forest school leader level 3
in partnership with richard skrein & the garden classroom
spring 2026 cohort - full course information below and here.
immersive training week: monday 18th - friday 22nd may 2026 - 5 days
practical skills & ethos training week: tuesday 29th september - friday 2nd october 2026 - 4 days
autumn 2026 cohort - full course information to be announced
first aid certification (required for level 3. book seperately) - 2 days
09.00 - 17.00 daily
secluded woodland - east london e11
full course information for may 2026 below and here.
about the training
trainees gain an itc first awarded and forest school association endorsed qualification which includes experiential & theoretical learning, practical hands-on experience and mentoring from industry leaders. the result is expanded access to nature-based education, stronger community wellbeing, and new pathways into meaningful green careers — investing in people, place, and planet for generations to come.
who this training is for:
this training is designed for practitioners who want to qualify as a level 3 forest school leader and undertake a transformative personal and professional journey to deepen their connection with nature, develop bushcraft skills, acquire knowledge of forest school pedagogy and learn how to facilitate this experience for others through coordinating and delivering forest school programs. people come from a range of backgrounds into forest school; environmental, scouting, teaching, parenting, early year’s practitioners, ecologists, child minders, artists etc.
no prior training is needed.
no prior training is needed.
the course comprises of the following:
‘fsa’ accreditedfully certified level 3 in partnership with ‘the garden classroom’ (training provider)
9 days of training facilitated by ‘richard skrein’ (fsa endorsed trainer) the lead trainer, kin director ‘rhiannon leyland’ assisting
2hr online check ins & ongoing course work mentoring with richard
3 or 5 days of work experience; shadowing experienced ‘forest school’ facilitators on a kin camp with kinfolk
reduced rates on kin workshops
kin course/trainee care
cohort whatsapp group
course content & culture:
from the moment trainees arrive, we are modelling the forest school ethos and possibly one of the most important elements of forest school; how to hold a space, create a sense of belonging and community, making people feel safe, welcomed and comfortable.
you will experience what ‘forest school’ looks like, what it feels like to experience a learning process and space where each person is recognised as a unique individuals, is offered unconditional positive regard in an atmosphere of community, kindness and respect.
over your training you will be spending all the time in the forest. we will be having small group and whole group discussions on topics such as play, holistic development, learning theories etc., we will be building dens, playing games, learning lots of practical skills, fire, cooking, ropes, swinging etc.
you will consider the environment, the flora and fauna, and how we use natural resources to enhance learning. you will describe how teaching outside in the woodland differs from mainstream education and will record the impact of ‘forest school’ experiences on emotional and cognitive development.
the facilitators
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richard is an accredited ’forest school’ trainer, outdoor educator, storyteller and author. he has trained hundreds of ‘forest school leaders’ and will be delivering an inspirational and transformational course. he is an experienced educational professional with a profound and enduring passion for outdoor education. richard has a profound understanding of the theoretical and pedagogical underpinnings of ‘forest school’, and the ways in which it can complement and work alongside mainstream education. richard works as a facilitator and consultant with forest schools, schools and other community groups to create long-term opportunities for learning, growth and healing in the outdoors. richard is proud to be a part of ‘the garden classroom’, a london-based charity that connects urban children and families with nature.
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rhiannon is a qualified forest school practitioner and has been working in this field for the past ten years. she feels strongly about having a connection with the natural world and learning ways to live in right-relationship with it. in addition to ecological understanding, she is passionate about the individual, social and cultural change that needs to happen for the greater regeneration and stewardship of the earth. she has been mentored by rebecca card of nature widsom and both participated and supported on animas valley institute programmes, being initiated into the mysteries of nature and psyche, for the past three years.
she also has training in nature connection, ancestral skills, permaculture, therapeutic skills for outdoor leaders, holistic education and child development. her background is in fine art and arts education.
“being a forest school leader feels right for this season of my life and would allow me to serve others whilst developing myself in a way that combines my passion with the time available to me. there are many exciting routes that I can see ahead with this path and new possibilities to explore… meeting like-minded friends along the way and building up my circle with whom i feel at ease to be myself and let my true colour show. the level 3 course enabled for this to happen organically despite only being a week-long course! it’s not hard to see how this career path is capable of creating ripples that will positively and hopefully permanently improve our community.”
victoria hong ~ 2023 cohort
fully funded traineeship
we launched our fully funded vocational traineeship for aspiring forest school leaders four years ago to support equity and diversity in outdoor education and to meet the growing need for skilled nature-based facilitators — creating greater access, impact, and diversity in the sector. a key requirement for each trainee is the commitment to deliver their own provision post training, ensuring that this work is able to have a wider impact.
any questions about the training?
if you have any questions about the training, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. we’d be happy to address any concerns, clear up any confusions, or clarify any details that you’re still unsure about. you can book in a friendly chat with us through the calendar.
