Think Outside
An online course that empowers you to learn all the skills you need to start your own forest school-inspired programme, build your confidence to get outside and get stuck in.
You’re a Teacher, Early Years Educator or Childminder looking to further your knowledge and build your confidence.
You want to discover the steps and skills you need to teach outside.
You want to join a thriving, supportive, global community of like-minded people.
You're frustrated because...
You know you want to take learning outside but you don’t know where to start
You've done various trainings and know you should just get out there but you feel like you’re missing something
You see other people outside having fun and need a confidence boost to do it too
You’re not alone!
Hi, I’m Jackie Roby, one of the UK’s leading forest school trainers and outdoor learning experts.
When I was training as a primary school teacher, more than a decade ago, I always got told off for looking out of the window! I couldn’t understand why we had to all be indoors being still and quiet while there was so much fun and learning to be had outside! When I heard about forest school, it sounded amazing!
So I trained as a forest school leader, started my own forest school and I’ve never looked back. I spent three years working for many of Bristol's green institutions including the Avon Gorge & Downs Wildlife Project, Bristol Zoo and Wild Place running curriculum-linked sessions and environmental education programmes as well as running a forest school. I began training forest school leaders through the Forest of Avon Trust, whilst also being a founder of The Hawthorn Project, a weekly outdoor project for women in recovery.
In forest school I found my element, the thing that spoke to my soul and that this was where I could really make a difference to both people and planet. It gave me the freedom to teach how I wanted and to create a job I love. After years of practising, I can now share that passion and experience with you, all at your own pace and in your own time.
What would it feel like to have…
the confidence to get outside and get on with teaching?
lots of tips and tricks for how to run safe, successful sessions?
the opportunity to connect with experienced practitioners?
All while learning from the comfort of your own home, in your own time and at your own pace
Think Outside
Think Outside is a self-paced course for educators like you who want to learn the skills you need to run successful sessions outside, whilst building your confidence to get outside and get stuck in.
At the end of the course, you will have:
An understanding of how people truly learn (clue, it’s not how it’s done in schools) and how to put this into practice
An in-depth knowledge of how to manage risk and keep your groups safe while still having fun
A range of practical skills, including simple craft activities and building dens
A solid grasp of all of the paperwork that’s needed in order to run successful and safe sessions
A deeper connection to our environment
An awesome network of diverse yet like-minded people from all over the world. Your Go Wild Tribe!
What you get when you join Think Outside:
Instant access to an in-depth, self-study online course and access to the online content for 2 years
15 modules containing 250+ videos and additional written materials with more than a decade’s-worth of knowledge and experience behind it
Practical guidance on how to structure and deliver an outdoor learning programme
Advice on curriculum-linked sessions and how to record evidence
Done-for-you paperwork including outdoor policies and procedures, medical consent forms, photographic consent forms and example risk assessments
Documents you can use in your own programme such as risk assessment templates, Environmental Impact Assessments, daily site checks and more
Tips on decolonising education and how to honour black and Indigenous cultures in your sessions, wherever you are in the world
All you need to know about the health and safety element of running outdoor sessions, including in-depth risk assessment, risk-benefit and dynamic risk assessment training
Volunteering and working with volunteers
Ideas of activities and crafts that you can use in your sessions
Introduction to birdsong (UK & Europe)
Flora and fauna identification skills including modules specific to UK & Europe, Australia, New Zealand and North America
Advice on how to minimise and manage animal encounters with dogs, snakes and spiders
Opportunity to purchase assessed add-ons such as Tools & Fire Skills at 50% off normal price, which you can do at checkout or at a later date
↟Join Now!↟
Choose whether to pay now or over 4 or 8 instalments at checkout. Get instant access.
All payment options give you instant access and I don’t charge any fees for paying in instalments.
Please make sure that you have read my Terms and Conditions before you sign up to a course. No refunds are given outside of your statutory rights. Payment plans are automatically processed on the same day that you sign up (i.e. 5th of every month if you join on the 5th) over consecutive months. This course is eligible for PayPal Credit. When at checkout, choose Paypal as your payment method and choose PayPal credit.
