Forest Friends
Forest Friends through Bright Beginnings Center of The Hopedale Public Schools is an outdoor preschool for children 3-5 years old. As the world continues to change around us, it is important for children to remain connected to nature and to preserve and protect the sanctity of childhood. The program's emphasis on child-led discovery allows our students to be imaginative as well as expand their learning choices. By being based outdoors, our local ecosystem becomes the living learning resource to organically align student led discovery with intentional teaching. The holistic development prioritizes the emotional, physical and social-well being our students need to be successful as they transition to kindergarten. The forest school setting is a natural learning environment for creativity, critical thinking, problem solving and teamwork. Students approach problems at different stages of their mental, emotional and physical journey and are able to gain a sense of pride and accomplishment as they push their capabilities in healthy risk taking. This will translate later in their academic careers as they tackle new lessons in ELA, Math or Science with confidence to explore, experiment, and research.
Extensive research on forest schools has shown numerous benefits to children including:
Health and Wellness: Forest schools help to boost children’s immune systems by providing regular opportunities to spend time outdoors in natural environments. Exposure to fresh air, sunlight, and a diverse range of natural microorganisms found in soil, plants, and woodland settings support the development of a healthy and resilient immune system. Outdoor play also encourages physical activity, which contributes to overall health and helps strengthen the body’s natural defenses. In addition, children who spend more time outside may experience lower stress levels, better sleep, and increased vitamin D production from sunlight exposure, all of which play important roles in maintaining a strong immune response.
Improved Attention Span: Spending time in nature can help restore cognitive functioning, reduce mental fatigue, and improve focus, making it easier for children to engage with tasks and sustain their attention. The sensory-rich yet calming woodland setting offers fewer artificial distractions than many indoor environments, allowing children to develop self-regulation skills and remain engaged for longer periods. Studies have also indicated that regular exposure to green spaces may help reduce symptoms associated with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), including inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity.
Benefits to Vision Development: A growing body of research has shown that regular exposure to natural daylight is associated with a lower risk of developing myopia (nearsightedness), particularly during childhood when the eyes are still developing. Forest school programs encourage children to engage in outdoor exploration, observe distant objects, and participate in active play, reducing prolonged periods of near-focused activities such as reading and screen use.
Building Self Regulation: Forest schools can play a significant role in developing children’s self-regulation skills by providing opportunities for independent decision-making, problem-solving, and managed risk-taking in a supportive outdoor environment. Through child-led activities and unstructured exploration, children learn to assess situations, control impulses, manage emotions, and adapt their behavior to different challenges. Collaborative tasks, such as building shelters or working together on outdoor projects, also encourage patience, communication, and cooperation. Over time, these experiences help children become more self-aware, responsible, and capable of regulating their thoughts, emotions, and actions in a range of situations.
Hopedale is very proud to be one of the first public school districts in Massachusetts to introduce this model to our preschool program. The model's great success in private programs coupled with the beautiful natural resources we are so very fortunate to have here in Hopedale has led to a very successful program. For more information about Forest Friends, please view the BBC Forest Friends Guide.
To ask questions or for more information, please email BBC Principal Kristen Poisson at kpoisson@hopedaleschools.org.