 week, with groups of up to 15. The choice is yours and with substantial funding from the Heritage Council these sessions are more affordable than you might think! Check out Ellie's profile on the Heritage in Schools webpage and then contact her to discuss your school's individual needs and agree dates before booking on the Heritage Council website.
Birthday Parties
1:1 Nurture Sessions
Pirates, Princesses, Superheroes, Fairies, Dinosaurs or Woodland Creatures! Whatever your child's theme we can plan an outdoor birthday party to suit it. Contact Ellie to plan your child's party to include their favourite Forest School activities; fire lighting, nature crafts, games, den building, treasure hunts, etc.
Birthday parties generally run for 2 hours on a Saturday or Sunday at our site in Ballindine. The party package includes Ellie leading the session, providing fun activities, hot chocolate and s'mores (toasted marshmallows sandwiched in chocolate biscuits). Prices start at €180 for up to 15 children.
Teaching and Support Staff Professional Development Days
1:1 Nurture sessions are designed for children requiring an alternative educational timetable. They provide a safe, rich environment, with a timetable and activities tailored to the child's individual needs and preferences. Sessions are designed to run as half or full days to complement a bespoke educational timetable that meets children's individual needs. They can support a return to an in school programme or continue to run year round in support of maintaining a part-time in school programme or as part of a home education package.
Ellie is an experienced and qualified Trauma and Mental Health Informed Practitioner who regularly participates in training to update and expand her knowledge and skills in supporting children with need of additional supports, whatever the cause of that need.
For children who are finding traditional school environments challenging, Forest School can provide a free and rich environment in which they can feel success and start to thrive. The natural calming and nourishing effects of nature can be amplified with simple activities and techniques, and activities can be provided that quickly let children experience success. Whether that's climbing a tree and lighting a fairy fire or building a survival shelter and cooking lunch on a campfire that includes freshly foraged ingredients. Year round, activities such as these support growing resilience, confidence and self-esteem.
Would you like to take children's learning outside more? Training days can be tailored to your needs whether it's building confidence managing groups of children outside, developing outdoor curriculum ideas or developing risk/benefit assessments for outdoor learning. Or would your teaching team benefit from their own Forest School day, enjoying the nurturing benefits of nature bathing, along with foraging and campfire cooking and games they can practice and bring back to play with the children. Contact Ellie to plan your day.
Team Building Days
Bring your team out into nature where you can integrate your business need activities with bushcraft and/or nature bathing activities to energise and invigorate your team. Challenge your team to build shelters and fire, let them find sit spots for moments of mindfulness and meditation and we'll ensure there are lots of laughs with woodland games. We'll keep the kettle warm on the fire for hot drinks all day and provide a nourishing, delicious campfire lunch.
Contact Ellie to plan your day.
