A Forest and Beach School in Singapore!
Immerse in a world filled with fisherman boats, fishing villages, colonial houses, lookout towers and a kampong with wildlife!
What is unique about our Forest-Beach School?
- Your child gets the best of both worlds to access the forest, sea and beach at Changi and Ubin. Yes, we take boat rides into Pulau Ubin to explore. Most forest schools in Singapore are based at locations where they are more accessible to the trees and greens only.
- You receive weekly updates of your child’s experience at the Forest-Beach School from our forest school teachers who are experienced principals, preschool and secondary school teachers.
- Your child can choose what they want to do with the wide variety of materials provided each week. Once they settle down on which direction and where they want to go, we set up a base area. Your child can make their own decision on what to play. We provide yarns, kitchen utensils, watercolours, art materials, drinks and many others. Being child-led with choices empowers your child to be more motivated and focused on their chosen task.
Forest School Philosophy
The Forest-Beach School approach invites children to develop their inner selves and connect with the outer world. This approach is based on the belief that children learn best when they are allowed to explore and interact with nature, engage in unstructured play and take calculated risks.
During the sessions at Pulau Ubin or Changi Beach, the children of various ages will naturally collaborate, allowing them to learn from one another and build relationships. This approach also encourages children to engage in risky play, which helps them to develop their self-awareness and understand their own capabilities, responsibilities, strength and boundaries. Risky play also fosters children’s problem-solving skills, as they learn to assess and manage risks.
The nature of the sessions invites children to co-exist with nature. The time spent outdoors helps children develop a sense of appreciation for the natural world and understand the importance of taking care of the environment.
When the children are emotionally connected with mother nature, when they can feel and see the animals, the seawater, the trees and the earth, they are more likely to understand their role in protecting and loving mother nature more.
In Forest-Beach School, children are presented with freedom of movement. The time and space that is offered to children allow children to go inward and focus on their body’s competency.
Safety forest codes and rules are explained to allow for safe play. We encourage children to trust their bodies, especially during risky play. As leaders hold space for such play, the children develop the necessary thinking process to keep themselves, and their friends safe.
Children will also have plenty of opportunities to develop both language and communication skills as they interact with peers of various age groups.
We engaged Forest School practitioners who are committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for children to explore and build meaning of the world.
This is a collaboration with Hundred Paths, led by Aminah and Sabrina. The sessions are run by qualified leaders.
The sessions are child-led, where children plan and discuss what they would like to do the following week. The final venue on Pulau Ubin, Changi or Pasir Ris Beach depends on the children’s interests and decisions. We respect and honour their request.
What will my child learn at Forest School?
The Forest School approach is a child-led approach that believes in the holistic development of children. This approach respects that the child is rich in potential, strong, powerful, competent and confident in building relationships. The sessions provide space for children to remember those qualities in nature. Children will also have plenty of opportunities to develop both language and communication skills as they interact with peers of various age groups. In Forest School, children are presented with freedom of movement. The time and space that is offered to children allow children to go inward and focus on their body’s competency.
What ‘progress’/benefits can I see in my child?
Dr Peter Gray mentioned that “Play serves the serious purpose of education. The player is playing for fun; education is a by-product.” A child who plays feels free to take risks and is not afraid of failure because they are not seeking approval from adults. They do know if they fail, there will be no serious real-world consequences. We will also be able to see children gaining confidence in themselves and becoming more resourceful.
They find their own ‘voices’ and are not afraid to speak up. Children who are accustomed to risky play in nature will also naturally develop their sense of balance. They will also be more coordinated in their gross motor. This physical development can support children’s ability to be more attentive and engaged in classrooms.
How do the children stay safe in forest school?
The sessions are run by qualified leaders. Safety forest codes and rules are explained to allow for safe play. We encourage children to trust their bodies, especially during risky play. As leaders hold space for such play, the children develop the necessary thinking process to keep themselves, and their friends safe.
What are some possible activities for the children?
