Our Activities

An educational model is a set of information that guides and sustains an educational practice. These are the premisses that serve as a basis for an educational intervention and which are well-documented and tested. 

We say Forest School, in English, because this is the actual name of the educational model, just like Walford, Montessori or MEM regard specific educational models.

Yes! Children who are in touch with nature during all seasons, children who are capable of understanding their cycles and specificities, are children who are alert to what is around them, curious and with a deeper environmental conscience.

There are many physical benefits from being outdoors, as mentioned already. Children who are in touch with nature during all seasons, children who are capable of understanding their cycles and specificities, are children who are alert to what is around them, curious and with a deeper environmental conscience. There are many physical benefits from being outdoors, as mentioned already. Besides all this, being outdoors is crucial to strengthen the immune system, as well as not being stuck in a room sharing germs with other children, which is already an incredible benefit in itself!

We believe in science and prevention and we consider that the vaccination plan is a matter of public health and it is essential for all children, so we do believe in vaccination.

Morning snack must be brought from home. Lunch and afternoon snacks can be ordered to a partner company, Sem Espiga, for an additional cost, or come from home, too.

Despite spending a lot of time in nature, they live integrated in society. That won’t change just because they attend Forest School, and that’s a good thing! What they do get from attending Forest School is a set of skills that will allow them to face all the challenges of growing up. For example, moving on to primary school is always a challenge for any child, whether or not the child attended a Forest School. We believe it is the fact that children spend time in this context, the fact that they have gained essential skills that only Forest School can provide them with, that has enabled them to acquire a set of skills at all levels that will provide them with the necessary skills to adapt to new contexts in the best way possible!

Registration opens about two months before each edition of Holidays Lá Fora.

It is important to register as soon as possible as demand is very high.

Therefore, we advise you to subscribe to the newsletter on the website, so that you can receive the registration form as soon as it becomes available.

If you do not subscribe to the newsletter, the form will be available on the website about two weeks later.

If places are available, you will receive an email with payment details. If places are already sold out, this will be marked on the registration form.

One week before the start of the activity you will receive another email with all the information regarding the material to bring, location and other important topics.

Registration forms for all activities can be found here.

The groups are heterogeneous, composed of children between 3 and 12 years old. Each group has approximately 18 children and is accompanied by a Forest School Leader and two assistants.

Rain does not prevent the activities from taking place. It is important for all children to have waterproof equipment and shoes, and on those days a tarpaulin is put up as a shelter. We believe it is a positive experience for all children.

The activities vary according to the needs and interests of each group. These activities aim to respond to the integral development of the child, always according to their motivation. The planning of the week is done with the active participation of all the elements of the group.

The proposed activities are never mandatory and there is always the possibility to choose other areas of interest, such as climbing trees, working with tools, motor challenges or mud cooking. The important thing is that the child is motivated in the activity they are doing.

Skills and knowledge are acquired that benefit physical, cognitive and emotional development:

• Socio-emotional: empathy, resilience, knowing how to deal with frustration;
• Manage and assess risk with motor activities and challenges;
• Knowing nature and variation with the seasons;
• Sensory exploration of natural materials;
• Create a relationship with nature that will have an impact throughout life;
• Physical and emotional wellbeing, with reduced stress levels and combating sedentary lifestyles.