FAQs

Join the Our Outdoors nature play hub

What is Our Outdoors and who is it for?

Our dedicated platform—Our Outdoors—is designed as a community gathering space for anyone seeking to make unstructured outdoor play a part of their routine. Whether you have kids of your own, care for kids regularly, or work with kids in a daycare, school, or other setting, you’re welcome to join!

Our reason for being is to create a world where all kids grow up playing outdoors. We believe every culture has a unique connection to nature, and we strive to create an inclusive, multicultural community where caregivers get the support they need to step into nature.

What are the benefits of joining Our Outdoors?

As a member, you will be able to connect with other parents and caregivers near and far to learn about unstructured play and parenting in nature. You’ll have the opportunity to meet local members informally to play, or schedule group gatherings on the Community Events Calendar. You’ll have access to new educational opportunities and downloadable resources such as goal trackers and shareable infographics. You’ll also gain access to member discounts from our partners.

How do I join Our Outdoors?

There are just three easy steps to join:

1. Become a member.

2. Log in to Our Outdoors and complete a short orientation.

3. Join your local group, explore our resources, and get out to play with others in your area!

The Our Outdoors Nature Play Hub

Why did Free Forest School move to its own platform?

The new platform offers a number of benefits including more reliable communication, event RSVP and waitlist capabilities, training and resource-sharing, engagement analytics, and more. Importantly, it will allow us to institute an initial orientation for all volunteers and members to help ensure that the FFS community as a whole functions in a way that upholds our values of inclusion, equity, and the celebration of diversity. It also will ensure that every participant has signed the event release and Community Agreements, which protect volunteers and set clear expectations on how we treat one another.

Are there still Facebook groups?

Our Outdoors has Local Groups and Interest Groups for community discussion and engagement. We’re encouraging folks who were in our previous Facebook groups to join us over in Our Outdoors. Chapter Facebook groups are now being archived or disaffiliated.

How was the Our Outdoors platform developed?

Our Outdoors utilizes the Crew Platform, which is a fantastic tool used to amplify social movements and education programs. Designed to enable movement leaders to equip, train and connect their communities, the Crew Platform offers many of the same experiences our community loved on Facebook (social sharing, event scheduling, photos) along with powerful new features that let us expand our offerings.

Our move to the Crew Platform has been in the works for a number of years. Initially, we used this space for training volunteers only. When the pandemic forced the suspension of in-person programming, we took the opportunity to rethink the organization’s tactics. Through a deep community visioning process in Fall 2020, we learned that connecting with others to share collective wisdom—both online and in person—was a hugely valuable experience. The Crew Platform supports our members in connecting with others nearby, as well as with caregivers around the U.S. and beyond, to seek support, share experiences, and build relationships. We envision this as a community hub where caregivers help one another get outside to play, no matter where you live.

The Community Events Calendar helps you share unstructured play offerings in your community, while the Local Groups help you find others living nearby. Explorations compile wisdom from the community for learning and reflection, while Resources give you tools and tips for getting outdoors now.

Sliding Scale Membership

How much does it cost to join?

First and foremost: Everyone is welcome!

Membership donations are the backbone of our funding, supporting the technology and staff who make Our Outdoors possible. Membership is available on a sliding scale basis. In the spirit of community reciprocity, we invite you to contribute at a level that matches your capacity.

As guidance, we offer suggested annual rates that correspond to income levels. You may also choose to contribute toward a membership for another family. Free Forest School is a community based in generosity and care, where everyone is welcome regardless of their ability to contribute financially.

Do I have to share my income information for the sliding scale donation?

No, you do not. We do not verify or ask questions about your payment amount. We simply ask that you to donate an amount that is feasible for you.

What do membership donations support? 

Membership donations enable FFS to hire and retain staff to create platform content, provide technical support, engage the online community, and develop initiatives that answer some of the biggest barriers families face. Down the road, this may include creating gear lending libraries, translating our resources into other languages, offering mini grants to support localized solutions, and building stronger relationships across communities through partnerships.

How do I join my local outdoor play group?

Visit the Find Your Local Group page to see if a group has been created for your county. Once you are a member of Our Outdoors, you can also search the Group page for Local Groups (listed by county). If there isn’t one for your county yet, you can sign up to start one.

What happens in local nature play groups?

Through the Local Groups feature, you’ll be able to connect with others based on your location. Groups are places where folks can come together to ask questions, share ideas and advice, and plan community play events in your area.

Who moderates the local outdoor learning groups?

Each local Group is moderated online by a volunteer Group Host Team who live in the area. They help facilitate discussion and connection online, with assistance from the Our Outdoors Community Guides, as needed. Learn more about joining your Local Group Host Team.

Who hosts the nature play gatherings in the local groups?

Hosting community play events is really a team effort, shared by the members of each of the Local Groups. It’s a low-key and fun way to volunteer, and any member can post or RSVP for an event after completing the initial Our Outdoors orientation. You’ll also have access to additional resources that offer tips on choosing engaging and accessible outdoor play spots and creating a welcoming environment. Event hosts are not guides or experts; they are members of the community who initiate a gathering. Typically, we find it’s great to create teams of event hosts, allowing numerous caregivers to rotate the responsibility. Jump to more info on community play events.

What if my county doesn’t have a local nature play group yet?

