Where children experience the wonders of nature

Welcome to The Forest School

Where children experience the wonders of nature and get to go on the biggest little adventures in the great outdoors. In all seasons and all weather. We aim to achieve our mission via our Foundational Work (around the globe) and our Programs (based in the Netherlands).

In the end, nature is the ultimate classroom, and Earth the best teacher.

About Us

Our Mission

We create wondrous outdoor experiences for children, helping them connect with nature and themselves, so that health and happiness naturally follow.

We also strive to spark the imagination of parents, educators, and city leaders with simple and practical solutions that help the Forest School movement flourish and nurture a deep, lasting bond between children and the natural world.

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Team

The Forest School was founded in 2021. Our team consists of a Foundational Team which focuses on foundational work and an Operational Team, including experienced outdoor Forest Guides, who run the programs in Amsterdam. We are supported by an advisory board and a diverse group of safety, pedagogical and nature experts who provide us with their wide range of knowledge.

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Jobs

At The Forest School we love nature, adventures and playing outdoors. We appreciate everything the forest has to offer us and have a huge drive in showing our younger generation the value of exploring, discovering and getting to know everything that lives and grows around you.

New positions will come online in October 2025

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Our Foundational Work

The Forest Academy

Our exclusive training program designed to teach educators and parents how to guide children in experiencing the wonders of nature in any outdoor setting and in any weather type. It combines ancestral wisdom, the latest pedagogical science and best practices from forest schools around the world. The seasonal program is hosted in Amsterdam 4x/year (or can be followed via live-stream).

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The Forest Day

The Forest Day is a carefully curated nature education programs for schools. We take children out of their conventional classroom to spend the entire day in the great outdoors, learning from all that nature has to offer. Launching in Amsterdam* in February 2026 and sharing the blueprint with other cities around the world.
(*taking 55.000+ children/year outdoors)

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The Documentary

“Nature’s Classroom:
Rewilding Education”

Takes viewers on an awe-inspiring journey to explore how children around the world are taught in harmony with nature, unraveling ancient wisdom and the potential of forest schooling to transform the future of education. Coming to you in the summer of 2026.

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Our Programs

[currently not offered]

Afterschool Forest Program

Seasonal outdoor afterschool programs. Children are picked-up from school and brought straight to the Forest to spend all afternoon immersed in the great outdoors. We end the day around the campfire. All under the guidance of our experienced Forest Guides.

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Forest Holiday Camps

Seasonal outdoor camps during school holidays. During this week we combine fun play in the forest with interactive workshops and sessions led by our wide variety of nature experts. We end the day around the campfire at our Forest House.

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Classroom in the Forest

Carefully curated nature education programs for schools. We take children and teachers out of their conventional classrooms, into the great outdoors. To learn and discover from all that nature has to offer. In the end, nature is the ultimate classroom and earth the best teacher.

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Schools Around The World That We Visited