Alongside our camps for children aged 5 - 13, we're pleased to announce The Hive is now offering our Little Forest School Camp for children aged 3 - 5. Rooted in the Forest School ethos and led by qualified and experienced Forest School Leaders and Early Years practitioners, these camps are the perfect opportunity for your little ones to experience nature and the outdoors in a gentle, supported and child-led environment.
Your child will join a small group of children with a high ratio of Forest School Leaders with Early Year qualifications. Our Little Forest School Camp runs at the same location as our Missions for ages 5 - 13, but in a separate part of the grounds. We adhere to and follow the EYFS framework and are Ofsted registered.
As with all Hive programmes, our Little Forest School Camp offers plenty of opportunities for outdoor exploration and adventure, alongside a strong focus on imagination, creativity and collaborative play.
What is Forest School
Every day is different - and very much built on the children's interests. We’ve included a few examples of some of our regular activities below, but there is much more. Parents are provided with a daily update at pick-up.
TYPE OF MISSION
Forest School
RECOMMENDED AGE RANGE
3 - 5 (Nursery and Reception) This group is designed for children that are already attending, or about to start Nursery or Reception. At the moment we can only welcome children that are aged 3 and above. If your child is 5 and already attending, or about to start Year 1 we recommend booking our Stories & Adventures missions.
FACILITATION
Our facilitators are experienced Forest School Leaders with Level 3 Early Years qualifications. We operate a ratio of 1:4 in our Forest School camps. All facilitators are DBS and reference checked; all undergo rigorous safeguarding training, including internal and external accredited training. Sites include several fully qualified Paediatric First Aiders, as well as Forest School First Aiders.
MISSION DURATION
Five-day camp with the flexibility to book 1 - 5 days.
DAILY TIMES
Our Forest School camp runs from 10am - 3pm.
FOOD
We ask that all children bring a packed lunch and morning / afternoon snacks with them. In addition, we will also be cooking delicious treats on the fire regularly, together with the children.
CLOTHING
At The Hive, we’re outdoors all day, every day, come rain or shine!
Being dry, cosy, and warm is really important at Forest School. It’s very hard to enjoy the outdoors if you’re cold, wet or uncomfortable in the clothes you’re wearing. Remember, there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing! We'll provide a full list of recommended clothing in your camp welcome email (sent 7 - 10 days before camp starts).
TOILETING
In keeping with the ethos of Forest School, we aim to be outdoors for the whole day. We have outdoor toilet tents on site, as well as nappy changing facilities if your child wears a nappy. Our team will be able to help your child if needed. We provide warm water and soap for hand washing after toileting and before snack-time. We also have access to indoor toilets in case of bad weather.
RESTING / NAP TIME
Napping/quiet time is included in the structure of the day, if your child still naps. We have a bell tent with sleeping bags for cold weather and hammocks for warmer weather.
SETTLING IN
We understand how overwhelming it can be when your child first starts camp. Helping your child settle into the camp is of significant importance, particularly if it is their first time away from you.
Our settling-in approach is tailored to the specific needs of your child. We take cues from you and your child, prioritising a gentle, phased introduction, which allows children to become acquainted with the Forest School environment, our team, and daily routines in a secure manner. Our settling-in process is designed to ensure your child begins to form secure relationships with key members of the team and it also prepares them for the transition to nursery if they haven't yet joined on. It also helps us to understand your child's individual needs from the outset.
In practice, this approach means that you are welcome to stay with your child for the initial sessions. You may choose to remain at camp or nearby, as needed, or your child may feel comfortable starting independently. We never rush your child, and whichever method works best for you is fully supported by us.
PRICES
Prices for this mission start at £66.00 per child for 1 day. The price decreases as more days are booked. We also offer sibling, multi-week and group discounts. Please click here to see our price list.
HIVE T-SHIRT
One free Hive T-Shirt is given to each child on this mission. Replacements will be charged for at a rate of £8.00 per T-shirt.
