Finnish-Style Forest School Transforms Mount Keira Campsite
High on the slopes of Mount Keira, an innovative holiday program is capturing the imaginations of children through unstructured play in nature. The Folk Play holiday program, operating at the Mount Keira Girl Guide Campsite, offers a unique educational experience inspired by Finnish forest schooling philosophies.
Learning Through Nature and Play
Founded by outdoor education professional Katrina Venable in June 2024, Folk (which stands for Forest of Lucky Kids) embraces the Nordic approach to early childhood development. "The pedagogy around forest schooling comes from the Nordic schooling system, where children don't go to school until they're seven," Ms Venable explained. "They have the freedom to play, to be creative, to be imaginative in nature until that age, because that is the primary development years."
The program operates without a fixed schedule, allowing children aged five to twelve to choose their own activities at their own pace. This autonomy is central to the learning philosophy, with Ms Venable noting that "giving the kids the option and autonomy to choose what they do is where the learning happens."
Hands-On Activities in Natural Surroundings
During a typical day at the campsite, children engage in various hands-on activities including:
- Fire building and marshmallow roasting
- Woodwork and crafting tools
- Guided nature walks and exploration
- Yabby hunting in nearby creeks
- Axe skills with appropriate supervision
The program's success is evident in the enthusiastic participation of both children and staff. With 70 children on site during peak periods and 20 energetic young staff members, the atmosphere is one of joyful discovery. "There's not a day that goes by that kids don't say, 'This is the best day of my life'," Ms Venable shared, contrasting this with her classroom teaching experience.
A Growing Educational Movement
The forest school concept represents a significant shift from traditional educational approaches, emphasizing experiential learning in natural environments. By providing children with magical experiences in nature, the program aims to foster creativity, imagination, and a lifelong connection to the outdoors.
Ms Venable finds the program deeply rewarding, particularly when children return home excited about their experiences and eager to participate again. "To be able to provide a service where children are having these magical experiences, going home and then wanting to come back again - it's the most rewarding part of my program," she said.
The Mount Keira location provides an ideal setting for this educational experiment, with its natural bushland, creeks, and camp facilities creating the perfect environment for children to explore, create, and learn through direct engagement with their surroundings.
