Forest School and Autism

A practical guide to adapting Forest School techniques and outdoor learning for students with autism

A practical guide to delivering Forest School methods to people with autism - both children and adults - with advice on how to adapt activities to make them more inclusive. Includes tips on how to set up a Forest School, safety issues and how to gather resources.

Forest School's innovative outdoor approach offers specific benefits to learners with autism, including increased social skills, raised self-esteem and improved sensory function. This guide raises autism awareness amongst practitioners by providing practical and easy-to-follow advice for adapting Forest School activities for those with autism.

For those coming from a mainstream Forest School background, the author offers an introduction to autism and shows what Forest School can offer people with autism - both children and adults - with first-person accounts that highlight its success with this group. The guide gives advice on the social and sensory benefits, offers practical advice on safety and on how to set up a Forest School and finally presents specific activities to be incorporated into practitioners' routines.