Anyone trained as a Forest School leader?

[NormasArse]

And if so, are you glad you did? Did you find it easy to get jobs afterwards?

TIA!

Bump!

Oh I am! I'm a primary teacher though, so I ran my groups either as an after school clubs or offered whole classes for a couple of afternoons a week. Several of the ladies on my course have gone on to set up their own businesses though, throughout holidays or weekends.

I don't know anyone making a great living through it. I think people get maybe a just about living wage doing it.

The club was 100% forest school methodology with the correct ratios etc. The whole class sessions were obviously less structured but I used my FS training to plan teaching moments and it gave me the confidence to set up ropes courses and swings etc knowing that it was all done safely. It was risk assessed within an inch of its life!

Good point. @Ukholidaysaregreat . Plus it can take a lot of kit depending on where you are. Palm drills, saws, outdoor toilet, knives, rope, hand washing station, kneeling mats, Kelly kettle etc all make for quite expensive initial costs, although obviously you dont need all of that.

Good luck. It's great fun!

Yes! A lovely job.

I’m a FSL - there’s plenty of jobs about but a lot of the better paid ones can be disheartening and not in really following ethos/ principles. It’s definitely a vocation but it’s an amazing community and very rewarding work in beautiful places doing fun things.

The crazy high winds this year have been brutal though - so many cancelled sessions this year for everyone.

I love my job and wouldn’t change it but it’s very tiring and I do worry about being able to manage the physical side of the job when i’m older.

That said, go for it. Every day is an adventure and it’s very rewarding.