School Forest

For students, school forests can:

• make lessons more relevant by using meaningful, real-world situations
• reach students through hands-on learning
  increase knowledge gain and student achievement
• provide mentoring opportunities for older students
• encourage physical activity and improve student health
• allow students with disabilities to have frequent, safe
• contact with the natural world
• develop young people's innate interest in the natural world
• foster a sense of ownership and community connection
• increase creativity, self-esteem, and motivation

For schools and teachers, school forests can:

• allow teachers to try new teaching methods in an outdoor setting
• allow teachers to interact with students on a different level
• "green" your school by using sustainable and efficient ways of maintaining school property
• meet academic standards
• increase teacher motivation and enthusiasm
• decrease vandalism and increase school pride

For parents, families, and communities, school forests can:

• strengthen parent-teacher relationships while working toward a common goal
• provide increased recreation and exploration opportunities
• create a more environmentally literate population who will make sound, long-term community decisions
• create a sense of ownership among parents, families, students, and community members
• engender cooperation between stakeholders
• involve community members as guest presenters and volunteers, and allow them to serve as positive adult role models
• increase community safety. Studies show that crime decreases as a community spends more time outside in a positive environment