The Forest School Singapore (FSS) coach journey requires hours of training, orientation, apprenticeship, honing our beliefs and skill at the craft. It is not for the faint hearted. There is a huge commitment to the community and nature that we are part of. A forest school coach plays a crucial role in holding the space for our young ones, parents, other coaches and the larger community of the space.
Instead of recruiting FSS coaches via public training (2020 – 2022). We have decided that we will internalise the recruitment from 2023. It will be done via a process of Assessment, Training, Orientation, Attachment & Studying. It will be much more comprehensive and deeper than what we do at our public educator and parent workshops, because we want to raise the capacity of our new incoming coaches, so that when they are deployed with the more experienced FSS coaches, it is more in sync. Because FSS Coaches are, as shown above, a journey that requires commitment and depth.
We also learnt through the previous years of University Internships and Industrial Attachment, that it is more important to train a small group of individuals who have a deep resonance with Forest School and the Nature’s way than to stretch ourselves wide to cover a wider population with less depth. The overall experience for trainers, trainees and the community will be more enriching and enjoyable. The resulting experience for the receivers, will also give us a “walking-sales-representative” of the Forest School movement and Nature, which is a win-win-win for all.
With all the above context, the Forest School Singapore Coach Recruitment Course (FCRC) was born. It is our way of better structuring and strengthening our recruitment process, to ensure that the fellowship who become our Core Coaches are those who understand the FSS ways and are committed to the challenges and community of FSS.
Linda’s Testimony
The end of my FCRC marked the beginning of my enlightenment with forest school (FSS) pedagogy. I have not come across a business model where the owner shared it “secret sauces” openly and generously with the public and competitors. FSS’s courage to do business transparently, with no veil to lift, is indeed admirable.
On safety in the forest, I was initially apprehensive. This concerned was alleviated, with FSS well documented and comprehensive operational manual. This has an evacuation plan, risk safety assessment, which were impressive. Coupled with these, FSS philosophy of empowering children to evaluate their own risk, using their natural intuition and intelligence of their feelings, was a powerful approach. I witnessed a child suddenly crying, desperately wanting to turn back the same way, made me feel that he was sensing something, which I can’t feel. Perhaps he sensed danger ahead. I would get the child to follow the group. However, the Coaches were so gentle with him and followed his instinct. Lesson learned for me.
I struggled with “Hand Behind, Lip Sealed” practice in first session. So afraid to let go. In second session, I witnessed the wisdom of this practice. Giving space to D. (4 years old), untangling his raincoat which was all over upside down. He did at his own gentle way. Not swept by all his friends ahead of him. If I intervened, so we could catch up with the group, I would deprive him of a chance to be independence and growth. Such a sweet moment to watch his smile of accomplishment.
In these two sessions, I have learned valuable lessons from Coaches on how they gave children space and let them decide. I was amazed how young children negotiated, compromised and agreed on decision unanimously. They listened to their bodies, in tune with nature, wondering and wander at their own pace, gently and at awe with nature.
I am truly grateful to Darren for sharing his wisdom, his forest stories, trusting forest has our back covered. To Ben, Leo, Dean and Kaira for your authenticity and magical way of interacting with children. Thank you for the inspiring and enriching experience.
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