/ABOUT FOREST SCHOOL
Learning is best when it’s relevant for students—when they see its connection to the world around them. And few opportunities offer the level of concrete relevance that a nature-based program does, besides dovetailing beautifully with HC’s mission and faith-formative focus—that the Lord cares deeply about the world He made, and we, as His followers, love the things He loves, including His creation. Research on outdoor education has shown that effective outdoor learning can improve students’ focus, cognitive function, test scores, social skills, wonder and creativity. Forest School students spend their days learning in the multi-acre wooded area nestled in the heart of our school’s property on Ottawa Avenue, with indoor classrooms for extreme weather nearby. Our Forest School classes are offered in partnership with the Outdoor Discovery Center, whose naturalists visit regularly and oversee our certification standards.
/ In the Media
This video documentary, “The Forest Kids regaining wonder,” was created by an HC alum, Ben Lemmen ’10, for a Hope College video project, and we loved it so much, we just had to share! It traces a day in the life of an active Forest School kindergartner, from getting ready in the morning, to collapsing into bed at night.
WZZM Channel 13 News and award-winning reporter Brent Ashcroft followed our 2018 Forest School kindergarten students for their very first week of learning to create this locally broadcasted news coverage of our students’ learning experiences. Besides short interviews with their teacher Ron Harig and principal Miska Rynsburger ’92, the video depicts a week of our nature-based kindergarten, including ant bites and finding frogs in the rain, as well as learning the alphabet!
Despite growing research showing benefits of getting kids outdoors, even for full school days, there still are the practical questions–how does this work in snowy Michigan winters? How do they read and take kindergarten naps without freezing? How are these kids doing academically? WZZM Channel 13 News and reporter Brent Ashcroft again followed our 2018-19 Forest School kindergarteners, this time in January, as a follow-up story to see how Forest School kids thrive and learn in the cold.
HC Medium Talk Podcast Episodes
Check out these two episodes from the HC Medium Talk Podcast featuring Forest School kindergarten teacher Ron Harig & our Forest School kids!
/ Forest School Blog
Forest School March Newsletter
Several years ago I was blessed with the learning opportunity of a lifetime. Hiking along with about 40 other staff members and students from HC in the hot Israeli desert, we walked right into the Biblical narrative and life lessons with RVL, our own high school Bible teacher. It was near Engedi that RVL pointed… Read More: Forest School March Newsletter
Forest School February Newsletter
100 days, Forest Friends! We just celebrated, with more gratitude than I have probably ever felt on this day, our 100th day of in-person education! Going into this year I didn’t really know what to expect. God has been faithful and I’m so grateful HC elementary schools have been allowed to be together to learn,… Read More: Forest School February Newsletter
FS January Newsletter
It’s 2021! It’s been so wonderful to fill our Forest and learning spaces with the sights and sounds of our children learning, laughing and loving again. We have enjoyed hearing about the adventures your family embarked upon over Christmas break. As we stand together at the cusp of this new year, we together give God… Read More: FS January Newsletter
/Further Research
The research even apart from our current global COVID-19 pandemic shows great promise with nature-based education, but even more so in the middle of this pandemic. Learning primarily outdoors allows for natural social distancing to happen, and provides fresh air and ventilation, making outdoor education a huge draw for many parents especially now. There are a few links below specifically addressing outdoor education in the midst of COVID-10, as well as other links about the benefits of outdoor education in general:
- Resources for Outdoor Learning During COVID-19
- Natural Learning in Forest Schools: Mother Earth News
- Washington Post.com: Why schools are failing our boys
- Scholastic.com: Why kids need nature
- Great Schools.org: Children and nature: who let the kids out?
- White Hutchinson.com: Benefits for Children of Play in Nature
- White Hutchinson.com: Young children’s relationship with nature: Its importance to children’s development and the earth’s future
- Walking Stick Woods: The Evolution of a De-Evolution
“This program has been so influential in our son’s life and we couldn’t be happier and more excited for this program to continue to grow and evolve.”