AFSA Approved Provider: Forest School SA
Forest School S.A is a nature immersion program that has been running since June 2023.
My name is Bell Gower and I am a registered teacher in SA, I have a B.Teach and an M.Ed
and prior to opening Forest School S.A worked at the University of Adelaide as a Research
Assistant in the School of Education.
We originally ran the program as a school holiday program but now offer classes on a
weekly basis. We are located in the beautiful Adelaide Hills on 80 acres of private bushland.
I will outline how we meet each criteria of the AFSA guiding principles.
1. Regular Nature Immersion
Our facilities are limited to one shelter shed, a water tank and a portaloo! All of our
play and activities are outside!
2. Connection to Country
We begin each session with an acknowledgement of country (together we touch the
ground of the land, we reach for the sky that covers the land, hands on our hearts in
care of the land, together we meet on Peramangk Land). We have done a Survival
Day fundraiser for Children’s Ground where we sold fridge magnets designed by my
Indigenous son and another of our Indigenous students. As it comes up in session
we discuss the ongoing relationship between Indigenous people and the land,
stewardship of the land and what we can learn from Indigenous landcare practices.
We have an Adnyamathanha educator who instructs the children on these matters.
We also have an acknowledgement of country poster displayed in our shelter shed.
3. Free Play and Natural Learning
Free play forms an integral part of our day. Within the rhythm of the day we carve out
large portions for free play. WIthin our free play we aim to provide a YES space for
children of all ages in which they can formulate their own games/projects/ideas while
educators assist and facilitate.
4. Inclusivity and Accessibility
Forest School SA aims to be inclusive and accessible to all. We offer 3 scholarship
positions each term and aim to increase this number as the business grows. We
have a high percentage of Neurodivergent students and aim to cater to all the
individual needs of these students. Our structure/ practice is flexible to meet the
needs of all our students. One example, we cook a shared meal together but a
number of our students have sensory issues regarding food and feel more
comfortable bringing a lunchbox. Some students do not feel comfortable sitting at the
table to share food, we do not enforce this. We NEVER set out to “improve” our
students- this is not the purpose of our program. Forest School SA is a place for
children to be themselves- however that presents.
5. Mentoring practices
I have many years of teaching experience, all my volunteers are also qualified
teachers or early childhood educators. We prioritise authentic connection, while also
putting aside the teacher’s ego to allow the child’s ego to flourish. We are all
registered teachers so complete our mandatory PD each year.
6. Sustainable Practice
Forest School SA aims to be sustainable and eco-conscious. We teach and follow
the “leave no trace” principles when we hike or walk. We are low waste, use
composting, discuss environmental impacts e.g. why we don’t use soap on our slip
and slide into the creek etc. We are about to begin a reforestation project with Trees
for Life which we have a lifetime membership with. Sustainability forms a large part of
our curriculum and we aim to model only sustainable practices.
