Dan and Naomi Walmsley run Outback2Basics from their patch of woodland in Shropshire in the UK. Specialising in bushcraft and Stone Age skills, they provide unique experiences for school children and teachers to connect to nature. Dan has been a bushcraft teacher for many years and has also acted as a medic and survival consultant on various TV shows. Naomi is a qualified bushcraft instructor and Forest School Leader and believes that every child should be able to safely light a fire and have at least ten uses for a stick by the age of ten. Together, they undertook a five-month Stone Age immersion experience in the US, living in the wilderness without any modern equipment, profoundly influencing their lives and teaching. They have written Forest School Adventure and Urban Forest School for GMC Publications and Naomi is the author of Live Like a Hunter Gatherer for Button Books. Find out more at www.outback2basics.co.uk
I absolutely love Naomi and Dan's Forest School book series and this new one is no exception. A brilliant resource for anyone who loves outdoor activity or wants to have a go. Their expertise is evident and guides you step by step through the activities with great safety advice included. * @mrsbrownsbookbox * This is an amazing book that is a real outdoor adventure for children. The illustrations are wonderfully detailed, bringing each activity to life inviting readers into the natural world. This book is a fantastic resource for schools, with endless possibilities for engaging students in hands-on learning and environmental education. Each activity is thoughtfully designed to spark curiosity and imagination and foster a love for nature. Whether building dens or identifying plants, this book makes outdoor learning both fun and educational. A must-have for promoting outdoor play and exploration. * @inclusive_childrens_books * I’ve been super excited to see this new book by Naomi and Dan Walmsley (experts in their field!) A huge bumper book of activity ideas for Forest School enthusiasts (and children and young people of course…) Inspire children and adults alike to get outdoors and connect with the natural world around us through games, bushcraft, messy arts and crafts, foraging and even knot tying! Fancy making a fairy home? Go on then! Let’s spend less time staring at screens and scrolling, and more time supporting healthy mental well-being. * @homeplayexplore * We really enjoyed this book, there are so many fun and different projects that will keep kids busy outdoors and make your forest school time even more meaningful and valuable. Everything is clearly set out and easy to follow. Through the pages of this book, parents, educators and nature enthusiasts will find a myriad of ideas to inspire little ones (and big ones) to embrace the beauty of the wilderness, cultivate a spirit of adventure and develop important skills while basking in the splendour of the great outdoors… or when the weather absolutely insists you stay indoors, it will help you bring nature inside! * In the Playroom blog * You can find 99 more wholesome family fun forest school ideas in the book 100 Forest School Activities by Naomi & Dan Walmsley. We really enjoyed browsing through this book and picking up all kinds of inspiration for ideas to try with our kids. As you all know, time outdoors in nature is so important, and is an amazing way to help children ground themselves. This book helps you out on those days when you just need a new idea to liven things up, or switch things up a bit. There are some great forest school ideas in this book for kiddos of all ages, so do check it out. * Crunchy Family blog * Out in time for the school summer holidays this will encourage families to get out into the great outdoors. Created by a couple who run a bushcraft and stone age skills experience in leafy Shropshire and who have actually lived off grid for a five month period as a stone age couple in the States, this has plenty of activities and games with the key word being controlled. This is for all conditions and let’s face it there will be rainy days ahead so there are a dozen and a half activities included for such eventualities. Aimed at parents and helpers this is full of activities that can be done with children whether on a camping trip or just a day trip. It is aimed to assist with the development of a range of skills and will be useful for years to come. * Happy Families blog * If you have kids who love spending time outdoors, this book is jam packed with a range of incredible activities to explore the great outdoors! * @father_teacher_reader * Getting kids outside can help hugely with wellbeing but it can be hard to know where to start with forest based activities. 100 Forest School Activities helps with inspiration and step by step guidance on everything from toasting marshmallows to building a bug house. My children’s school has a Forest School and they spend a full day each half term there. I was catching up with the dedicated teacher recently and she told me how children have said it is their favourite part of the school, and how happy they feel there. Magic! This book is brilliant to support such learning, or to create your own plans for it. * @kidsbookstolife *