In-session trials are defined as having a new child (who is not confirmed to attend in subsequent weeks) come into a regular weekly session to try out and get a sense of whether they enjoy the Forest School experience. This practice is often employed in enrichment or experience-based programs requiring commitment.
We at Forest School Singapore have been frequently asked about the possibility of in-session trials for prospective families and children. However, we often decline these requests for several reasons. These reasons stem from our own personal experience (yes, we allowed for in-session trials during our first year).
The primary reason pertains to both our current and prospective children. For our existing children, the introduction of new individuals is generally a positive development, as it invigorates the group dynamics and fosters a broader range of engagement. However, when there’s uncertainty regarding the commitment level of these new participants, it can alter their perspective on these relationships. Drawing a parallel to adult interactions, if we encounter individuals who might not fully commit, are we inclined to invest the same amount of effort? Or do we become more reserved? During our first year, when we conducted in-session trials, we experienced a situation where existing children themselves expressed their hesitance toward trials due to the unpredictable uncertainty they introduced. Our children’s emotions and sentiments are things we hold dear in FSS, and we want to respect that.
For the prospective child, this can also be a challenging experience due to the uncertainty of the journey’s continunity. The group dynamics and reserved behaviours of others might also result in a less meaningful experience, particularly for children who are sensitive to connections and relationships.
Thesecond reason is for our community. We acknowledge that the addition of any new member to the weekly session would require parents, coaches, and children to create a welcoming atmosphere for the newcomer, given that the introduction of new energy can sometimes create instability.
However, from our experience, when there is further uncertainty about commitment, the energy drain on the community becomes more evident, as it is not easy to hold space. We want to respect and take care of the mental and emotional wellness of our community by ensuring that the act of holding space doesn’t excessively drain them.
Lastly, it is the aspect of business administration. It’s difficult to assign a precise price or value to the trial work done during the sessions (as evident from the community space holding mentioned above). It’s also not possible for it to be offered for free due to the significant amount of time and effort required behind the scenes, in addition to the energy invested by the ground community.
Honestly, we could have chosen to offer in-session trials in an attempt to maintain maximum enrolment, essentially chasing numbers to conglomerate the market. But we cherish our community and the invaluable relationships to exist within and beyond. Hence we are much more particular about just doing it in the conventional business and enrichment fashion.
We want to do it right.
In brief, joining the weekly Forest School session represents a commitment to the journey for both our children and our family. The benefits are evident, but so is the effort and dedication required (link to input-output)
In our effort to do it right, we also aim to ensure inclusivity for newcomers who require the trial session for reassurance. These approaches enables us to hold space healthily for new families while also caring for the integrity of the existing sessions.
Here are several channels through which new families can “try-out”, instead of an in-session trial:
1. Holiday Camps
3 half-day sessions during the school holiday season, offering children a glimpse of the forest “campus” environment and a taste of the freedom and wild practices of FS sessions.
2. Open House
An introductory and chat session with the coaches/managers of FSS held in one of the “Campus Classroom”, providing parents with the opportunity to gain more detailed information, meet us in person, and connect with our energy.
3. Special FS Workshop / Camp
Designed for parents and children to gain insight into the Forest School approach through a variety of introductory workshops or one-day camps.
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We hope this insight provides everyone a better understanding of our intentional approach to our practices and policy. It has been shaped through multiple experiences and has evolved over the course of the past 7 years. We do our best to address a wide range of aspects in this manner. The journey has been pretty rewarding spiritually, emotionally and as a community. We thank you for understanding and growing with us in this journey.
FYI: The above might not always be applicable to existing families with siblings already in FS weekly session. This is because our existing parents and children are familiar with the energy, rhythm, and space of FSS. The consideration for such cases is done on a case-by-case basis for existing weekly FS families.
☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️
Written by: Uncle Darren
Edited by: Zoe
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