Study through flexible online learning and a live virtual training session.
Gain a Carbon Literacy Certification designed specifically for Forest School practice
Developed in partnership with the Carbon Literacy Project, this is the first Carbon Literacy Certification designed specifically for Forest School Leaders.
Whether you're looking to strengthen your practice, support schools with sustainability or feel more confident talking about climate change with children and families, this programme gives you the knowledge, confidence and recognised certification to do so.
Starts 25th January 2027 with a live Zoom session on the 10th February 1pm-4pm.
Carbon Literacy is an internationally recognised standard that gives individuals the knowledge and confidence to understand climate change and take positive action within their own role and community. This programme applies that standard specifically to Forest School practice.
This programme has been designed specifically for qualified Forest School Leaders who want to build on the work they already do.
You may already be helping children develop a lifelong connection with nature, encouraging curiosity about the environment and supporting practical conservation through your sessions.
As sustainability and climate education become increasingly important across schools and communities, many Forest School Leaders are finding themselves being asked questions about climate change, biodiversity and environmental action.
You might be asking these questions in response:
How do I talk about climate change without sounding scary?
How can I make my own Forest School practice more sustainable?
How do I support schools with Climate Action Plans and Eco-Schools work?
What should I say when children ask difficult questions about the future?
How can I encourage positive environmental action without becoming political?
If so, this programme has been created for you.
Whether you deliver Forest School in schools, early years settings, charities, alternative provision, community organisations or independently, Carbon Literacy provides the knowledge and confidence to strengthen your practice while remaining true to the core ethos of Forest School.
You do not need to be a sustainability expert. The programme has been designed to introduce climate literacy in a practical, accessible and relevant way, using examples that reflect the realities of everyday Forest School delivery.
Forest School Leaders are uniquely placed to inspire positive environmental action.
Every session creates opportunities for children to connect with nature, ask questions about the environment and develop a lasting relationship with the natural world. Research consistently shows that people who feel more connected to nature are more likely to care for it and take positive environmental action throughout their lives.
By working with children, families, schools and communities, Forest School Leaders already have a powerful opportunity to encourage environmental stewardship. Carbon Literacy builds naturally on this role, giving you the confidence to support climate conversations, strengthen your own practice and inspire positive environmental action while remaining true to the ethos of Forest School.
This programme is ideal if you want to:
Feel more confident discussing climate change and sustainability.
Reduce the environmental impact of your Forest School provision.
Support schools with their environmental ambitions.
Develop practical biodiversity and conservation projects.
Help children and families take positive environmental action.
Gain an internationally recognised Carbon Literacy Certification.
Continue developing professionally in an area that is becoming increasingly important across education and outdoor learning.
Forest School has always helped children build meaningful relationships with the natural world.
Today, the wider educational landscape is changing.
Schools are developing Climate Action Plans, environmental education is becoming increasingly important, and more children are asking questions about climate change, biodiversity and sustainability.
As a result, many Forest School Leaders are finding themselves discussing these topics with children, families and schools as part of their everyday practice.
This programme has been designed to help you approach those conversations with confidence, providing practical knowledge that can be applied immediately within the sessions you already deliver.
It will help you answer children's questions with confidence, support schools with their sustainability priorities and encourage positive environmental action through meaningful experiences in nature.
The heart of Forest School hasn't changed. It remains rooted in child-led learning, meaningful experiences in nature, supported risk-taking and developing a lifelong connection with the natural world.
What is changing is the wider world.
As climate change, biodiversity loss and sustainability become increasingly important across education and society, Forest School Leaders have an opportunity to build on these foundations by supporting environmental stewardship and inspiring positive action through the experiences they already provide.
Carbon Literacy is a natural extension of this role, providing the knowledge and confidence to strengthen conversations about sustainability while remaining true to the core ethos of Forest School.
The Modern Forest School Leader:
🌿 Builds nature connection.
🌿 Supports wellbeing.
🌿 Encourages environmental stewardship.
🌿 Leads positive action within their community.
🌿 Understands climate change and sustainability with confidence.
This programme isn't about changing the heart of Forest School, it's about equipping Forest School Leaders with the knowledge and confidence to make the most of the opportunities they already have.
