The South Eastern Trust’s Down Multi-Disciplinary Social Work Team hosted a vibrant Forest School event this week in the beautiful Victorian Gardens at Downshire, welcoming young people aged 10–16 years for a day of fun, creativity and outdoor learning.
The Forest School experience offered a wide range of interactive activities, including den building, campfire making, scavenger hunts, crafting with natural materials, woodworking and creative graffiti art with a local artist. The event aimed to inspire confidence, encourage teamwork and help the young people develop new skills in a relaxed and adventurous setting.
John McClean, thoroughly enjoyed the event and said, “I have loved coming here and my favourite activity has been making whistles. I have learned graffiti art and how to do a flower press. It is good to be able to make some new friends and learn new skills that you can use in life. I would definitely come back next year!”
Social Work Assistant, Erin Fitzsimons, praised the event’s ongoing success and added, “The Forest School has been running now for four years and has been very successful. It gives children the opportunity to connect with others outdoors, learn new skills, enjoy themselves and get out into the fresh air.
“Many children are now glued to their phones and tablets, so this is a chance for them to engage with nature, be creative and meet new friends over the summer period.”
Forest School Instructor, David Mallon, also highlighted the benefits, commenting, “The Forest School is a fantastic way for young people to reconnect with nature, explore their surroundings and develop resilience and creativity. It is great to see them gaining confidence while having fun outdoors.”
