Unstructured and Unstoppable: The Joy of Forest Play Club
Sure, students at Garlough Environmental Magnet School spend time outside—you’d expect that from a school with a mission stating, “GEMS uses the natural world to enrich learning.” But in the Fall of 2023, I made two key observations that convinced me our semi-urban K-4 elementary school needed something more: Forest Play Club.
1. Students were spending plenty of time outdoors for academics, but not enough time simply playing—aside from recess.
2. I noticed that in my own neighborhood, which is bikeable, walkable, and filled with parks, kids weren’t playing outside as much as they should. If this was happening in my area, what about my students, who live in spaces with fewer opportunities for free play?
I started asking myself: Where and when do my students play? Do my students even have a place to play? For most of them, the answer was no. That’s when I realized Garlough was the perfect setting to promote free play—free play with a forest flair!
The Birth of Forest Play Club
After convincing administration that a play club aligned with both academic and social-emotional learning goals, we launched our first Forest Play Club in Spring 2024, welcoming Kindergarten and First grade students. The response was overwhelming—registration filled in less than 15 minutes, and we had a waitlist. Parents clearly recognized the need for their kids to have more outdoor playtime!
As their science teacher, my students were used to being outside for learning, but unstructured play during school time? That was something different that I would need to plan for. At our first club session, we started with introductions, set a few physical boundaries and read our Play Club Kid Pledge:
● I will play respectfully.
● I will not deliberately hurt others.
● I will listen to adults.
● I will have fun!
Then, I said, “Okay, go play!”
For a brief moment, students hesitated. I nodded and motioned with my hands—Go!—and off they went, finally. Into the forest. Climbing logs, playing with sticks, hiding behind trees, running freely.
“Can I build a shelter?”
“Yes!”
“Can I climb that tree?”
“If you want to.”
“Can I go as high as I want?”
“Yep! Your body will tell you when you’re high enough.” “Will you help me get down?”
“Your body is strong—you can do it.”
One Kindergartener found an oddly shaped stick and ran to show me. “That’s a pretty cool stick,” I said. He clutched that stick for two hours, twirling it, talking to it, turning it into something magical.
Growing the Movement
One year later, in Spring 2025, Forest Play Club is expanding! We’ve increased the number of students, brought in another paid leader, and added more program days. We are eager to see our school forest once again transform into a giant playground—one where kids can explore, create, learn, grow, and connect. Because at the end of the day, kids should be playing outside.
By Kim Benton, Let Grow Ambassador
