Ep 96 - Woodworking at Forest School

In this episode of The Forest School Podcast, Lewis and Gemma sit in the sunshine with hayfever and hand tools to dive deep into the world of woodwork in Forest School. From GCSE trauma and personal stick spirituality to big projects, scrap boxes, and cultural baggage, this episode explores what woodwork can offer children and facilitators alike.Together, they reflect on how woodworking compares to clay, the problem with “craptivities,” and how working with wood reveals children's evolving sense of time, purpose, and pride. They discuss practicalities like storage, sustainability, and tools – plus the powerful emotions children attach to seemingly simple sticks.Whether you’re thinking about introducing woodwork or refining your current setup, this conversation is packed with ideas, metaphors, and moments of laughter (including the unforgettable hayfever-sniff intro and a child secretly reigniting a fire at home time). This is a rich and reflective journey through wood, work, and what really matters in outdoor learning.🌿 Sponsored by:👉 TENTSILE – Get 10% off your next tree tent with code ForestChildren10 at tentsile.com👉 Chris Holland’s 54-page plant ID guide – Save with code ForestSchoolPodcast via our affiliate link⏱ Chapter Timings:00:00 – Book announcement: Myths of Outdoor Play and Learning02:53 – GCSE trauma, resistant materials, and the injustice of boxes vs. bass guitars06:18 – Childhood memories: Jenkins, japes, and misunderstood mitres09:34 – Woodwork as a post-lockdown collective focus13:06 – Projects vs. play: what woodwork actually needs16:44 – Why craptivities persist and the discomfort of non-productive play19:58 – Rethinking tools and expectations for inclusive, joyful woodwork29:23 – Sustainability, storage, and the reality of scrap mountains41:14 – Learning timelines, long-term projects, and letting go of control53:34 – Spiritual sticks, pebble love, and the mystery of attachment🌲 Keywords: Forest School woodwork, experiential learning, resistant materials, child-led projects, craptivities, stick attachment, tool use in nature, outdoor learning tools, sustainability in play, spiritual connection to nature, green woodworking, peer reflection🔖 Hashtags:#ForestSchool #OutdoorLearning #WoodworkForKids #ExperientialLearning #ChildLedLearning #ForestSchoolPodcast #NatureBasedEducation #PlayInvitations #Craptivities #Tinkering #SustainablePlay #ReflectivePractice #StickSpirituality #LearningThroughDoing🌐 More Episodes & Support:Listen to more and access resources at ⁠www.theforestschoolpodcast.comSupport the show and join our community at ⁠www.patreon.com/theforestschoolpodcastFor questions, feedback, or collaboration: ⁠[email protected]