Celebrating 10 years of Forest School
DSP is celebrating ten years of providing Forest School sessions to all children. As part of this celebration, the Scaip Project was formed to inspire and support more Nature Based Learning happening in schools across Ireland.
The goal of the project is for all children in Ireland to have the opportunity to lead their play and learning in nature as an integral part of their education and healthy development by providing resources and examples and training in this. Have a look at www.naturebasedlearning.ie
DSP Forest School sessions
Our sessions bring the children and the curriculum to the forest on Killiney Hill weekly for a block of time. The structure of each session allows the children to build connection: to themselves through sit spots, creative opportunities and reflection; to each other through games and teamwork; and to the world we live in through experiencing it with all their senses.
The aim is to foster resilient, independent, confident and creative learners using a flexible approach and natural resources.
The learning flows out of the sessions in so many ways. English, Geography, Science, Maths, SPHE, Music, Art, PE, Ethical Education and drama are all covered in the sessions and then the richness of the experience continues the engagement and motivation in the classroom and at home.
Have a look at the wonderful blog posts below and those by Liz McMahon with whom we collaborate to run these sessions. https://dlrcreativityintheclassroom.wordpress.com/
Forest School
Forest School Updates
Forest School – Student Perspective 4th Class
Forest School is in Killiney Hill on a Friday. There are three groups, the teachers are Liz, Jenny and Ms. Maguire. We have done four weeks and the weather hasn’t been that great. We are doing knife work and making spears, we are also learning …
4th Class Forest Friday 6th of March- Walking with the Fianna
4th class continued their journey through the forest this week, exploring the stories and traditions of the Fianna. In class the children have been learning about the oral tradition of storytelling and how stories were once passed from person to person, carrying lessons about the …
6th class – February 2026
6th Class continue their Forest School journey As part of 6th class’ sessions, they will have the opportunity to develop skills to support them in becoming helpful assistants for Junior Infants and 1st Class in the summer term. It is a chance to develop responsibility, …
4th class – Woodland welcome – February 2026
The woodland welcomed us back with gentle rain, lots of mud and some fallen tree friends. Each group does things differently – diversity in action We put up tarps, built dens, greeted grandmother tree, learned about some plants, played games, acted out memories from previous …
Senior Infants – Growing together in the woods
Over the past sixteen weeks, our Junior Infants have journeyed through the seasons and grown into confident Senior Infants, learning and discovering through the magic of Forest School. Each session has been an opportunity to connect with nature, develop essential life skills, and nurture curiosity …
Senior Infants – Hedgehogs and magical music
Autumn journey Autumn has really arrived. The light was golden through the trees. The children were fascinated by the growth of new mushrooms. They wondered about the ‘dust’ that they saw come out of the puffballs. As we have been noticing seeds of plants, it …
