Outdoor & Forest Schools Clubs for Kids in York. Suitable for Primary School Age Children (4 – 12 years old)
The Girlguiding County of North Yorkshire South is based around the city of York, and its surrounding towns and villages including Selby and Tadcaster. We are privileged to have over 500 amazing volunteers who provide fun, skills and adventures to our 1,880 young members. Whether your daughter wants to join Rainbows (4-7), Brownies (7-10), Guides (10-14) or Rangers (14-18), start her Girlguiding journey here.
Maybe you would like to volunteer as an adult helper? We have many different roles available from regular weekly commitments through to more ad-hoc opportunities. We are always on the look out for assistance and no offer is too small!
Register your daughter here or register your own interest in becoming a volunteer here or visit our website below for more information and a flavour of the exciting things we get up to.
Adventure, fun and friendship awaits you!
Rowntree Park is a large park with a riverside location that offers a range of facilities including a Reading Cafe, children’s play areas, lakes with ducks, wildlife area and ponds, carpark, and sporting facilities such as basketball court, skatepark, table tennis and tennis courts. The park is managed by York Council, but the Friends of Rowntree Park help maintain and improve the park, as well as running a range of community events and projects. Regular events include:
Weekly Friday Forest School sessions for approx 2-5 years 10-11.30am, runs throughout the year in 6 week blocks.
Monthly ‘Very Young Friends’ meet ups (Nature based crafts, stories and play for 1-5 year olds) – first Tuesday of each month 10-11am.
Monthly ‘Family Forest School’ for children of all ages , Saturdays 10-11.30am
‘Wild Ones’ Nature group for older girls, 10-16 years. Wednesdays 6-7.30-pm. Bushcraft, survival, campfire cooking and chat!
‘Make Space for Girls’ in Rowntree Park -an ongoing project that includes a month-long programme of free events for 10-18 year olds in June.
Also there is a range of ‘Young Friends’ seasonal events throughout the year including Easter, Halloween and Christmas specials– keep an eye on our social media and website for details!
Terry Ave, York YO23 1JQ
Wild Things Explorers – for children aged 18 months to 4 years
Embark on a journey of discovery with Wild Things Explorers – an enriching outdoor experience tailored for children aged 18 months to 4 years.
At Wild Things Explorers we believe in the power of outdoor play to nurture curious minds and adventurous spirits. Through hands-on exploration and nature-based activities, children not only learn about the world around them but also cultivate resilience, creativity, and a deep appreciation for nature. The highlight for many families is the campfire finale! Children eagerly gather around to toast a marshmallow and savour a cup of hot chocolate.
Younger siblings can join in too for free (up to 18 months old) and benefit from being outdoors too.
Nestled in the heart of York, our sessions take place in a hidden wooded area within the grounds of Millthorpe School, just off Scarcroft Road. Easily accessible by foot, bike, or bus, many families can leave the hassle of excessive driving behind.
Sessions run on Mondays, Wednesdays and Friday mornings. Secure your child’s spot by booking in advance, as spaces fill up quickly. Choose from flexible booking options, including block sessions or convenient drop-in tickets available each week.
All sessions run in a wooded area, in the grounds of Millthorpe School (Nunthorpe Avenue, YO23 1WF).
Forest Quest provides woodland experiences for children and family groups; perfect to celebrate special days. We tailor events just for you at our site near Easingwold with activities such as fire lighting, den building, nature discovery, and natural crafts. We also run Saturday Clubs and other events to book onto.
T: 07519 340220
Free gardening workshops (ages 4-10). Here, we help children and families to start growing, and encourage them to learn about wildlife, plants and the environment in our friendly group settings.
Every first Sunday of the month (and special school holiday clubs). Prebookable. See Dobbies website for more details. See also our blog about when one of our Mumbler families attended!
Northfield Lane, Upper Poppleton, North Yorkshire, YO26 6QE
Learn through music. Sing, dance, play, move – mostly outdoors!
Nurturing, educational, fun-filled sessions for babies, toddlers, preschoolers and school age children, led by an experienced teacher. Mixed ages welcome in family classes.
Private groups, 1:1 and workshops by arrangement eg Home Ed, Postnatal, Nursery, Preschool, Primary.
Find us on Facebook.
Message/WhatsApp Cath: 07982 607674
Monthly family sessions with a Qualified Forest School Practitioner – den-building, foraging, campfire cooking, woodland crafts, storytelling and more. Find out about the wonderful nature all around us and how you can look after it.
Ages 0-11 years (children must be accompanied).
For more details, see the St Nicks website.
St Nicks Environment Centre, Rawdon Avenue, York YO10 3FW
The Woodland Adventure Company run magical woodland adventures for 2-11 year olds during school holidays and occasionally during term time, they also run award winning birthday parties and school trips. There are many different adventures to choose from and marshmallow toasting, hot chocolate and popcorn around the fire are always included.
T: 07788713393
