Run by volunteers, Free Forest School hosts free events where young children and their parents or caregivers meet to explore and play together in nature. Free Forest School groups are welcoming and non-judgmental communities in which parents and caregivers can practice giving children space and autonomy to explore and create in nature.
Free Forest School of Louisville meets weekly throughout the year at nearby wilderness areas such as Creasey Mahan and Anchorage Trail. We share a snack, take a hike, play in nature, and sing and read at circle time. Parents get a chance to unplug and step back… Kids and their imaginations take the lead!
FFS of Louisville is part of the global Free Forest School movement. Fostering the next generation of environmental stewards, Free Forest School opens the door to nature play and emergent learning for thousands of children by empowering parents and caregivers to work together to provide it themselves. With an emphasis on equity and inclusion, FFS works with public school educators to incorporate nature play into traditional classroom settings.
The Executive Director, Anna Sharratt, who founded the first Free Forest School in Prospect Park in Brooklyn, NY in 2015, has this to say about new chapters being founded in North America and beyond, "In only two years’ time, Free Forest School has grown from a small grassroots movement to a growing organization that supports more than 60 local groups in North America. I believe the popularity of Free Forest School speaks to a widespread desire to reconnect with nature, especially for parents raising the next generation. Free Forest School is about making time to let kids be kids, giving them freedom and autonomy to explore and grow.” FFS is now governed by a Board of Directors and is currently seeking its tax-exempt non-profit status.
For more information about the Louisville chapter of Free Forest School and its local leadership, visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/FreeForestSchoolLouisvilleKY or email ffsLouisville@gmail.com. For more information about the founding organization, please visit https://www.freeforestschool.org/
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