bright woods forest school cic
Our staff members have a vast amount of experience in delivery of Forest Schools
programmes, outdoor education and creative activities. They are qualified in
Outdoor First Aid, are DBS checked, hold Food Safety certificates and are
members of the Forest School Association: Honia Devlin Gemma McColl Louise
Shepherd Honia Devlin Honia established Bright Woods Forest School in 2016, keen
to inspire children and help them develop an understanding of the natural world.
Honia has over 12 years’ experience in delivery of outdoor education and
wildlife conservation projects as well as running events and wild themed
birthday parties to children of all ages. She has previously worked for London
Wildlife Trust and more locally for the Heart of Teesdale Landscape Partnership.
She has an MSc in Biology with specialism in Environmental Biology and is a
qualified Forest Schools Level 3 Practitioner. Gemma McColl Gemma, who joined
the team shortly after, spent more than 14 years working in community arts and
ran a successful Educational Arts business, working with children throughout
KS1-3, before becoming a qualified primary school teacher. As a freelance
artist, Gemma worked with schools and community groups delivering various
workshops, which were inspired by the Reggio Emilia enquiry-based approach of
early childhood education. The ethos of the Reggio approach and Forest Schools
sit comfortably together as they are about empowering children and helping them
to be resilient problem-solvers in the future. Gemma is a qualified Forest
Schools Level 3 Practitioner. Louise Shepherd Louise started with us as a
volunteer in 2018 before becoming an integral part of the team. She is a keen
nature enthusiast with a particular interest in wild flowers, trees and lichen
and has a wealth of knowledge. Prior to joining Bright Woods, Louise was a
family support officer in a primary school and while there, she completed her
Level 3 Forest School qualification and enjoyed organising and facilitating
sessions such as pond dipping, bug hunts and fire lighting. Louise is also a
qualified secondary school teacher and spent many years leading scout sessions,
supporting children from 6 to 18 years old with bushcraft and camping
activities. Volunteers We also have a number of volunteers who contribute to the
varied aspects of running of our Forest School including wildlife conservation
and practical work as well as assisting sessions and events. Please get in touch
if you are interested in our volunteering opportunities. Our Ethos Bright Woods
Forest School CIC believes in children’s rights to play, access the natural
world, experience appropriate risk and a healthy range of emotions. We believe
that children who are given the freedom to play in the outdoors and get dirty
and wet are simply happy children. Such children are more fulfilled, less prone
to depression and more connected to the world around them. In 2017, as away of
helping us to fulfil our values and ethos and provide sessions to as wide an
audience as possible, Bright Woods Forest School became a not for profit
Community Interest Company.
