Spooks, S’mores and Forest School Fires
Throughout November, with the help of our wonderful Forest School leads, our nurseries have hosted our much-loved Spooks and S’mores events again this year. Lighting fires with small, and sometimes unpredictable, children close by needs careful planning. Here we talk you through the process and policies that are part of the rigorous training that our Forest School Leads undergo.
Throughout November, with the help of our wonderful Forest School leads, our nurseries have hosted our much-loved Spooks and S’mores events again this year. There’s something magical about gathering around a fire. It brings people together, encourages conversation and gives us all a chance to slow down and enjoy the simple pleasures of being outdoors. And, of course, there is the small matter of the s’mores!
Traditionally, a s’more is made using a toasted marshmallow and a piece of chocolate sandwiched between two biscuits. The recipe first appeared in a 1920s American cookbook, and the name s’more is thought to be a contraction of the phrase “some more”, which does ring true if you’ve ever tasted one!
We love our little tradition of sharing firelight and s'mores while our families spend time together in the autumn chill.
The Magic of a Forest School Fire
Fire is a wonderful feature of Forest School. It offers children opportunities to explore, learn and develop an understanding of the natural world, all while being supported by experienced adults. A fire can become the heart of a session: a place to gather, share stories, prepare food and enjoy the changing seasons. It also provides valuable opportunities for children to learn about fire safety, respect their surroundings and understand the importance of caring for one another. Of course, creating these experiences safely is always our priority.
Choosing the Right Place
Every Snapdragons nursery has its own unique outdoor environment, so the location of a fire will vary from site to site. Whether we are gathered beneath a shelter in the woodland to keep dry from the rain or enjoying an open outdoor space, the session leader will always assess whether conditions are suitable before lighting a fire. Our Forest School policy requires the session leader to choose the location, complete a risk-benefit assessment and obtain any necessary permissions before a planned fire session takes place. The area is carefully prepared, with dead leaf litter brushed away or gathered nearby to be added to the fire once it is lit. Fires are contained using a fire bowl or a suitable boundary of logs, large stones (never flint) or bricks, helping to prevent burning material from escaping the designated area.
Building a Fire
There’s a little more to building a fire than simply throwing on a few sticks and hoping for the best! A successful fire needs three essential ingredients:
Fuel – something to burn.
Oxygen – to keep the fire breathing.
Heat – to get it started and keep it going.
Remove any one of these and the fire will eventually go out.
At Forest School, our experienced leaders carefully build fires using suitable natural materials and appropriate fuel. The fire is gradually developed, beginning with smaller, dry materials before adding progressively larger pieces of wood as the flames grow. Having the fuel prepared in advance is important, as a fire can consume wood surprisingly quickly! For outdoor fires, dry, seasoned wood is preferable as it generally produces less smoke. Hardwood is particularly useful when we want a longer-lasting fire, while smaller pieces of suitable wood help establish the flames.
If you're interested in learning more about different types of firewood, this guide offers some useful information about their burning characteristics. For more adventurous outdoor enthusiasts, this guide to different campfire layouts explores how different arrangements can influence the way a fire burns.
At Snapdragons, however, all fire preparation and lighting is undertaken in accordance with our Forest School procedures and under the supervision of our trained session leaders.
Keeping Everyone Safe Around the Fire
One of the most important parts of a Forest School fire session is helping children understand how to enjoy the experience safely. Our policy sets out clear expectations to ensure that everyone can enjoy the fire while minimising risks.
A Safe Space for Everyone
The session leader is responsible for the fire and for the people around it. Children and adults are positioned at a safe distance, depending on the size of the fire and how it is contained. The leader clearly marks the fire area and ensures that everyone understands where they can safely sit, stand and participate. Wind direction is also carefully considered. Where possible, children are positioned to minimise the impact of smoke. If the wind changes, our leaders demonstrate simple ways to avoid the smoke, such as turning away, closing their eyes or carefully moving to another space. Water is always available whenever a fire is being lit, providing an essential safety measure throughout the session.
Learning to Respect the Flames
Forest School is all about learning through experience, and fire provides a valuable opportunity for children to develop an understanding of boundaries, responsibility and safe behaviour. Children are taught how to add suitable sticks to a fire safely, approaching from the side with their hands kept low and never reaching over the flames. Our session leaders decide when and how children may enter the designated fire area to participate, taking into account their age, confidence and the conditions of the session. We also have clear rules about what can be burned. Only suitable natural materials are used; plastics, flammable liquids and other inappropriate materials are never permitted. These simple but important lessons help children develop respect for fire and an understanding of why safety procedures matter.
Cooking Over the Fire
If we're planning to cook over a fire, the preparation is a little different from when we're simply enjoying the warmth and watching the flames. For cooking, we allow the fire to settle and develop a suitable bed of embers and glowing charcoal. This provides a more consistent source of heat than large, lively flames. For our Spooks and S’mores events, the focus is firmly on enjoying the experience together; carefully supervised marshmallow toasting, plenty of conversation and, of course, the occasional sticky finger!
Making Memories That Last
Our Spooks and S’mores events are a wonderful reminder of what Forest School is all about. It's not always about grand adventures or elaborate activities. Sometimes, it's about standing outside on a chilly evening, sharing a treat, watching the flames dance and enjoying a little time together. For our children, these experiences help build confidence, curiosity and an appreciation for the natural world. For our families, they create opportunities to connect with one another and share a little of the magic their children experience at Forest School. A warm fire, a perfectly toasted marshmallow and a little time spent together outdoors, now that’s something worth having s’more of!