Resources for Teachers
CAFS Webinars & Recordings
On Tuesday June 2, at 3pm we held a discussion on public land use etiquette for children’s programs.
You can view the recording here. Access Password: 7s=%729n
With decades of experience in working with groups of children in the outdoors, the California Association of Forest Schools co-President Lia Grippo, along with Erin Boehme, and Kelly Villarruel from the Academy of Forest Kindergarten Teachers will be hosting a discussion and presenting on topics such as Tending the land, Sharing space with community members, Tending relationships with parks caretakers, Sharing space with other programs &
What not to do!
Recorded Saturday May 9th, at 3pm for a discussion on new California health and safety guidelines.
CAFS Board Members Joanna Ferraro and Liana Chavarín will facilitate a conversation about understanding new guidelines and considerations for reopening our programs, with community safety at the forefront. Please note that COVID19 Safety guidelines have changed and continue to change from county to county across California. Please keep up to date with the health agency in your county.
Best Practices & Forest School Staff Qualifications
If you come from a child development or early-childhood education background, you are likely familiar with the term, “Best Practices”. Over the last few years, CAFS has been writing, developing, and revisiting what we consider to be “Best Practices" in our field, based on collective experience of decades in this field by our Board of Directors, and our mentors without whom our work wouldn’t be possible. At this point we have created recommended Forest School staff qualifications. Whether you are currently teaching or interested in working in a Forest School you will find this evolving document useful. Visit our Best Practices Page here.
Natural-ink making workshop. Berkeley, CA
Mushroom identification class. Oakland, CA
organizations & Trainings
Children & Nature Network (C&NN) — A world wide network dedicated to connecting children and nature.
Forest Kindergarten Academy — Offering in-depth training and certification for educators dedicated to connecting children with nature.
Books
Free to Learn by Peter Gray
Nature Kindergartens and Forest Schools by Claire Warden
Place Based Education by David Sobel
The Gardener and the Carpenter by Alison Gopnik
Gatherings
Buckeye Annual Gathering — A family-friendly gathering with ancestral arts and skill-building workshops.
Other
Eight Shields Mentoring — Rebuilding nature-connected communities worldwide