How contact with the natural environment transforms learning, development and the way we support children

In an increasingly structured, digitized and accelerated educational context, nature appears as a necessary space —and sometimes forgotten— for the integral development of childhood.

But what happens when nature is not just a specific resource, but the central focus of learning?

In this week’s Aplicaset segment, Vicky Mateu introduces us to the pedagogy of the forest school , an educational proposal that invites us to look, listen and accompany from another place: slower, more present and deeply connected with life.

Returning to nature to advance education

Forest schools are not a recent trend, but an educational model with an international track record that places the natural environment as the main learning space.

But beyond the physical place, what this pedagogy proposes is a change of perspective:

👉 Learning is not just about acquiring content
👉 It’s about living experiences
👉 It’s about interacting with the environment
👉 It is to develop organically

Nature is not used as a backdrop. It is an educational agent in itself .

What is a forest school?

A forest school is an educational model in which boys and girls spend a significant part of their time in natural environments, where learning arises from exploration, direct experience and continuous contact with the environment.

It’s not about “occasional outings”, but about a constant presence in nature.

This approach is based on some key principles:

• respect for individual rhythms
• experiential learning
• autonomy
• free play
• the link with the environment
• the conscious accompaniment of the adult

Nature as a space for living learning

In the forest school, learning is not rigidly programmed. It emerges from what happens in the environment.

A fallen branch, an insect, mud, rain or wind become educational opportunities.

This allows for the development of:

• curiosity
• critical thinking
• observation skills
• creativity
• resilience
• adaptation to change

Nature teaches without the need for constant instructions.

The role of the adult: to support, not to direct

One of the key aspects of this pedagogy is the role of the adult.

Here, the adult does not constantly direct the activity, but rather:

• observe
• accompanies
• take care
• guarantees safety
• emotional support

This requires specific preparation, not so much in content, but in attitude and presence .

Because accompanying others in nature means trusting more, intervening less, and knowing how to read what is happening.

Safety and trust: two inseparable pillars

One of the biggest fears when working in natural environments is safety.

However, forest schools do not operate through improvisation, but rather through:

• clear security criteria
• knowledge of the environment
• adult preparation
• progressive development of autonomy

Safety is not about eliminating all risks, but about learning how to manage them .

And that, in itself, is a fundamental life lesson.

Benefits of continued contact with nature

Evidence and practice agree: regular contact with nature has a direct impact on child development.

Among its benefits are:

• improvement of emotional well-being
• stress reduction
• motor development
• greater attention span
• strengthening the immune system
• development of autonomy

But there is something else that is more difficult to measure:
👉 the link with the environment
👉 the sense of belonging
👉 Respect for life

It’s not a closed model, it’s an inspiration.

The forest school is not intended to be a recipe that should be applied identically in all contexts.

It is, above all, an invitation to:

• go out more
• See more
• intervene less
• have more faith in the process
• integrate nature into everyday life

You don’t need a forest to start. Sometimes all it takes is a change of perspective .

A real-world practice, in a real-world setting

This proposal has been applied in the Montseny area (Vallès Oriental, Barcelona) , demonstrating that it is possible to integrate this pedagogy in real and close contexts.

At Aplicaset, this is key: sharing lived practices, not just theoretical ones.

🌱 An invitation to go out… and come in

As Vicky Mateu reminds us:

“Children need nature,
and nature needs childhood.”

The forest school not only invites us to go outside —to the forest, the countryside, the park— but also to go inwards: to listening, to being present, to a more conscious way of accompanying.

🎥 Discover the full video: What is a forest school?

In this short video, Vicky Mateu introduces you to the fundamentals of forest school and offers a practical, approachable and applicable way to start integrating nature into your daily educational life.

👉 Access the full pill now on Aplicaset

And start exploring how to bring a little more nature into your classroom, your project, or your mentoring.

Aplicaset: training that connects with reality

Aplicaset is a platform with more than 50 voices from the educational field , where you will find practical, brief resources designed to be applied from day one.

Because education isn’t always about doing more. Sometimes it’s about returning to the essentials .