UNIQUE TO WONDERWOOD VILLAGE
– Understand The World As It Is –
WHY FOREST SCHOOL?
We believe that clear thinking leads to good decisions, good decisions lead to the right habits, the right habits lead to character and character becomes destiny. This process begins with real-world experiences that challenge the status quo in each hero’s life.
At Wonderwood Village, we believe in the power of the outdoors and getting young people deep into nature. This year, our badges include Leadership, Animal Care, First Aid, Water Ecology, Geology, Hiking, Birding, Environmental Stewardship, Woodworking, and more!
The Long-Term Principle
Forest School is a long-term process of frequent and regular sessions in a woodland or natural environment, rather than a one-off visit. Planning, adaptation, observations and reviewing are integral elements of Forest School, establishing physical and behavioral boundaries as well as making initial observations on which to base future program development.
The Nature Principle
Forest School takes place in a woodland or natural wooded environment to support the development of a relationship between the learner and the natural world, aims to foster a relationship with nature through regular personal experiences in order to develop long-term, environmentally sustainable attitudes and practices in staff, learners and the wider community.
The Necessary Play Principle
Forest School offers learners the opportunity for necessary play, appropriate to the environment and to themselves. Opportunities are designed to build on an individual’s innate motivation, positive attitudes and/or interests. Tools and fires are used only where deemed appropriate to the learners, and dependent on completion of a baseline risk assessment.
The Holistic Learning Principle
Forest School aims to promote the holistic development of all those involved, fostering resilient, confident, independent and creative learners. Where appropriate, the Forest School leader will aim to link experiences at Forest School to home, and aims to develop, where appropriate, the physical, social, cognitive, linguistic, emotional and spiritual aspects of the learner.
The Leadership Principle
Forest School is run by qualified Guides who continuously maintain and develop their professional Practice.
Guides will hold an up-to-date first aid and CPR qualifications, including pediatric and wilderness survival, as well as pass background checks every 5 years or as deemed by Head of Community. The Forest School guide is a reflective guide and sees themselves, therefore, as a learner too. Guides observation is an important element to feed into ‘scaffolding’ and tailoring experiences to learning and development.
The Community Principle
Forest School uses a range of learner-centered processes to create a community for development and learning. A learner-centered pedagogical approach is employed by Forest School that is responsive to the needs and interests of learners. Guides model the pedagogy, which they promote during their programs through careful planning, appropriate dialogue and relationship building. Play and choice play an integral part and play is recognized as vital to learning and development.
Our Unique Place in the World
Located on the Southern Cumberland Plateau, Grassy Cove, TN was designated as a National Natural Landmark in 1973. It is arguably the largest sinkhole in North America, so large in fact it can be seen from outer space! We are fortunate to be in this bountiful agricultural area that is home to a number of rare species of plants and animals. Endless opportunities for exploration ahead with beautiful open fields, numerous caves, mountain bluffs, and creeks. The natural and recorded history are of deep importance and hold a core part in our program.
– Prepare For The World That May Be –
Play Plans
Our Seed Pods participate in uninterrupted play every day that supports creativity, critical thinking, innovation, problem-solving and team-work while co-playing and cooperative playing with large loose parts outdoors. This intentional play time consists of materials that can be moved, built, designed, taken apart, and repurposed without a prescribed use.
Before beginning their day, learners create Play Plans, setting goals each day. After their uninterrupted play, the children join their pod for reflection period when they look at pictures of themselves playing and discuss their process as well as their plans for the following days as a group. This process allows for the development of not only self-reflection, but self-reflection in the context of how actions affect the individual as well as others around them. We see this as an opportunity to further empower our learners with independence within safe boundaries. This also sets up the foundation of great communication as the learners get in the habit of putting together and sharing their thoughts regularly.
Farm & Garden
Our Farm & Garden classes are year round, making plans for Spring planting in the Winter, foraging and planting in the Spring, tending and enjoying Summer bounty, or harvesting and preserving in the Fall, our students are invited to be deeply connected to the soil, self, and food supply at Wonderwood Village. Our dream is to have a large, commercial hoop green house in the near future!
Animal Care
As our community grows and our animal residents multiple, the children learn to tend and care for our 4 hens (Bobbi, Kernel, Moa, and Dumpling) and 2 cats (Ricky Bobby and Fig). We hope to add many more chickens, geese, guinea fowl, goats and other friends! Animal care encourages the children to have respect for others of all species, responsibility, and unconditional love.
– Create The World That Ought To Be –
A learner-driven program, it offers the exciting opportunity for learners to delve deeply into understanding the needs of others and their own strengths in serving. Key themes encompass exploring the traits of servant leaders, cultivating empathy to better serve the needs of others, and fostering deep gratitude.
