I’ve returned from a 6-month sabbatical, with a deeper understanding of the work, that I practice. It is with these deeper reflections and emotions, that I choose to embark on a personal and intimate journey of imparting the Forest School Practices through the realm of relationships with Educators, Parents and Friends.
I will be doing it as an individual, a friend and a human being, than an organisation. I will collaborate with friends and partners when needed. There will be no more “employees” or “organisational management”. It will be a slower and longer engagement process, where relationships will be the priority.
Forest School Singapore that we know from 2016-2024 will remain as a closed chapter, with the MUSEUM Of FSS after the Good Death, as its footprints of legacy.
A new chapter begins. It will be called FOREST SCHOOL DISCOVER. It will be a realm for me to exercise my re-new energy to Forest School Practices and the relationships I have with many friends and community in life journey. It will consist of Trainings, Research and Playing. All elements that I personally feel passionate and curious about. This will be the season of the new chapter.”
Darren Quek (May 2025)
Forest School Discover, Research Practitioner
Forest School Singapore (2016 – 2024) > FS Museum
“Forest School Singapore is now a Mushroom of the Forest School Movement, after The Good Death. This digital museum here tells the story, intentions and insights of how FSS operated & functioned.Hope you may find inspiration for your own journey in life, education and parenthood from these insights.”
Forest School Discover (2025 – ????)
Forest School Discover is a new initiative (started in April 2025), that focuses on the endeavours that I am passionate and curious about, with regards to the practice of Forest School and the field of Education, Social Issues and Environmentalism.
The goal of this new initiative is to raise the awareness and quality of Forest School Practices in Singapore and beyond, by developing more meaningful training and experiential journey. I hope this initiative can inspire others to recognise their energy and embark on their own Forest School journey, while also allowing me to make a simple living.
The name & logo of FS Discover, was actually coined by my first batch of Forest School children in 2019. They drew the logo on their notebook and named it FS Discover, while playing at the Singapore Quarry Lake.
Forest School Practitioner Diploma
The Forest School Practitioner Diploma (FSPD) is the first Diploma about Forest School Practice and Leadership in Singapore, that is made in Singapore. This journey encompasses commitment, reflection, experientialism and a strong intentional focus of developing our own practice.
I (Darren) will guide you through an experiential and reflective training rhythm, that is developed through my own years of experience and exposure in the Forest School ecosystems. The effect of this journey leads us to a process of realisation, awareness and evolution of our mind, speech, communications, actions and connections. These effect will naturally lead to meaningful effect to your own life, practice and work.
Research and Discover
Research & Discover is the platform for me to study the meaningful practices across various field, to understand the motivation, believe and reality of their practices. I personally love to hear the stories from practitioners about their work behind-the-scenes. It makes me feel inspired whenever, I listen to their stories, as there is a life force, when share their journey of practice. I plan to start from the field of Forest School, but will slowly stretch the range of research to Education, Outdoor Learning, Nature-based work, Ageism, Social Issue and Life at Large.
Research & Discover will also enable me to work with and support various academic researches in Singapore and Globally, from the angle of a private action research practitioner, that is not tied too tightly by grants/donations.
Overall, I see the Research & Discover as a space for me to exercise my curiosity, and discover the meaning and magic of the world around me. I hope this space will help to enhance my perspective and capacity, to raise the awareness and impact of my work in the community.
Play Together
Play Together is the incubation space for fun, playfulness and enjoyment. The intention here is to ideate and create meaningful experience via experimenting based on curiosity. The primary value here is playfulness and fun. If its not fun, we don’t do. I believe that fun, will bring a energy of life into the work, that will balance the frustrating effects of failures and paralysis by fear. I hope that friends and fellow community practitioner, will come here to experiment and have fun together. Friendship (and maybe Rivalry 😏) will be forged in this arena.
Library 