Grow the nature play community in your area as a Group Host.
At the heart of Free Forest School is our connection to one another. While kids play and explore, caregivers and parents meet, share ideas, and build friendships. As a Local Group Host, you’ll serve in a low-key role that helps catalyze outdoor play opportunities in your area.
Groups are one of the features of the Our Outdoors platform.
Local Groups are designed to connect folks who live in a certain area—so they can share local knowledge and meet up in-person to play outdoors.
Each local group is moderated online by a volunteer Group Host Team, who live in the area.
Growing communities that play together.
Want to help create or support a local group for your community? Sign up to help moderate your local group on Our Outdoors!
Group Host FAQs
What is a Group Host?
Group Hosts are volunteers who live in one of the group’s counties. Their responsibility is to moderate conversation in their Local Group on Our Outdoors. Group Hosts work in teams to share the responsibility—though you may start out on your own if you are the first volunteer in your area.
What responsibilities do Group Hosts have?
Group Hosts work together to keep tabs on the conversations that happen within their group, making sure people are following the Code of Conduct and treating one another with respect. If any issues arise, Groups Hosts intervene directly whenever possible, and alert Our Outdoors staff as necessary. Group Hosts are also encouraged to help spark conversation by posting prompts, questions, stories, links, etc. Basically, Group Hosts volunteer their time to foster a positive, engaging space for local caregivers to connect.
Am I qualified to be a Local Group Host?
This is a low-key volunteer position where you’ll commit to checking in on your online Local Group periodically to monitor and encourage conversation. You don’t need to be a nature play expert of any kind—just an enthusiastic caregiver who wants to volunteer some time to get things started. Having a team of hosts who come from a variety of backgrounds is a bonus, so don’t think you need to be experienced, “outdoorsy” or any other certain way to be successful in this role!
How are the geographic areas decided for Local Groups?
Local groups are by county, and may include one or more entire county, depending on what makes sense in each area.
What kinds of support do Group Hosts receive?
Group Hosts complete a brief training module on Our Outdoors to prepare them to start a new group or join an existing Group Host Team. In addition, Group Hosts have backup support from their co-hosts as well as the Our Outdoors Community Guides.
What is the timeline for launching Local Groups?
They are available now! Sign up to join Our Outdoors and we will get you set up as a Group Host.
Do Group Hosts also host the in-person outdoor events?
They might, but they don’t have to. You can choose to do one or the other, or both if you wish. Learn more about posting and hosting in-person events on the How It Works page.