Forest school: a place where kids are allowed to get muddy, explore on their own and learn important life skills. And yes, there are forest schools in Singapore!
There are heaps of serious benefits of our kids being outdoors, and the folks at Singapore’s forest schools are all about making the most of ’em. We’re talking developing life skills like confidence, independence, empathy and more — apart from getting a hefty dose of vitamin D, of course. And yes, there are forest schools where your kids can learn all of the above and more! So without further ado, here are our favourite forest schools in Singapore, as well as international schools that offer forest school programmes.
Why trust our forest school guide
It’s no secret that we at HoneyKids are fans of the great outdoors. We’ve made a list of 100 cool outdoor things to do with kids because we’re so pro-sunshine and sweaty kids! Put that together with our experience in writing about everything education, we present this nifty list of all the awesome forest school programmes in Singapore that kids will love.
Our fave forest schools in Singapore
1. German European School Singapore
- Ages: 18 months old and above
- Price: From $35,840 per year
- Venue: 2 Dairy Farm Lane, Singapore 677621
Some of the most important lessons happen outdoors, don’t you agree? The teachers at German European School Singapore (GESS) strongly believe this, which is why it offers a certified forest school programme for all preschoolers from 18 months up to five years old; as well as outdoor education for every year group.
Forest school and outdoor lessons take place in the school’s new purpose-designed Forest School Jungle Garden: a green space for open-ended play, where children can dig, build, balance, and imagine every day, rain or shine. GESS also makes use of the nearby Dairy Farm Nature Park -– a green space that’s protected by the government and will never be developed -– so children get to experience the real ‘wilderness’, building resilience, coordination, and confidence.
Overall, GESS’ forest school and outdoor education programmes foster a deep respect for nature among children, while giving them the space to explore and wonder. Register to attend its open house to see for yourselves.
German European School Singapore
2. Wildlings
- Ages: One to 11 years old
- Price: From $805 per term
- Venue: Dempsey and West Coast Park
Wildlings is on a mission to get more people playing, learning and growing together in the great outdoors. Its forest school playgroup and club run take place in its own grounds in Dempsey and West Coast Park, running weekly for children as young as one year old. Besides forest school, Wildlings also offers camps, parties, and drop-in play. It’s part of a movement to see every child spending hours each day in unstructured outdoor play in nature.
3. Outdoor School Singapore by NTUC First Campus
- Ages: Four to 12 years old
- Price: From $120 per camp
- Venue: Differ according to camps
Responsibility, resilience, and risk-taking — these are all the important life lessons Outdoor School Singapore by NTUC First Campus aims to teach its students. Through multi-sensory experiences in nature, young explorers are able to have a fun, creative and adventurous learning journey while learning to appreciate the natural environment. These holiday camps are held in various green pockets like Admiralty Park, water catchments, and even Lazarus Island!
Outdoor School Singapore by NTUC First Campus
4. Roots and Boots
- Ages: 18 months old and above
- Price: From $58 per programme session
- Venue: Singapore Botanic Gardens for preschool and enrichment, locations differ for walks and camps.
The folks at Roots and Boots believe in encouraging kids to explore, learn through play, at their own pace and style. How does Roots and Boots do it? It gives children the time and space to follow their own ideas in the great outdoors, inspiring them to develop their problem solving skills, cooperation and confidence through fun activities. Roots and Boots runs a three and five-day. urban forest preschool programme (with Chinese immersion), weekly enrichment activities, holiday camps, as well as parent-child walks.
5. Nature Explorers School
- Ages: Three to 12 years old
- Price: From $70 per session
- Venue: Alexandra Forest, Pasir Ris Park, and Mount Faber
At Nature Explorers School, its experienced coaches teach kids about flora, fauna, survival skills, the science of how things work, history and geography of the land, all while improving their emotional intelligence and developing musical and linguistic skills. The folks at the school run two-and-a-half hour session per week to give children ample time to adapt and settle in their outdoor classroom. Holiday camps are available during the local school holidays too.
So pop on those wellies and get your kids signed up to these forest schools in Singapore – you won’t regret it!
