Ep 22 - Planning

In this episode, Lewis and Gemma dive deep into the layered reality of planning in Forest School. From laminated resources to spontaneous spoon carving, they discuss the contrast between top-down educational planning and the responsive, cyclical, seasonal approach required in outdoor settings. With honesty and humour, they unpack what planning actually looks like when you’re working in tune with the land, the seasons, and the children.They explore:Seasonal planning as a flexible frameworkHow plans are shaped by group dynamics and practitioner energyWhy having personal projects matters for adult well-being and modellingThe risks of overplanning and ignoring the momentDiscord as a digital shed for ideasSound, space, and permission in play settingsWhy not cajoling is a radical actIf you've ever asked yourself, “Is this planning or just wishful thinking?” this one’s for you.🎧 Listen on:www.theforestschoolpodcast.com⏱ Chapter Timings00:17 – Caffeine, deer, and the joys of planning01:22 – Planning as a vacuum: it fills the space you give it02:18 – Sticking to plans vs reading the room03:26 – Secondary school behaviour and rigid lessons04:18 – Laminated resources and knowing when to drop it04:56 – CGP Grey’s fake tangents and performance teaching05:35 – Planning now: seasonal bags of opportunities06:25 – When nature—not us—says no07:09 – Reflective, responsive planning after sessions07:38 – Concentric gears: from term-time to woodland management08:55 – Cyclical Forest School vs linear education09:51 – Missing moments and getting a second chance10:48 – Verbal planning with trusted co-workers11:39 – Using Discord as a planning hub12:50 – Low-pressure suggestions and letting go of outcomes13:48 – Soft skills, time, and space in planning14:39 – Storytelling, consent, and not forcing group time15:58 – Participation as a choice, not a requirement17:28 – Not cajoling: why it matters and how it feels18:31 – Music as interruption or offer?20:33 – Who has the right to break play cycles?21:38 – Sound, consent, and sensory imposition22:39 – Modelling participation without demands24:19 – Parents modelling adult autonomy25:18 – Competency models and ZPD26:31 – What adults can model in play27:27 – Planning for complex, long-term groups28:59 – Carving spoons and the value of adult projects30:36 – Why projects help children see adults differently32:13 – Planning when children want something else33:10 – Adult projects as modelling, not dominance34:52 – Invitation vs control35:48 – Long-term projects and who gets to take them home36:57 – Next week: Evolutionary Playwork by Bob Hughes✨ SEO KeywordsForest School planning, seasonal planning for educators, outdoor play curriculum, responsive planning in early years, child-led learning outdoors, Discord for educator teams, Forest School reflective practice, long-term projects in outdoor education, CGP Grey teaching, playworker autonomy, adult modelling in play📌 Hashtags#ForestSchoolPodcast #ForestSchoolPlanning #ChildLedLearning #OutdoorEducation #ReflectivePractice #NatureBasedLearning #PlayWork #SeasonalPlanning #TeacherBurnout #EducatorWellbeing #SoftSkills #ZPD #BobHughes #PlanningWithPurpose🎁 Sponsors & SupportThis episode is sponsored by:🌳 TENTSILE – Get 10% off your tree tent with code ForestChildren10🌿 Chris Holland’s Plant Guide – 54-page illustrated download with 10% off using code ForestSchoolPodcast➡ Shop via our affiliate link: https://chrisholland.myshopify.com/?ref=ForestSchoolPodcast💌 Contact & SupportSend your thoughts to: [email protected] us at: www.patreon.com/theforestschoolpodcastAll episodes: www.theforestschoolpodcast.com📝 Reviews help us reach more people! Leave a comment or rating wherever you listen 🌟