Throughout the programme you'll develop the knowledge, confidence and practical skills to become a Carbon Literate Forest School Leader.
You'll learn how to:
Understand climate change and sustainability with confidence.
Reduce the environmental impact of your own Forest School practice.
Deliver meaningful environmental action through Forest School.
Talk about environmental issues with children and families.
Support eco-anxiety in a hopeful and constructive way.
Use nature connection to encourage care for the natural world.
We'll also explore practical topics including:
Develop a clear understanding of climate change, carbon emissions and sustainability through accessible, evidence-informed learning that is relevant to Forest School practice.
Explore practical ways to reduce the environmental impact of your own provision, including equipment, resources, woodland management and everyday decision making.
Discover ways to build biodiversity enhancement, habitat creation and conservation activities naturally into your sessions.
Understand how Forest School can contribute towards Climate Action Plans, Eco-Schools initiatives and wider sustainability objectives.
Develop confidence in discussing environmental issues in an accurate, balanced and age-appropriate way.
Learn approaches that help children move from worry towards hope by focusing on positive action, resilience and meaningful connection with nature.
Use the experiences you already create to encourage children and families to develop lasting habits that benefit both people and planet.
By the end of the programme, you'll have practical ideas, resources and action plans that you can immediately begin using within your own setting.
Many existing carbon literacy courses have been designed for businesses, organisations or the general public.
Forest School Leaders work in a unique environment, with unique opportunities and unique responsibilities.
That's why we wanted to create something different.
We have developed a programme where every aspect has been designed around the realities of Forest School practice.
Alongside the core Carbon Literacy requirements, we'll explore topics including:
Nature connection and environmental stewardship.
Biodiversity enhancement.
Woodland management.
Campfire practices.
Sustainable resources and equipment.
Conservation projects.
Climate conversations with children and families.
Supporting eco-anxiety.
Reducing the environmental impact of Forest School provision.
Most importantly, we'll focus on how this knowledge can be applied within your own sessions.
The programme is practical throughout, helping you translate Carbon Literacy into meaningful experiences for children rather than simply learning the theory.
You'll also receive access to the Forest School Carbon Literacy Toolkit, containing practical activities, conversation prompts, case studies, environmental audit tools and action-planning resources designed specifically for outdoor learning settings.
The result is a programme that not only helps you achieve Carbon Literacy Certification, but also gives you practical tools and strategies that can immediately strengthen your Forest School practice.
We know Forest School Leaders are busy.
That's why the programme has been designed to fit around work and family commitments.
The training combines flexible self-paced online learning with a live online session, allowing you to complete the programme in a way that works for you while still meeting the full requirements for Carbon Literacy Certification.
Complete the online learning in your own time, wherever suits you.
Pause and return whenever you need to, allowing you to fit learning around Forest School delivery, work and family life.
Join a live virtual session where you'll discuss ideas, explore practical applications and collaborate with other Forest School Leaders from across the UK.
This interactive session helps bring the learning to life while providing opportunities to ask questions and share ideas.
Throughout the programme you'll be encouraged to reflect on your own practice and develop actions you can implement straight away.
Rather than completing theoretical exercises, you'll be thinking about your own setting, your own learners and your own community.
The programme has been designed so that it can typically be completed within a single day of learning while still meeting the Carbon Literacy Project's certification requirements.
You'll also retain access to recordings and course resources, allowing you to revisit the material whenever you need to.
Your enrolment includes everything you need to successfully complete the programme and begin applying your learning immediately.
✅ Carbon Literacy Training designed specifically for Forest School Leaders.
✅ Carbon Literacy Certification through the Carbon Literacy Project (subject to successful completion).
✅ The Forest School Carbon Literacy Toolkit, containing practical resources designed specifically for Forest School practice.
✅ Flexible self-paced online learning that fits around work and family commitments.
✅ A live online training session with opportunities for discussion, reflection and practical application.
✅ Access to recordings and course resources.
✅ Forest School-specific guidance on reducing the environmental impact of your practice.
