IFSA Policies | Irish Forest School Association

Policies & Governance

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Click to download and read our policies and governance documentation:

Financial Policies and Procedures Manual

Social Media Policy

Garda Vetting Policy

IFSA Conflict of Interest policy

Constitution of the IFSA

Child Safeguarding Statement

May 2022 IFSA Members’ code of conduct

About Us

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Find a Forest School

Resources

An Taisce Green Schools
CRANN Trees for Ireland
Native Woodland Trust
Leave No Trace
LEAF Ireland
Field Studies Ireland
Heritage in Schools
Forest School Association (England)
Children and Natural Alliance of Canada
Outdoor & Woodland Learning in Scotland (OWL)
Nature Days
Lasmuigh – the professional practice journal for the Outdoor Sector on the Island of Ireland

irishforestschoolassociation

Instagram post 17998823713732251

Instagram post 17998823713732251

Our 5th tree of the week is the guardian tree for

Our 5th tree of the week is the guardian tree for @kerkusforestschool . This beautiful sycamore is friends to all the children that gather around it before each forest school session.
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#treeweek #treeweek2023
#irishforestschoolassociation #forestschoolireland #treeguardians

This ancient yew tree is the guardian for Growing

This ancient yew tree is the guardian for Growing Wild forest school in Kildare @growingwildirl
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It’s just so special to know that children gather under this ancient tree each week to play and create together.
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#treecouncilofireland #treeweek2023 #forestschoolireland

Our third tree we want you to meet is Grandmother

Our third tree we want you to meet is Grandmother Ash. It’s so wonderful that the children can visit the same place each week and become aware to the subtle changes in nature. Now is such a great time to see the trees slowly waking up and starting to grow its leaves.
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#treeweek2023 #irishforestschoolassociation #grandmothertree #ashtrees #forestschoolireland

Our second tree of the week is this beautiful migh

Our second tree of the week is this beautiful mighty beech tree in Barna Woods, Galway. Carol from @down_to_earth_forestschool brings in the Irish language to connect with Mamo.
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#treecouncilofireland #treeweek2023 #forestschool #forestschoolireland #irishforestschoolassociation

To start off National Tree week, let us introduce

To start off National Tree week, let us introduce to you a beautiful Beech tree from Happy Out Forest School in Co.Clare. 🌳
When we ask our guardian trees permission to go into the woods, it really is amazing to see all the children stand in silence to wait for a sign from the tree that it’s ok to go in💚.
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#treeweek2023 #treecouncilofireland #coillte #forestschoolireland

Today is the start of National Tree Week with @tre

Today is the start of National Tree Week with @treecouncil .
A week dedicated to celebrating trees and their importance to our environment.
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We couldn't run forest schools without our beloved tree friends! As part of our forest school sessions we form connections with the trees in the woods where we work.
We begin our sessions firstly by asking permission to enter the woods from the ‘guardian’ tree, or sometimes the ‘granny or granda’ tree. It is such a great way to support the children in forming a connection with their natural environments.
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This week on social media we are going to share some trees from various Forest Schools around Ireland.
Follow us this week to meet our Guardian Trees from around this beautiful Island 💚
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Highlighting the importance of Tree Week, President of the Tree Council of Ireland, Éanna Ní Lamhna said: ‘As we launch National Tree Week with the theme of ‘Biodiversity Begins with Trees,’ let us remember that trees are essential to our environment, and they have the biggest role to play in slowing down biodiversity loss. It is our responsibility to plant and protect trees, not only for ourselves but for future generations.’
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To find out what’s happening in your local areas this National Tree Week visit @treecouncil
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#treeweek2023 #forestschoolireland #guardiantrees #treefriends #treesofireland #forestschoolassociation #irishforestschoolassoication #forestschooltrees

Hot off the press- our Spring webinar lineup! We a

Hot off the press- our Spring webinar lineup!
We are looking forward to welcoming you to each of our webinars.
Sessions are free for IFSA members or €15 for others. Price includes all 3 sessions!
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Webinar 1
Monday 27th Feb, 7-8pm with internationally renowned storyteller Clare Murphy.
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Self, Story and Sovereignty
How does a memory become a story? How do stories activate the hearts and minds of the listeners? Can stories lead us back to ourselves and put us in right relationship with the land? Clare Murphy will lead us through a discussion about the power of story, the use of our own stories in our work, and the deep source of stories from the land.

