Spain's Forest School: Outdoor Learning Cultivates Healthy Children

After years of living in the United States and teaching at a mountain school, the Covid-19 pandemic brought Ainhoa Alejaldre Ripalda back to Spain. She returned with a clear idea about her work: learning, she believed, shouldn't be limited to a classroom.

Impromptu games with her young daughter and other girls in the La Montaña area of Los Realejos sparked a bigger educational idea. Ainhoa called it Nature School, an alternative learning center for children aged 3 to 6. Here, kids learn outdoors, surrounded by trees, makeshift playhouses, and everything nature has to offer. Ainhoa is the educational director.

After three years in La Montañeta, Nature School relocated to Finca Encuentro in Puerto de la Cruz, specifically in the Las Dehesas area. This new location is an ecological permaculture farm that shares the same values as the school.

Ainhoa describes it as a 'forest school,' a teaching method that started in Denmark in the 1950s, then in Sweden, and later spread to countries like the UK and Canada. This approach is becoming more popular because it offers physical and mental benefits, and also teaches children to care for the environment.

In Spain, these schools are seen as an alternative way to learn. However, advocates hope they will eventually become part of the formal education system. More and more families are seeking different educational options for their children, leading to a rise in such centers. EfeVerde reported 60 forest schools across Spain in 2023.

The school's philosophy draws from many groundbreaking educational ideas of the last century, like those of Maria Montessori, Waldorf, and Reggio Emilia. However, Ainhoa notes that it's not strictly one or the other, especially because the staff are all experienced professionals, just like her.

The team includes two other teachers and two volunteers. They work with a diverse group of 16 children of various ages, who come from Spain, Greece, Italy, Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Germany, and Australia.

Though from different countries, all the children share a common language: curiosity. English helps them connect during playtime as they discover a world that is both vast and surprisingly close. Ainhoa explains that they do typical school activities every day, but outdoors. Nature is central to their learning, broadening their understanding without the 'traditional rigidity' of classrooms, encouraging exploration and creativity.

She explains that these schools teach children to enjoy free time and find safety and nourishment for their minds and hearts in nature itself. There's very little direct instruction, allowing kids to explore and create. These qualities foster a more adaptable intelligence, which often isn't prioritized in regular schools due to time constraints, even though the years up to age six are crucial for developing social skills.

At Nature School, everyday activities are reimagined. Math isn't taught with blackboards or notebooks; instead, children count sticks and leaves. Crafts, like the Christmas tree ornaments they made, use flower petals and natural items. Even the school's facilities become learning tools. For example, students painted the rabbit hutch fences, learning early on that they can help build a better world.

Additionally, yoga sessions take place among colorful cushions. Naps are enjoyed under a large tent, shaded by trees. The library is mobile, adapting to the weather. Meals consist of a vegetarian and organic menu, grown sustainably. All these activities happen in a safe environment where the children play together like a close-knit group.

The 'forest school' philosophy holds that 'there is no bad weather, only bad clothing choices,' meaning rain doesn't stop them from having fun. Ainhoa highlights, 'After three years, the children are rarely sick; it's a significant difference compared to other nurseries.'