September marks a season of transition β not only in nature but also in the rhythm of the Forest School year. As the leaves begin to turn and a chill enters the air, itβs the perfect time for Forest School Leaders to refresh their approach, introduce new seasonal activities, and reflect on the evolving needs of the children they work with.
Whether you’re welcoming new learners or diving deeper with returning groups, hereβs a guide to help you make the most of this vibrant month in your outdoor classroom.
π 5 Key Things to Focus on This September
- Settling In and Group Dynamics
Many groups are just forming or re-forming after summer. September is ideal for focusing on team-building, establishing routines, and embedding your Forest School ethos. - Seasonal Awareness
Encourage observation of the changing environment: shorter days, cooler temperatures, and the first signs of autumnal change in flora and fauna. - Risk Assessment Refresh
With seasonal changes come new risks: slippery surfaces, earlier dusk, and changes in wildlife activity. Take time to revisit site checks and adjust accordingly. - Introducing New Tools & Skills
September is a great time to scaffold new tool use for older children. Focus on safe routines, with plenty of adult modelling. - Harvesting and Horticulture
Now is the time to harvest late summer crops, gather seeds, and start preparing for the winter months.
π Activity Ideas for September
π± Ages Under 4
- Autumn Treasure Hunt: Create simple picture cards of acorns, conkers, leaves, and feathers. Encourage children to find and match items from the woodland floor.
- Mud Painting: Use sticks or fingers to paint with mud on fabric, logs, or large cardboard. A messy, sensory experience that also promotes fine motor skills.
- Stick Wands: Wrap colourful wool or natural string around sticks, adding leaves or feathers to create magical forest wands.
- Leaf Sorting and Colour Matching: Offer baskets of leaves in varying colours and shapes for sorting activities β great for language and cognitive development.
- Woodland Sound Walk: Encourage quiet listening and ask, “What can you hear?” Follow up by drawing or describing the sounds together.
π³ Ages 5 to 10
- Bug Hotels and Mini Beasts: Build bug hotels using sticks, leaves, and recycled materials. Introduce magnifying glasses to observe mini-beasts.
- Natural Art Mandalas: Collect natural materials and create symmetrical patterns or mandalas on the ground. A calming, mindful activity.
- Tree ID and Leaf Rubbing: Teach basic tree identification using bark and leaf shapes. Combine this with leaf rubbing for a creative keepsake.
- Basic Tool Use: Introduce supervised tool use, such as peeling sticks or using wooden mallets to bash leaves into cloth.
- Campfire Story Circles: Bring in storytelling with simple campfire safety practices. Encourage children to share tales or poems inspired by nature.
π² Ages 10+
- Advanced Tool Work: Try safe, supervised use of knives for whittling simple items like butter spreaders or tent pegs.
- Shelter Building Challenges: Set up tasks where groups design and build a weatherproof shelter using tarps, ropes, and natural materials.
- Nature Journaling: Encourage reflective writing or sketching in journals to document the changes in nature throughout the month.
- Fire Lighting and Cooking: Teach fire safety and spark lighting techniques. Follow up with simple outdoor cooking, such as toasting apples or making bannock.
- Forest School Leadership Roles: Empower older children by assigning mini-leadership tasks: helping younger groups, setting up stations, or leading games.
πΏ Horticultural Tasks & Nature Awareness for September
September is the perfect time to reflect on the changes happening in the natural world. Conkers, acorns, and other seed pods begin to drop, offering ideal materials for sensory play and learning. Leaves shift from green to gold, providing endless inspiration for art and scientific observation.
Horticulturally, this is a key harvest and prep month. Gather the last of summer crops like tomatoes, beans, and courgettes. Itβs also time to save seeds from sunflowers and wildflowers, and begin planting bulbs like daffodils and snowdrops for early spring blooms.
Encourage children to take part in:
- Composting garden waste
- Collecting and labelling seeds
- Mulching and protecting garden beds
For adults, itβs a time to review your Forest School setting: prune where needed, clean and store summer tools, and assess areas for safety as wetter months approach.
π Final Thoughts
September in the Forest School setting is a time of new beginnings and gentle endings. It’s the ideal month to root your sessions in seasonal change, build community, and plan ahead. Whether you’re harvesting the last tomatoes or building a shelter beneath the turning leaves, remember: each activity lays the foundation for resilience, curiosity, and a deeper connection to the natural world.
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