✅ Practical strategies for discussing climate change, sustainability and eco-anxiety with children and families.
✅ Environmental action ideas linked to Forest School practice, including biodiversity enhancement, habitat creation and conservation projects.
Alongside your Carbon Literacy Certification, you'll receive the Forest School Carbon Literacy Toolkit.
This practical implementation toolkit has been created specifically for Forest School Leaders and is designed to help you put your learning into practice straight away.
Inside you'll find:
Nature connection activities.
Climate conversation guidance.
Biodiversity projects.
Environmental audit tools.
Sustainability checklists.
Forest School case studies.
Action-planning templates.
Practical resources for outdoor learning settings.
Rather than leaving the programme with ideas alone, you'll have practical resources you can continue using long after the course has finished.
Although the programme is designed to be completed flexibly, you'll never be studying alone.
Our team is here to support you throughout your learning, whether you have questions about the course content, the assessment process or applying Carbon Literacy within your own Forest School practice.
You'll have access to:
Tutor support by email.
Guidance throughout the Carbon Literacy assessment process.
A live online training session with opportunities to ask questions and discuss ideas.
Recordings and resources to revisit whenever you need them.
Our aim is to help you complete the programme with confidence and leave feeling equipped to put your learning into practice.
We are delighted to be working with the Carbon Literacy Project, the UK charity behind the internationally recognised Carbon Literacy Standard.
When we decided to develop Carbon Literacy training for Forest School Leaders, we wanted to ensure the certification would be recognised, respected and built on the highest standards available.
Rather than creating our own independent climate course, we chose to work with the Carbon Literacy Project, a multi-award-winning, UN-recognised organisation at the forefront of certified climate learning globally.
Together, we've combined their internationally recognised Carbon Literacy framework with our expertise in Forest School practice, outdoor learning and nature connection.
On successful completion of the programme, you'll achieve Carbon Literacy Certification through the Carbon Literacy Project.
This demonstrates that you have completed recognised professional development against the internationally recognised Carbon Literacy Standard and have developed the knowledge and understanding expected of a Carbon Literate practitioner.
As climate literacy becomes increasingly important across education, wellbeing and outdoor learning, this certification demonstrates your commitment to continuing professional development in an emerging area of professional practice.
It also provides schools, organisations and families with confidence that your learning has been externally recognised and developed against an established national framework.
Assessment has been designed to reflect the practical nature of the programme while meeting the Carbon Literacy Project's certification requirements.
Throughout the programme, you'll engage with the online learning, participate in the live training session and complete the required Carbon Literacy assessment activities.
The assessment focuses on your understanding of Carbon Literacy principles and your ability to apply them within your own Forest School practice.
Rather than simply testing knowledge, you'll be encouraged to think about how you can make meaningful changes within your own sessions, organisation and community. You'll be asked to complete a form, showing your understanding and setting two actions.
Our team will guide you through the assessment process and support you in successfully achieving Carbon Literacy Certification.
You can pay by 6 monthly payments of £37.50.
Your enrolment includes:
Carbon Literacy Training designed specifically for Forest School Leaders.
Carbon Literacy Certification through the Carbon Literacy Project (subject to successful completion).
The Forest School Carbon Literacy Toolkit.
8-10 hours self-paced online learning.
Live online training session.
Course recordings and resources.
Ongoing access to practical tools and templates.
This programme has been designed to provide recognised Carbon Literacy Certification alongside practical resources that will continue to support your Forest School practice long after you've completed the training.
Starts 25th January 2027 with a live Zoom session on the 10th February 1pm-4pm.
Forest School Leaders have always played an important role in helping children connect with nature.
As sustainability and climate literacy become increasingly important across education, your role has the potential to become even more influential.
This programme has been designed to build on the work you're already doing, giving you the knowledge, confidence and practical tools to support children, schools and communities in caring for the natural world.
By joining one of our first cohorts, you'll become one of the first Forest School Leaders in the UK to gain Carbon Literacy Certification tailored specifically to Forest School practice.
Whether you're looking to strengthen your own provision, support schools with sustainability, or simply feel more confident discussing environmental issues with children, we'd love to welcome you.
Take the next step today.