Our Sessions
We have various groups running at our home site in Esker, Ballindine intended to engage children and their families in fun, hands on forest school, bushcraft and nature craft activities whilst learning about the local ecology and nature restoration.
We are always looking to expand our offering to meet the needs of our community so please contact us with any request and suggestions for new sessions and events you would like to see.
Monday & Wednesday
4-6pm
€15.00 per child
10% Sibling Discount
Our After School sessions for children 5-13 years old, provide space and time outside for children to move freely, explore and truly unwind with friends after the school day. There will be free play, fire lighting, nature crafts, foraging, hot drinks, snack, games, tool work and lots of fun!
Enjoy a free session when you book the term in advance (In addition to your free taster session if this is your first term!)
Booking Essential
Wednesday term-time
10-12pm
€15.00 per 1 adult and 1 child
€5.00 per sibling / second adult
Under 1 year is free
Family forest school and outdoor learning sessions are designed for families to attend together. They are best suited to younger children (0-10 years) and their families. They provide a wonderful opportunity for families to connect with and learn from eachother. These sessions are child-led and focus on free-play, exploring nature and developing relationships with friends whilst having the opportunity to engage in a variety of optional woodland games and activities.
Each week there will be a cosy campfire with some delicious homemade campfire treats and hot drinks, singing and stories around the campfire, free play, seasonal crafts, mud kitchen and sensory play.
Enjoy a free session when you book the term in advance (In addition to your free taster session if this is your first term!)
Booking Essential
Bright Sparks After School Club
Family Elements
Wednesday term-time
12.30-2.30pm
€15.00 per child
10% Sibling Discount
Forest school and outdoor learning group aimed at home-educated children aged 5yrs+.
These drop-off sessions focus on developing children's independence as they explore nature and choose from the activities available. Sessions will allow time for free play, group snack and include activities such as, fire craft, den/shelter building, campfire cooking, foraging, seasonal crafts, nature study, woodland games, whittling/tool use and rope and knot work.
Enjoy a free session when you book the term in advance (In addition to your free taster session if this is your first term!)
Booking Essential
Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday
Week 1 - 8,9&10 July
Week 2 - 22,23&24 July
Week 3- 29,30&31 July
10-2 pm
€30.00 per child / day
€80.00 per child / week
10% Sibling Discount
Days of summer fun for children 5-13 years. These drop of days will be full of free play and our usual selection of bushcraft and Forest School activities. Longer sessions will enable children to try out more, delve deeper into their imaginations in natures and further develop projects, such as dens/hideouts or whittling creations.
Drinks, foraged teas and campfire food will be provided but children should bring their own lunch and drink to suit their tastes and ensure they have plenty for the day.
Send us your contact details to go on the booking priority list and be the first to know when the dates are confirmed.
Booking Essential
Independent Explorers
Summer Camp
Enhance your school offering with Outdoor Learning / Forest School Sessions for your classes. Short sessions so every class enjoys time out with Ellie during her day with you or longer sessions for the groups to delve deeper into nature study and outdoor activities. 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/or contact her to discuss your school's individual needs.
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 compliment 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 affects 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 you team. Challenge your team to build shelters and fire, let them find sit spots for moments of mindfulness and meditation, ensure there are lots of laughs with woodland games. We'll keep the kettle warm on the fire for hot drinks all day and, Iain our chef, will provide a nourishing, delicious campfire lunch.
Contact Ellie to plan your day.
Heritage In Schools Sessions
Bespoke Offerings
Gift Vouchers
Our gift vouchers make unique gifts; the gift of quality time in nature, learning new skills and having lots of fun. Vouchers can be redeemed against all of our offerings;
Click here to redeem vouchers against regular groups or event days;
Contact us to plan your bespoke session to use your voucher on;
