Community Conversations
Mar
25
10:00 AM10:00

Community Conversations

Welcome to the 2023 California Association of Forest Schools Community Conversation series!

Connect, Build & Grow! Forest school teachers across California are welcome to collaborate, join in peer-mentorship, and build community within our field of new and experienced forest school practitioners alike. Share ideas, inspiration, and challenges, and connection.

This free event is for CAFS members and those curious about joining CAFS. Donations can always be made at www.caforestschools.org/donate

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CAFS Community Roundtable - Autumn Session
Oct
15
10:00 AM10:00

CAFS Community Roundtable - Autumn Session

Connect, Build & Grow!

Join the CA Association of Forest Schools Autumn Community Roundtable on Saturday, October 15th— Our last Community Roundtable for 2022!

This is a great opportunity for forest school teachers across California to connect with new and decades-experienced forest school practitioners. We’ll share ideas, inspirations, and challenges together, in support and community.

Thank you to all who participated in these sessions together over the past year!

  • Saturday, October 15th, 10am - 11:15am

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYpdOisrjoqGtKO3Pp-eYM_xKJ4U2jrkXyp

This event is free for CAFS members, and a suggested donation of $5-15 for those who are able to contribute to the growth of this work. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.

Donations can be made here.

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CAFS Community Roundtable - Wildfire & Inclement Weather Session
Aug
20
10:00 AM10:00

CAFS Community Roundtable - Wildfire & Inclement Weather Session

Connect, Build & Grow!

Join the CA Association of Forest Schools special Wildfire and Inclement Weather Community Roundtable on Saturday, August 20th—

This is a great opportunity for forest school teachers across California to connect with new and decades-experienced forest school practitioners. We’ll share ideas, inspirations, and challenges together, in support and community.

Can’t make this session? Follow the link below to register in advance for this event OR the next upcoming dates:

  • Saturday, August 20th, 10am, w/Liana Chavarin (Berkeley Forest School) and Lia Grippo (Wild Roots Forest School)

  • Saturday, October 15th, 10am

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYpdOisrjoqGtKO3Pp-eYM_xKJ4U2jrkXyp

This event is free for CAFS members, and a suggested donation of $5-15 for those who are able to contribute to the growth of this work. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.

Donations can be made here.

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CAFS Community Roundtable - Summer Session
Jun
18
10:00 AM10:00

CAFS Community Roundtable - Summer Session

Connect, Build & Grow!

Join the CA Association of Forest Schools Summer Community Roundtable on Saturday, June 18th—

This is a great opportunity for forest school teachers across California to connect with new and decades-experienced forest school practitioners. We’ll share ideas, inspirations, and challenges together, in support and community.

Can’t make this session? Follow the link below to register in advance for this event OR the next upcoming dates:

  • Saturday, February 19th, 10am, w/Joanna Ferraro (Early Ecology, Oakland) and Wendolyn Bird (Tender Tracks, Marin)

  • Saturday, April 16th, 10am, w/ Megan Dusablon (Spire School, San Francisco) and Lia Grippo (Wild Roots, Santa Barbara)

  • Saturday, June 18th, 10am

  • Saturday, August 20th, 10am

  • Saturday, October 15th, 10am

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYpdOisrjoqGtKO3Pp-eYM_xKJ4U2jrkXyp

This event is free for CAFS members, and a suggested donation of $5-15 for those who are able to contribute to the growth of this work. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.

Donations can be made here.

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CAFS Community Roundtable - Spring Session
Apr
16
10:00 AM10:00

CAFS Community Roundtable - Spring Session

Connect, Build & Grow!

Join the CA Association of Forest Schools Spring Community Roundtable on Saturday, April 16th—

This is a great opportunity for forest school teachers across California to connect with new and decades-experienced forest school practitioners. We’ll share ideas, inspirations, and challenges together, in support and community.

Can’t make this session? Follow the link below to register in advance for this event OR the next upcoming dates:

  • Saturday, February 19th, 10am, w/Joanna Ferraro (Early Ecology, Oakland) and Wendolyn Bird (Tender Tracks, Marin)

  • Saturday, April 16th, 10am, w/ Megan Dusablon (Spire School, San Francisco) and Lia Grippo (Wild Roots, Santa Barbara)

  • Saturday, June 18th, 10am

  • Saturday, August 20th, 10am

  • Saturday, October 15th, 10am

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYpdOisrjoqGtKO3Pp-eYM_xKJ4U2jrkXyp

This event is free for CAFS members, and a suggested donation of $5-15 for those who are able to contribute to the growth of this work. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.

