2.2 Exit ‘Teaching’ Stage Right. Enter ‘Forest School’ Stage Left.

What is going on my friend, I’m very, very excited that you’re here again. Thanks for taking the time out of your day to read (or listen) to my words.

I know what I’m going to be speaking about over the forthcoming pieces will directly impact you and your family, catapulting you into wanting to make enquiries into your local Forest School.

Today and into the next episode I’m going to be taking you back into my past. Back to the places that made me realise Forest Schools’ value.

The art and science of Forest School that I’ll be sharing with you over the forthcoming blog pieces, from my perspective, is the result of some of the darkest moments in my life.

I’ll Spare You The Gritty Details.

Just know that over a period of seven years I, like many teacher’s today, had reached a point of no return through choices we actually had no input in making.

I didn’t just fall out of love with teaching; I hated it. The non-stop stress, overwhelm, long nights, frustration and anxiety were too much for this then 20-something to handle.

The very thing I had wanted to be since I was 11 years old was consuming me like a black hole. Teaching was running my life. It was ruining it too. I loved working with the children, but hated the system I was in.

This perfect storm led to a serious decline in my mental and physical health that I really can’t sugar coat at this point.

I Constantly Felt Like I Was Failing The Children In My Care.

Not being ever fully present for those children, in the moment. Not being there for my family. Not being there for my health. Not being there for my, then, relationship.

February, 2019 was the final straw for me which led to my exit from teaching. I’m not writing this for your sympathy. Simply, context.

It’s highly likely, as you continue to read forthcoming pieces of mine, we won’t see eye to eye on a number of things. And that is more than cool. What you can always expect from this ex-teacher is authenticity and an unwillingness to please everyone.

Hearing my story will help you understand the way I view the world and Forest Schools’ position within it. A story highly similar to a growing number of others, who are favouring the woods instead of the classroom, as their canvas.

Here And Now In My Little Corner Of The World I See More Clearly.

I’m now crystal clear on what it is that I’m chasing, why I’ve been put on this earth and who it is I serve with sincerity.

Those families who feel a deep connection to my story and a reluctance to follow the status quo, dictated to them by society. Choosing their own path instead, knowing there has to be a better way other than what they’re sold.

Modern families are becoming understandably overwhelmed with the pressures of daily life, from a society that too expects them to be everything to everyone. How often do you feel like you’re barely keeping your heads above water?

Constantly fighting for time. Time with each other. Time with people they love. Time with their health. Time with their work. It leads into a vicious cycle. And its leading many, rapidly, towards the signs and symptoms of burnout. Our children included. But nobody’s speaking about it.

Often this is how parents enter my world. Not looking for an escape, but for an opportunity for their family to flourish by stepping off the treadmill without the guilt, perceived weakness or feelings of failure. They know there is another way, but often aren’t sure what exactly… until we speak.

Resulting in parents knowing exactly that their child will be receiving what they need to grow and they are too, from a movement most know little about. After all, no one can pour from an empty cup.

Forest School Inverts The Day To Day Script.

Forest School creates time. It takes time. It causes people to loose track of time. It is the ultimate rebellion, placing the needs and wants of a child and their family front and centre and supporting them as long as they need. Taking inspiration from our past Forest School fills in the blanks the modern world left out.

Exactly how it does this, is for future pieces. Consider this an appetiser.

Now the beginning of my story, well it’s not glamorous! But it’s the truth. I started from rock bottom. But here I stand today, trying my best to make a huge difference in the world by getting my message out there to you and one day thousands of others.

Thanks for taking the time today, I appreciate you more than you know. I shall see you on the flipside.