You can learn more about Clare here: @storyclare
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Webinar 2
Monday 13th March, 7 - 8 pm
Mycelium networks - Connecting the Regions of Forest School in practice in Ireland.
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Our community of FS practitioners is growing in Ireland. The IFSA understands that, like mycelia, autonomous, dynamic practitioners thrive when they are connected by a supportive community of practice. IFSA has developed collaborative ways to support leaders to connect locally as well as nationally and to run regional gatherings in a holistic, connected way with the ACORN model of leadership. Join us to discover how to strengthen the connections between us and to create powerful and empowered communities of practice.
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Webinar 3
Monday 27th March, 7-8pm with Internationally renowned nature connection mentor Mark Morey
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A connected leader can serve the world. "Here's a central truth: we are all built for connections—to culture, community, each other, and ourselves. I've been examining the inner-workings of these connections through the lens of the natural world for my entire life. "

Join us for a mentoring call with Mark Morey (https://www.aconnectedleader.com/) to explore nature connection, cultural repair, community resilience and whole-person wellness.
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We look forward to welcoming you to our virtual fireside very soon!
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Link in bio to book 🌿

We are delighted to announce our dates for our 5th

We are delighted to announce our dates for our 5th Annual Gathering and AGM that will take place in the Southwest of Ireland. Venue and location still to be confirmed but keep that weekend free as we have lots of great workshops in store for you!
Save the dates: June 10-11th🌿
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More information and booking details to follow soon!
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#irishforestschoolassociation #ifsaagm#forestschoolireland

🍃Save the Date🌿 . Spring is officially in th

🍃Save the Date🌿
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Spring is officially in the air and with that comes our ever so popular Spring Webinars!
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We are still finalising a few details , but keep these dates in your diary: Feb 27th, March 13, March 27th all from 7-8pm.
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We look forward to gathering once again around our virtual fire.
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Booking form will be posted here soon.

We hope you have all had a lovely start to the yea

We hope you have all had a lovely start to the year.
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We have been busy planning lots of exciting new things for the Irish Forest School community. We look forward to sharing them soon 🍃🌿🌳

These past few weeks forest schools around Ireland

These past few weeks forest schools around Ireland have been busy creating lots of nature based Christmas crafts. 🎄
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From wooden reindeers to stick Santas there has been so many great ideas coming from the woods all over Ireland!
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All of these forest schools are members of the Irish Forest School Association.
Give them a like and a follow to continue to see all the amazing work they're doing!
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@down_to_earth_forestschool
@forestschoolireland @3treesforestschool @rainorshine.forestschool @thenaturehubireland @bushyparkforestschool
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#forestschoolireland #naturecrafts #christmasnaturecraft #forestschoolchristmas

Congratulations to Dr. Joan Whelan, the chairperso

Congratulations to Dr. Joan Whelan, the chairperson of the Irish Forest School Association, for completing her doctorate thesis.
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Her doctoral thesis researched the study of Forest School: Relational Caring Pedagogy in an Irish Primary School.
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Joan is paving the way for Forest School in Ireland. It is such an incredible accomplishment and we are so proud to have Joan leading our association with dedication and passion.
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#irishforestschoolassociation #forestschool #forestschoolireland #forestschoolresearch #forestschoolleader

Our autumn event : ‘Gathering Acorns’ was a gr

Our autumn event : ‘Gathering Acorns’ was a great opportunity for us to reconnect as a forest school community. We gathered in circle to sing and welcome everyone together from all corners of Ireland.
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Spending the afternoon in the woods we shared skills and took the time to learn new ways of connected leadership through the 8 shields model.
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Thank you to Ciara Hinksman of @forestschoolireland for your vision and supporting us. And to all the skill share facilitators for sharing your knowledge and wisdom.
And also to the musicians that welcomed us with beautiful sounds.
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#foresrschool #forestschoolireland #forestschoolleader #forestschools #irishforestschoolassociation #8shields

🍃BOOKINGS NOW OPEN🍃 . This Autumn we are del

🍃BOOKINGS NOW OPEN🍃
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This Autumn we are delighted to invite you to join us on Sunday 6th November at Larchill Arcadian Gardens, Kilcock, Co. Kildare for our Autumn Gathering event:
'Gathering Acorns - Growing Community, Connection and Belonging'
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Date: Sunday 6th November
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Cost: €15 for current members, €20 for current trainees and €35 for non-members (to include membership until May 2023)
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Link in bio for booking form
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Flow of the day:

