Ep 16 - Practitioner Burnout!!

In this brutally honest and often hilarious episode of The Forest School Podcast, Lewis and Gemma brave torrential storms to dive deep into one of the most unspoken realities of outdoor education: burnout and fatigue. As Forest School leaders themselves, they share the emotional and physical toll of holding space in the winter months—when the woods feel like they're hibernating, children are still full of energy, and practitioners are managing fire safety, food, waterproofs, soggy play, and emotional support all at once. They discuss how seasonal changes affect both children and adults, why storytelling surges in colder months, and how the same playful activity takes on heavier consequences when everything is wet and muddy. This episode also covers burnout prevention strategies: from micro-moments of mastery play, to peer connection, building infrastructure, setting boundaries, and finding joy in the ever-expanding “spider web” of Forest School interests. Expect mud, mindfulness, mess, and mutual support. ⏱ Chapter Timings: 00:00 – Post-storm reflections and soggy boots 01:43 – Why we’re talking about burnout 02:48 – Fatigue, SAD, and seasonal energy shifts 03:49 – Holding group energy when everyone’s cold 04:26 – Winter storytelling and group cohesion 05:04 – Autumn learning curve: mud, mess, and surprises 07:16 – Invisible giving and the emotional bank account 08:10 – Sharing emotions honestly with children 09:17 – The benefits of working in a duo 10:12 – Investing in yourself through training 10:50 – Solo play in the woods as restoration 11:55 – Mastery play, Zen gardens, and mental reset 12:40 – The joy of never being perfect in Forest School 13:43 – Hobby vs. profession: keeping joy alive 15:10 – Building professional networks to combat isolation 16:54 – Off-site rituals for emotional decompression 17:55 – The mental drain of weather-checking 18:26 – The endless nature of self-employment 19:41 – Boundaries around planning and marketing 20:30 – Creative constraints and resourcefulness 21:18 – Site improvements and the importance of shelter 23:03 – Cosiness, fairy lights, and ‘Hygge’ in the woods 24:19 – Bad weather vs. bad locations 25:17 – Understanding children’s fear of weather 25:57 – Wind as an emotional antagonist 26:38 – Learning site resilience over time 27:15 – Upcoming Sunday retreats and practitioner days 28:16 – Cooking retreat details and how to book 🌲 Keywords: Forest School burnout, practitioner fatigue, outdoor educator wellness, emotional bank account, winter storytelling, muddy play, SAD in outdoor education, woodland wellbeing, Forest School reflection, community support, seasonal shift, burnout prevention, Forest School infrastructure, mindfulness in nature, hygge in the woods 🔖 Hashtags: #ForestSchool #OutdoorEducator #BurnoutRecovery #ForestSchoolPodcast #NatureFatigue #WinterPlay #OutdoorLearning #StorytellingSeason #ForestSchoolLife #PractitionerSupport #HyggeInTheWoods #WoodlandWellbeing #SelfCareForTeachers #SeasonalEducation #NatureBasedLearning 🌐 More Episodes & Support: Listen to more and explore resources at www.theforestschoolpodcast.com Support our work and join the community at www.patreon.com/theforestschoolpodcast For collaborations or questions, email [email protected]