Support for Forest School Training

Hi Holidaying Mini Rangers.  I am here for a huge ask, I am asking for your support.  I have been given the opportunity to present an application for Area Ward Funding to the councillors of this area at a public meeting in the Marple Senior Citizens Hall to be held on Wednesday 12 August 2015 at 6pm. 

The funding would give us the opportunity to move forward educationally with the area.  At the moment I am a qualified Early Years Teacher.  I have used my knowledge and education to bring the objectives of the EYFS outside and overlay them on as many outdoor activities as I could.  I have reflected and discussed with volunteers and attendees and to improve we have all commented that Forest School training would be the way forward.  We would like to be able to have Forest School skills to enhance the area and what we do.  We have already achieved so much and I am so proud of everyone who comes no matter the weather and braves the unknown to experience Mini Rangers.

Early Years toddler groups are mostly indoors. Out door group experiences limited to the national trusts generosity and costly Forest Schools set up in certain parts of Manchester.  These experiences have been promoted by age old education pioneers such as Jerome Bruner, Jean Piaget (1952) and Lev Vygotsky. Bruner (1966) and Piaget (1952) hold the view that children acquire knowledge in stages. They believe young children need time to actively engage with the world and to examine and investigate it physically through the senses.  Children learn by performing actions, reflecting upon them and internalising the knowledge gained. (Marianne Sargent, 2015 EYE vol 17 No 5)  Etherow Park in itself is the environment that supports children and this is before we add activities such as pond dipping, bug hunting, mud kitchens and challenging tasks.  This is an environment that children can begin in, these are the ideas that support children before they enter the pre-school environment.

I personally do think that what we offer is priceless, but I don't think it should be an opportunity just for people willing to pay high prices.  My aim has always to be able to keep a low cost community orientated group that supports children's first exploration of their parkland surroundings.  A place where people are not afraid to get their one year olds out of the buggy and into the grass, touch the trees and enjoy the camaraderie of other parents.

We cannot assume that all of this comes without training, experience and knowledge and in order to keep it going we have to show our support for this.  I don't want this to be something that only the rich can enjoy I want it to be accessible to everyone.  Please help us at Mini Rangers to win the councillors backing by either  coming to the public meeting and showing your support or by writing something on our facebook page or writing us a letter to show us your support. 

Please like and share the facebook page with as many people as possible.  The training could mean that we are able to open up an educated Forest School to our community.

Please Help

Melanie Commins (BA hons, EYTS)