Free Master Class.
Managing Challenging Behaviour in the Outdoors
with Jon Cree
In this free Master Class, I'm here to show you, enthusiastically, that getting outside is the BEST. IDEA. EVER. And the LEGENDARY Jon Cree is going to explain how the outdoors make behaviour, that can be disruptive and unproductive inside, a non-event outside and the one place you're likely to see less of it. We talk about positive approaches to reduce unwanted behaviours and learn from Jon’s vast experience.
Sign-up now, put the kettle on, make yourself comfortable and watch the Master Class.
↟ Modules ↟
An Introduction to Forest School: The ethos of forest school and what it looks like in real life
Learning Theories for the Outdoors: Theories that work outside and how you can put the ideas behind them into practice so that you see results
Identifying Wildlife: A guide to how to identify flora and fauna as well as advice on how to minimise and manage animal encounters with dogs, snakes and spiders
Temperate Forests: Learn about what trees grow in the temperate zones of the world including modules specific to UK & Europe, Australia, New Zealand and North America, along with the traditional and indigenous uses, names and stories of each tree
Environmental Stewardship: How to run a sustainable programme that has a positive impact on our environment
Managing Risk: in-depth risk assessment, risk-benefit and dynamic risk assessment training with examples and risk assessment templates
Paperwork & Planning: Important things to do before you venture outside with a group
Play & Holistic Development: Learn about the importance of play and the positive effect it has on learning and development
Behaviour, Mental Health & SEN: Managing both positive and negative behaviours outdoors and how a green environment can be beneficial for mental health
Logistics of Outdoor Learning: How do you get a group of excited children outside? What happens when they need the toilet? What should you take with you? Who should you take with you?
Delivering a Session: How to deliver an outdoor session, the importance of ritual plus advice on working with volunteers
Activities Collection: Beautiful ideas of activities you can do with your groups
Dens & Shelter Building: How to build dens (AKA cubbies or forts) safely using found natural materials
Birdsong: A guide to 21 common birds ok UK & Europe (with interesting general introductions for people outside of those areas!)
Q&A Sessions: Access to all recordings of the live Q&A sessions and Full Moon Parties
↟Is this course for you?↟
This course is for you if you:
Want to feel empowered in taking learning outside and learn more about theories and practicalities
You have lots of activity ideas but want to know how to put them together
Want to learn about forest school and outdoor education
Are a Teacher, Early Years Educator or Environmental Educator looking to refresh and further your knowledge and build your confidence.
Are open minded, willing to try new things and shift your current mindset
This course isn’t for you if you:
Want a qualification. You need my level 3 forest school training
Want lots and lots of activity ideas. There are plenty of good books for that, this is all about how to successfully put activities together and why
Want to teach others to use fire and tools. Again, you need my level 3 forest school training for that or you can add-on my Tool & Fire Skills course at 50% off once you join Think Outside
Want a face-to-face workshop. Yup, you guessed it: level 3 forest school training
Are happy with the status quo and like they way you already teach, thank you very much
Here's what happens when you join Think Outside:
You'll receive an excited email from me welcoming you to the course and giving you your login details
You get immediate access to all course materials so that you can get started right away
You’ll get information on how you can join the Facebook group, Slack channel and how to sign up to our live online events
This course is part of a series of professional development courses as part of AIM Invest in your Futures. This is a quality kitemark awarded to centres who can demonstrate the quality of the training they provide. So you can be assured that these course will help you in your professional development and you’ll even get a certificate once you’ve completed!
It’s time to begin your adventure!
If you've read this far, I have a feeling this course is be exactly what you need. So don't second guess yourself.
If you're worried you're not ready yet, or aren't 100% convinced Think Outside is the perfect fit - give me a shout at hello@gowildeducation.co.uk.
I'll be totally honest about whether I think this course will help you with your adventures.