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 framework How plans are shaped by group dynamics and practitioner energy Why having personal projects matters for adult well-being and modelling The risks of overplanning and ignoring the moment Discord as a digital shed for ideas Sound, space, and permission in play settings Why not cajoling is a radical act If you've ever asked yourself, “Is this planning or just wishful thinking?” this one’s for you. 🎧 Listen on: www.theforestschoolpodcast.com ⏱ Chapter Timings 00:17 – Caffeine, deer, and the joys of planning 01:22 – Planning as a vacuum: it fills the space you give it 02:18 – Sticking to plans vs reading the room 03:26 – Secondary school behaviour and rigid lessons 04:18 – Laminated resources and knowing when to drop it 04:56 – CGP Grey’s fake tangents and performance teaching 05:35 – Planning now: seasonal bags of opportunities 06:25 – When nature—not us—says no 07:09 – Reflective, responsive planning after sessions 07:38 – Concentric gears: from term-time to woodland management 08:55 – Cyclical Forest School vs linear education 09:51 – Missing moments and getting a second chance 10:48 – Verbal planning with trusted co-workers 11:39 – Using Discord as a planning hub 12:50 – Low-pressure suggestions and letting go of outcomes 13:48 – Soft skills, time, and space in planning 14:39 – Storytelling, consent, and not forcing group time 15:58 – Participation as a choice, not a requirement 17:28 – Not cajoling: why it matters and how it feels 18:31 – Music as interruption or offer? 20:33 – Who has the right to break play cycles? 21:38 – Sound, consent, and sensory imposition 22:39 – Modelling participation without demands 24:19 – Parents modelling adult autonomy 25:18 – Competency models and ZPD 26:31 – What adults can model in play 27:27 – Planning for complex, long-term groups 28:59 – Carving spoons and the value of adult projects 30:36 – Why projects help children see adults differently 32:13 – Planning when children want something else 33:10 – Adult projects as modelling, not dominance 34:52 – Invitation vs control 35:48 – Long-term projects and who gets to take them home 36:57 – Next week: Evolutionary Playwork by Bob Hughes ✨ SEO Keywords Forest 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 & Support This episode is sponsored by: ➡ Shop via our affiliate link: https://chrisholland.myshopify.com/?ref=ForestSchoolPodcast 💌 Contact & Support Send your thoughts to: [email protected] Support us at: www.patreon.com/theforestschoolpodcast All episodes: www.theforestschoolpodcast.com 📝 Reviews help us reach more people! Leave a comment or rating wherever you listen 🌟