- Campfire – cooking
- Clay experiences
- Hapa Zome (Japanese eco printing on fabric)
- Knot-tying
- Marshmallow toasting
- Nature craft
- Nature journal documentation
- Nature walk
- Rope play
- Sand play
- Sawing
- Sensory tea-making
- Mud cooking
- Unstructured Play
- Whittling
Values we cultivate through fun play activities:
- Body Awareness
- Confidence & Self-Esteem
- Emotion Regulation
- Growth Mindset & Resilience
- Respect and Love
- Kindness and Empathy
- Social Cues and Boundaries
Why commit for the long term?
Children present themselves differently just by being in a natural environment. As they adjust their presence in a natural environment, their behaviours adjust. A usual love for nature and the natural environment usually presents itself as the children are constantly being exposed to it. In our long term sessions, one of the primary aims of our initial sessions is to meet the physiological and basic needs of the children first. FS leaders work to ensure that the children become comfortable within that setting.
Site rules are established and children learn their way around the forest. Leaders ensure that safety needs are met and the children understand the risks and rules. For example, the children learn to navigate risk assessments, explore physical boundaries, use the same site (familiarity), tool talks, understand ‘whatever the weather’ circumstances and have routines. We observe when they need to run around or when their play is coming to a natural end. This physiological and safety needs usually takes about 5 weeks.
Once these needs have been met, children then develop a sense of belonging and begin to meet their ‘esteem needs’. This too, is dependent on the needs of individual children. Some require a longer time in order to meet their belonging and esteem needs. At this point, the children will start to recognise the Leaders as facilitators. While having the same children every week creates a sense of belonging and love, they start trusting each other, have fun, there’s laughter, reflection activities, they share successes
and acceptance. Their sense of belonging occurs after the children’s physiological and safety needs are met.
As the sense of belonging needs are met, the children then discover their esteem needs. Through social, and physical play in a safe and natural setting, they develop aspects of being human. Having a grounded foundation of esteem needs is something ‘unteachable.’ A long-term environment like Forest School allows a child to explore having success for himself, not others, learning to self-praise rather than having it externally, has opportunities to repeat things, there is no formal assessment, is child-directed, the child is in control of his learning, he gets to experiment and develop physically. The children’s esteem needs will actualise when their sense of belonging is actualised.
Long term Forest School has many benefits where a child’s SPICES (Social, Physical, Intellectual, Communication, Emotional, Spiritual) have room to develop. These can only ever be developed in long-term projects where self-actualization is then achieved.
Wide Age Range
It is our intention to have a wide age gap of children 3.5 – 12 years old for the Forest-Beach each school. Children who have the opportunity to work together with children of different age groups and abilities, have cultivate more empathy, kindness, awareness, and understanding of social cues and boundaries. This supports children to be more socio-emotional developed and connected with each other.
Singapore ranks the third highest in bullying globally. It is proven that when children are connected and play together, bullying reduces because children have more empathy and can understand from different perspectives better.
Mindful Space have witness so many beautiful learning moments when children of different age groups come together. The older children learn to role model and polish their leadership skills to problem solve; how to include and motivate people with different pace, perspective and abilities, and empower them to think out of the box. The younger children learn better through observation, and feel the sense of belonging and motivation through the team spirit.
What if my child needs more time for drop off or has separation anxiety?
It is normal for a child to feel anxious during drop-off. We encourage the child to sit with those feelings. Every feeling is valid. Acknowledge your child’s feelings. We encourage you to assure your child confidently that you will see him/her again at drop-off.
We highly recommend that parents drop off when their children are ready so the experience is pleasant (and not stressful!) for the child.
The dynamics of the session change and are different when the parents are around.
The good thing is that children tend to explore out of their comfort zone and be more willing and open when their parents are not around (speaking from experience as a group of educators and mothers!). We believe children learn best when they are given a safe space to explore independently.
Children are dropped off at the Changi Point Ferry Terminal. It is a child-led session; hence the children will discuss as a team where and what they would like to do. They have the option to be at Changi Beach or head to Pulau Ubin.