9.30 - Registration and Welcome

10.00 - Opening Circle

10.30 - Stations of Nature Commection Activities

11.30 - Tea & Coffee

11.45 - Creative Stations review

12.45 - Lunch (Bring your own)

1.30 - Choice of Skillshares (pick one)

Nature Drawing Workshop with Amber Godwin
Circle of Security Parenting Programme with Cathy Daly, Play Therapist
Ceardlann as gaeilge with Ruairi Shelley
Kids Woodland Yoga with Caroline Young
3.00 - Unpacking Acorn roles

3.30 - Regional Gathering

3.45 - Closing Circle
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#forestschool #forestschoolgathering #forestschoolleader #irishforestschoolassociation #autumngathering

*Save the date - 6th Nov* for Forest School Leader

*Save the date - 6th Nov* for Forest School Leaders - Autumn Event - “Gathering
Acorns”
This gathering aims to support regional hubs to host gatherings to
grow their local Forest School community.
We will also host a Forest School Community Skills Share.
Venue: Larchill Arcadian Gardens, near Kilcock, Co. Kildare.
*Time*: 10.00am to 3.30pm
*Date*: 6th November, 2022
*Cost*: €15 for current members; €20 for current trainees (to
include membership until May 2023) and €35 for non-members (to
include membership until May 2023)

More info to come soon… if you have a skill or practice you would
like to share please let Ciara know at 086 3199515

We feel strongly about supporting our Forest Schoo

We feel strongly about supporting our Forest School community. To inspire, build resilience, support wellbeing…..
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#irishforestschoolassociation #forestschool #forestschoolforall #forestschoolleader #forestschoolassociation #buildingresilience #supportwellbeing

Welcome to all our lovely new followers 😊🌿
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You may be wondering what the Irish Forest School Association is and what we do when we are not outside swinging from trees!
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This week we will share a bit more about IFSA- Let us know if you have any questions!
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#irishforestschoolassociation #irishforestschool #forestschool #forestschooling #forestschoolireland #natureplay #forestschool #forestschoolassociation

A glimpse into our wonderful gathering and AGM. Th

A glimpse into our wonderful gathering and AGM. The songs, stories, skills and laughter made for such a memorable time together.
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The song was sang around the campfire on the last evening and is from Joanna Macy’s, The great Turning / We shall be known. Caitriona started singing and beautiful harmonies blended in- such a beautiful moment that we shared together 🔥❤️
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#irishforestschoolassociation #forestschoolireland #forestschooling #forestschoolleader #forestschoolassociation #forestschoolfun #forestschoolgathering #tanaghoutdooreducationcentre #thegreatturning #campfiresong #natureplay #irishnature #cavan #monaghan #natureofireland #forestschoolday #forestschoolideas #forestschoolrocks #forestschooling #forestschoolactivities

We had such a fantastic weekend at Our 4th Annual

We had such a fantastic weekend at Our 4th Annual Gathering and AGM.
It was so lovely to gather again in circle to sing and play games.
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We reconnected with old friends and connected with new ones.
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It’s incredible what can happen when you gather 60 Forest School leaders together for the weekend. Such a vast pot of knowledge, wisdom and skills that were shared over the weekend through workshops, skill share and by the fire.
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A big thank you to our workshop leaders : Carol Barrett @down_to_earth_forestschool , Niamh Ni Duill @leafireland and Sarah Whealan @nourished.by.nature19 and Sinead Walsh Rain or Shine Forest School.
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A big massive thank you to Tanagh Outdoor Education Center. They welcomed us with such kindness, and filled our bellies with such wholesome food.
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And thank you to everyone that attended for your presence and input over the weekend.
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For those that are interested in learning more about what you do you can check out our website: link is in the bio.
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#forestschoolireland #irishforestschoolassociation #natureconnection #forestschoolagm #tanaghoutdooreducationcentre #outdooreducation

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Irish Forest School Association is at Cecas.ie.

1 hour ago

We are delighted to confirm that the venue for our 5th Annual Gathering and AGM will be at @cecas.ie in Leap West Cork.🌿We couldn’t think of a better place to gather, as CECAS- Center of Excellence for Climate Action and Sustainability -encourage broad engagement on environmental issues and all aspects of sustainability and lifestyle..We will have booking form and workshop line-up very soon!But until then get June 10-11th in your diary and we will see you there!🌳.#irishforestschoolassociation #forestschoolagm #forestschoolireland #leap #westcork ... See MoreSee Less

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IFSA supports the development of inclusive, quality Forest School in a diverse range of settings in Ireland. #ForestSchool

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