Forest school education in Israel: implementation of principles and challenges in an innovative educational model

Forest School Education (FSE) in Israel is an emerging approach within the outdoor education arena, while research about it is in its early stage. The study examined the principles of FSE in Israel, the educational perspective of forest educators, and the challenges they face. In a qualitative study, data were collected using an inductive research method, which included observations and interviews with educators who underwent professional training in FSE and taught in kindergartens or schools where at least one regular ‘forest day’ was held weekly. The findings indicate that FSE principles are adapted to each of the study’s ten educational settings. Regular presence in the forest was found as the most significant factor that shapes pedagogical practices, serves as a source of inspiration, creates partnership between group members, and develops a deeper understanding of natural processes. FSE was found to be closely tied to the local community, either through the establishment of some frameworks by the community or as an attraction for community building. In Israel, unlike other countries, educational frameworks displayed unique community characteristics, as in religious or in the kibbutz educational groups, which was expressed in integrating ‘local rituals’ in FSE, unique phenomenon rarely described in previous literature.