You can sign up for trial sessions to assess whether your child is ready. We understand that some children need more time to be comfortable in a new environment.
For the trial sessions, if your child needs more time to transit to drop-off slowly, parents can observe from a distance, making themselves as invisible as possible, allowing the child to freely interacts with the environment, teachers, or classmates (no interference at all), while the child knows you are around. From the trial sessions (maximum three), we can assess whether the child is ready for drop-off. Most of the time, children surprise parents with their level of adaptability and resilience. When we trust and have confidence in them, they can feel it and trust themselves better too.
The coaches are trained to hold space for children and we would like them to flourish in our sessions. Let us know how we can honour your child’s needs. We will provide parents with photos and a write-up of the session.
Can I accompany my child to a drop-off session?
We would advise you not to. The dynamics of the group including providing and holding a safe space for children is essential in our sessions. The coaches are trained to hold space for children and we would like them to flourish in our sessions. Special arrangements can be made on a case-to-case basis. Do let us know how we can honour your child’s needs. We will provide parents with photos and a session write-up in the next few days.
What happens when it rains?
For forest-beach school, we will go ahead even if it’s raining and seek shelter at respective area if there are lightning. We teach kids how to be resilient and adaptable with the weather, and how to make the best out of things that are beyond our control. We believe that the different elements in nature offers children a range of learning opportunities.
It is very important that children are dressed appropriately for the weather for them to enjoy it. In Forest School we believe that, “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing”. We encourage children to come appropriately attired (a list of recommendations will be given). A raincoat is always handy to have in the child’s bag.
We will conduct drop-off sessions in a safe, sheltered area nearby the designated site.
Will my child be able to refill their water bottle?
Please arrive at the sessions with the appropriate amount of water your child would need for a 2.5-hour session outdoors. We would recommend a litre water bottle to be with them. Coaches will offer children to refill their water bottles if need be. We ensure that children are well-hydrated during our sessions.
Are there toilet facilities?
There are toilets located at the Mindful Space Changi Studio and Pulau Ubin.
Are there first-aid-trained facilitators?
We will assign at least one first-aid trained coach to the session at all times.
Class Size
Minimum 5 pax to commence
Maximum 10 pax
Ratio - 1 teacher: 5 students
Meals
Please pack your own snack or lunch.
Changi Village Hawker Centre and a fruit stall are 5 mins walk from our studio and are open at 8am.
Age Group: 3.5 – 12 years old
Rates for 3 hours session
Trial / Drop-In
- $85 per child per session
5 class pass
- $400 ($80 per session) valid for 2 months
10-weekly sessions
- $750 ($75 per session) Save $50!
- valid for 3 months with two make-up classes
*This is not a class pass. Children attend the weekly sessions on a routine basis so we can learn and grow together with them with consistency and rhythm.
Includes return boat rides between Changi Point Ferry Terminal and Pulau Ubin.
What do I need to bring or prepare?
- snacks
- water bottle (L)
- extra clothes to change
- raincoat
- sunscreen and hat
- mosquito patch or repellent
- What is the dress code?
- Best to wear sports attire.
- Wear long, comfortable pants for stretches and large movements (no skirts).
- Covered toe shoes
- NO jewellery
Note
- This ticket is not applicable for cancellation or refund unless Mindful Space cannot commence or proceed with the activity (eg: minimum number of pax)
- Tickets are transferable to others for the same date but are not refundable. If you can no longer attend (eg: sick), you can find family or friends to replace you. You can also try your luck to check in if there is someone on the waiting list.
- By signing up for this programme, you agreed to be contacted for future events via WhatsApp
- WhatsApp +65 9783 7313 to be on the waiting list or organise private camp dates.
This booking is not applicable for cancellation or refund unless Mindful Space cannot commence or proceed with the activity.
In the event you can’t make it, tickets are transferable for the same date to other family or friends. Just let us know their name, email, mobile and kids name & age (WhatsApp 9783 7313). You can try your luck to see if anyone is on the waiting list (no promises).
There will be no make-up sessions provided if one is absent for any activity.