We are getting ready for our Easter Scheme! Set in the leafy and beautiful grounds of Crawfordburn Country Park, the sessions run on 6, 7 and 8 April from 9 am to 1 pm. Stay tuned for more details on prices and sign ups. Coming soon!
Here we are last year, braving the puddles in the sun shine.
It has been more than six years now we have worked our magic in the forests. Elements was one of the first independent Forest Schools set up in Ireland and we are still going strong.
Both Jemma and Stephanie are trained Steiner Waldorf practitioners with extensive experience working with children of all ages and abilities. We have always put children and their experience at the heart of what we do and ensure that their experience in the wilderness isn’t just safe, but also fun.
Over the past six years, we have foraged, whittled, done tree management, identified bird song, put up and taken down dozens of hammocks, told stories and lit hundreds of literal and metaphorical fires – fires which have ignited a love for the outdoors and nature in children.
A water fight!
Now, more than ever, it is vital for children to be outside and obtain the benefits of nature.
If you are interested in learning more about Forest School and what we can do for you, please email us at hello@elementsschool.net or WhatsApp us at 07540075991.
Come discover the greatest outdoors!
Come visit our FB page, https://www.facebook.com/elementsschoolni/
We are back with Forest School after school at the Steiner School on Mondays and working with the Fostering Network for their Wild About Learning Programme.
After a super wet start to the year we are celebrating the return of the light!
Here we are perfectly well camouflaged for three days in Belfast.
To book a session with us email hello@elementsschool.net. Or WhatsApp 07540075991.
At the beginning, I guess…
It has been almost five years since we started with Elements… this year we have been focusing on our weekly Forest School sessions as well as our work with the Fostering Network.
Since we began, more and more, the evidence points to the need for children of all ages to ‘touch grass’. Get out and away from screens, unplug and unwind, to get lost in nature and learn how to engage in deep play.
Our mission is to bring Forest School to whomever needs it – be they adults, children, families, schools, after schools or classes. As experienced teachers and practioners, we are not a box ticking exercise. Anyone who attends an elements session can be sure that they are getting a bespoke encounter which has been created specifically for the participants in mind.
If you are interested in finding out what we can do for you, please get in touch with us. Call 07540075991 – myself, Stephanie Sim, or email me at steph@elementsschool.net . You can also check out our Facebook page for up to date information on what we are doing.
We are the Greatest Outdoors!
Our Easter Scheme is ready for booking!!! We have a limited number of spaces so book soon!
There will be outdoor cooking, beach school! Easter Egg making, Easter Egg Hunt on the last day, kite flying, stream walking, birdsong ID and much much more!
Being out in the elements with elements! It doesn’t get better than this.
Go to https://tinyurl.com/mutftay7 to book, or WhatsApp 07540075991 or email hello@elementsschool.net
Elements began in 2020, in the teeth of the pandemic. We are now 4 years old. It has been QUITE the ride. We have had now run scores of sessions, held numerous holiday schemes, put on festivals and birthday parties and even had a wonderful time exploring the world of arts and crafts
We have held our sessions all over Northern Ireland – from – Loughgall to the Waterworks. We have even run courses for others interested in Forest School.
We have introduced over 500 children in different ways to the wonders of nature.
All the while we have stayed true to the ideals of nature being a part of ourselves. Our sessions bring in art, science, gross and fine motor skills. We tell stories. We make sure there’s food. Ans speaking of food…
We have been always been big on foraging and cooking with what we find. But I must let you into a little secret: children love food cooked on an open fire. Whether it is the novelty or the taste of the smoky wood, or the novelty, we have never had children which had said to us they did not like what we prepared.
As the year plays out, we are so pleased once more to be running an after school at the Holywood Steiner School, birthday parties at the Quarries, Easter and other holiday schemes as well as another Wild About Learning programme with the Fostering Network. It has been a truly fulfilling and inspiring ride.
Thank you to EVERYONE who has been along for it!
Stephanie and Jemma
We are beyond excited… we now have our own fleeces and a banner… elements is now 4 years-ish old… we started in September 2020 – in the middle of Covid… and kept going.
See what forest school can do for you… the best part about elements is that it comes to YOU!!!
Call 07540075991 or email hello@elementsschool.net
Yes, we had weather – for a bit, but then the sun came out and we reveled in the gorgeousness of Crawfordsburn Country Park. I think we can safely say there is no other place like it… waterfalls, rapids, river to play in, magnificent train bridge, blue flag beach, meadows and of course FOREST and to cap it all off a geologically inspired playground! We had such a blast! Here are some of the pictures… but not all cos we were super busy the entire time!
Day 1
We walked to the waterfall… and enjoyed looking at the wooden sculptures along the way. There was a burning question… what are turkey tails… well, now everyone who came on Monday knows…!
On the way back
It is impossible to overstate the beauty of this railway line built in that 19th century that spans the burn. One of the questions was, what runs over this bridge? Many said people. I said, yes people, but what are the people in? Cars? Walking? Then someone said, Trains! And a few seconds later a train went over the bridge, right on cue.
Day 2
Day 3
And that was us! Easter 2024 was over, just like that! I heard that children slept soundly that night!
It has been, once again sooo busy. We began the year with a half term session with the Fostering Network and will be working with them over the coming months once again.
Meanwhile the Easter holidays are here and we have 2 more spaces left on Wednesday and 1 more space on Friday. Thursday is completely full. To book go to http://tinyurl.com/yc56buv2
I’ll update what we have been up to later on!
There is literally NO EXCUSE for having such an out of date website, but we have been very busy. What has happened since we last updated with our session in Glasswater Woods?
Well, here’s a run down.
We ran a five-day Summer Scheme in Oakfield Forest in Carrickfergus at the start of summer.
We started the After School in Holywood Steiner School, and are once again fully subscribed.
We ran the last of the Fostering Network sessions in Gosford Park.
And we started the New Moon Goddess Journeys in Bangor – our next session is fully booked out!
Finally we have a birthday party coming up…
And the feedback has been great!
Oh yes, and Stephanie attended the Regional Forest School gathering at Monaghan and learnt all about mushrooms!
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