Donations can be made here.

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CAFS Community Roundtable - Winter Session
Feb
19
10:00 AM10:00

CAFS Community Roundtable - Winter Session

CA Forest Schools Community Roundtable

Sat. Feb. 19th, 10am-11:15am

Please join us for a roundtable discussion to connect with other like-minded educators so we can build more solutions and connections. We will be sharing what in our work delights and nourishes us, and what is currently challenging for us. Board members Joanna Ferraro from Early Ecology (Oakland) and Wendolyn Bird from Tender Tracks Tales & Trails (Marin) will be supporting our group explorations with gentle facilitation.

We look forward to another roundtable opportunity to get to know, support and learn from one another so that we may walk with more confidence through the wonderful times and the most challenging times.

This event is free for members and we are requesting a small donation ($5-$15) for non-members. Everyone is encouraged to join regardless of ability to pay.

Register here:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAsde2qrDwvGNbBPEvJeQ6CBCA2H1vxC3Sj

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

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Wildfire Preparedness
Jun
25
4:00 PM16:00

Wildfire Preparedness

CAFS Board Members Joanna Ferraro (Early Ecology Forest School) and Liana Chavarín (Berkeley Forest School) will facilitate a conversation about preparing for and staying safe during the upcoming wildfire season. Sadly, this year California is in a record breaking drought and it is expected that wildfires will impact all of our programs this summer and fall.


We will share examples of forest school policies and procedures, as well as how we prepare families and staff for safety concerns, alternative locations, program closures and meeting our needs in the midst of all the stress involved. We invite you to share your strategies and your questions with the group. We have all faced unique circumstances navigating a variety of ecosystems, parks systems, and our community's needs, and we hope to hold space with the intention of resourcing one another so that we may all gain from each other’s experiences.

Register Here

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Community Roundtable Discussion
Feb
28
3:00 PM15:00

Community Roundtable Discussion

We board members know that we are vastly more resilient and wise when we are working in community - to share insight, ask questions, ask and provide resources, and in general provide support to one another.

Over this past year we have leaned on our Forest School colleagues to figure out how to navigate Covid protocols, how to read air quality indexes, if and how to close school, how to talk about wildfire with children in a way that honors its power and recognizes its growing ferocity, how to do a respectful land acknowledgment, how to increase our awareness of white supremacy and sharing resources about it, communicating what brings us joy in this work despite all the hurdles, and much more. Our relationships have produced invaluable solutions and connections. Now that spring is coming and we are emerging a bit from the weight of the pandemic, we would like to strengthen our community knowledge by hearing your voices, questions and perspectives.

Please join us for a roundtable discussion to connect with other like-minded educators so we can build more solutions and connections. When you sign up you will be asked to submit what questions you are looking to answer, and what topic you'd like to learn and share about.

Board members from Berkeley Forest School, Early Ecology (Oakland), Wildroots (Santa Barbara), Tender Tracks (Marin) and All Friends Nature School (San Diego) will all be on hand to share and learn.

Register Here

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Bay Area Forest Schools Professional Development
Feb
18
9:00 AM09:00

Bay Area Forest Schools Professional Development

Members in the Bay Area were invited for a day of professional development to swap songs and stories, share strategies and procedures, and workshop common challenges in this work. CAFS co-president Wendolyn Bird offered additional tools and guidance based on her decades of experience in forest school teaching.

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CAFS Annual Board of Directors Meeting
Sep
21
to Sep 22

CAFS Annual Board of Directors Meeting

Each year, the California Association of Forest School Board of Directors meet to collectively discuss, write, and implement plans and policies to ensure a growing and thriving field.

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CAFS Northern California Skill Share
Feb
2
8:00 PM20:00

CAFS Northern California Skill Share

  • Berkeley, CA, 94702 United States (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Today we had presentations, discussions, and demonstrations on safety, parent and community support, wool crafts and dye, mushroom inks, and a segment on diversity, equity, and inclusion in forest schools and outdoor education.

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Going Deeper- Forest School Teacher Gathering & Training
Feb
6
10:00 AM10:00

Going Deeper- Forest School Teacher Gathering & Training

Join long time Forest School Director & Teacher Wendolyn Bird and other outdoor educators for a day of learning and connection.

Tales from Earth to Sky: We will spend the day deepening our understanding of designing emergent curriculum for the outdoor classroom. We will do this through several modalities including playful use of stories and songs, mindfulness, hands on activities and group exercises. The heart of this day together is to develop, both the teacher 's and the young child’s relationship to the natural world.

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