Ep 33 - Working with Adults

It’s Solstice time—or as Lewis and Gemma imagine it, post-apocalyptic bunker-time, when all that remains is a crumbling podcast archive passed through generations. In this reflective, meandering, and slightly pollen-fogged episode, your hosts explore adult learning at Forest School, the strange self-consciousness of grown-ups in the woods, and what it means to meet parents, trainees, and professionals exactly where they are. They dive into: 🍃 Mud, mess & Range Rover parents ☕ Slugs as self-care and play for grown-ups 📚 Theory vs. vibes in adult training 🔥 When adults are just big kids (with hayfever) 🧺 Baskets, whittling & the joy of learning for its own sake 🕒 Plus: a curious thought experiment—what would you do with 3 free hours on a Saturday? ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 – Solstice silliness, apocalypse greetings & bunker broadcasts 01:15 – Pagan craft fails & the elderflower/cordial debate 03:00 – Hayfever gripes, rain relief, and a falling tree 06:00 – Cancelled sessions & documenting danger for parents 06:50 – CPD for nurseries & outdoor training as propaganda 08:15 – Somerset Play Forum recap: storytelling, theories & lightbulb moments 10:30 – Adults as learners—how it differs from working with kids 13:00 – Self-consciousness, social norms & reframing activities 15:00 – Immediate verbal feedback & how to read a room 17:00 – Learner-led = different outcomes for different groups 19:20 – The power of flexibility in adult education 22:00 – Adults-only Forest School? (Cooking, yes. Whittling, maybe.) 24:00 – “Meeting people where they are”—even if they hate mud 26:00 – Grown-ups need play too: explicitly inviting them in 29:00 – Toddler groups as community spaces for adults 30:00 – Conversations that matter more than PowerPoint slides 31:00 – Forest School for adults isn’t just for emergencies 32:00 – What would you do with three free hours on a Saturday? 🔑 Keywords: adult learning · outdoor CPD · Forest School training · play for grown-ups · meeting people where they are · whittling · storytelling · self-consciousness · theory in practice · community spaces 🏷️ Hashtags: #ForestSchoolPodcast #AdultLearning #OutdoorCPD #PlayBasedLearning #GrownUpsNeedPlayToo #LearnerLed #WhittlingJoy #StorytellingWorkshop ➡️ Resources & Support: ▶️ More episodes & show notes: www.theforestschoolpodcast.com ☕ Support the podcast or join our Discord: patreon.com/theforestschoolpodcast ✉️ Drop us a line: [email protected] 👂🏽 Your turn: What would you do with three bonus hours on a Saturday? Tell us via DM, email, or wherever you find us.