If your county doesn’t have a local group yet, you can sign up to start one. You can also join Interest Groups to connect with people across the country for ideas and support on certain topics until your Local Group gets going

When I’m traveling, can I join local outdoor play groups in other areas?

Absolutely! Visiting Free Forest School groups away from home is a great way to find community on the road.

I live outside the US - Is Our Outdoors available to my community?

Yes and no. Many (but not all) functions of Our Outdoors are available outside the U.S.:

Available: Interest Groups, Explorations, Local Groups

Not Available: Community Events Calendar

What kinds of nature play events can I post?

Your imagination is the limit. All events posted on Our Outdoors must meet four basic criteria:

• Free and open to the public

• Child-friendly

• Outdoors

• Feature unstructured outdoor play

On the Our Outdoors Events Calendar, you can post events you plan yourself, or events happening in your community (get permission to post them first!).

Who can post an outdoor play event?

Anyone in the Our Outdoors community who completes the Our Outdoors orientation can post an Event. You can post an event you heard about happening in your area, or you can plan an event yourself.

How are events different than they were before the COVID shutdown?

The biggest difference is that events are much more flexible and varied now. Some events may be quite similar to previous FFS events; others may be new and different. Local, state and federal COVID safety guidelines may also dictate that Events shift a bit—such as the elimination of “shared snack”.

Who leads the outdoor play events? Are there still facilitators?

There are no longer people specifically trained to be Facilitators, and any community member who completes the Our Outdoors orientation (not a training) can post an event to the calendar. We want to stress that events on the calendar do not necessarily have a trained leader of any kind; each caregiver is responsible for the supervision and safety of their own child or the children in their own care. Participants are encouraged to support one another by sharing their knowledge and asking for and offering help when needed.

Why did you change the FFS nature play event model?

We shifted our approach in order to make events more flexible and accessible, as well as to promote the great work other organizations are doing to help families access nature. We’re excited for Our Outdoors to serve as a hub for local outdoor play offerings!

Are there COVID guidelines for Events?

Free Forest School does not make or enforce public health guidance, and each adult is responsible for the safety of the children they bring to an event listed on Our Outdoors. We encourage everyone to follow local, state and federal guidance and regulations related to COVID-19 safety, to be respectful of the COVID safety approach specified in each event description, and to take the precautions that make sense for your family. Event hosts should specify any planned COVID measures (such as “Masks Required”, “Masks Optional” or “6 Foot Distancing Required”) that will apply to their event.

Does Free Forest School require event hosts to have first aid training or carry first aid kits?

No. Each adult is responsible for the safety of any children you bring to a community play Event. We offer some packing tips including basic first aid supplies on Our Outdoors to help you prepare.

Why the focus on “unstructured” play and what does that really mean?

Kids are wired to learn and grow through outdoor play. In an outdoor setting, a natural sense of curiosity and wonder kicks in and rich learning can result from exploration, experimentation, and social interaction.

You can think of unstructured play as an emergent process—one that reveals itself uniquely each day. The surrounding environment, the interests and moods of the children present, the natural phenomena taking place—all of these factors and more shape what may take place on that day.

Unstructured play is child-led as opposed to adult-led. Basically, it looks like adults taking a step back and letting kids choose how to play. Here’s a blog post on the topic: Heading Outside Without a Plan.

Can we still follow our favorite FFS routines like shared snack / circle time / basecamp?

Yes, if you’d like to; each group is welcome to follow favorite routines from the past or create new ones. Previous FFS events followed this routine:

• 20 minutes - Show up, mingle, have a snack, discuss safety on the trail

• 20 minutes (give or take) - Child-led travel to a “base camp” play area

• 60+ minutes - Child-led play

• 20 minutes - Circle time (with books and songs) and closing

Do I need to do any training to post a nature play event?

If you wish to post (or attend) an event, you will need to complete the initial Our Outdoors orientation. There is no additional training required. However, there are several resources available on Our Outdoors to support you in hosting community play events.

How do I post an outdoor play event?

There are a few simple steps:

• Join Our Outdoors and complete the Our Outdoors Orientation.

• Click the Create Event button on your Local Group’s Events page and complete the form with your event details.

• Detailed instructions for posting Events are available on Our Outdoors.

Can I post an outdoor play Event organized by another organization?

Yes, as long as it meets the basic criteria (free and open to the public, kid-friendly, outdoors, unstructured play) you can post any event on the Events Calendar. Make sure you have permission to share the Event if you’re not the host.

Can I limit how many people can attend an Event?

Yes! In the Event form, you will have the option to set an RSVP cap. Keep in mind this will limit the number of families, not individuals. In our experience, 8-12 families is a nice size.

Who can access Event details?

Event details are visible to all members of Our Outdoors.

Can I post details about my Event on another platform as well (for example, a local listserv or Facebook group)?

Yes, you are welcome to—though be aware this may result in a large group of attendees.

Can I volunteer to help?

Yes! There are many ways you can help:

1. Join your local Group Host Team to help moderate local discussion

2. Become an Interest Group Host to help moderate platform-wide discussion

3. Organize local play events and add them to the Community Events Calendar

4. Join a committee of the Board of Directors

OR simply participate in conversations and reflections across the platform to share your ideas and engage with others.

Still have questions?