Is there magic in the bush? Individual wellbeing and learning impacts of attending an Australian forest school

Increasing numbers of Australian children experience school refusal, specific learning needs, mental health challenges and impacts of global change, highlighting the need to investigate alternative, evidence-based learning approaches. Outdoor learning supports wellbeing, personal development, self-confidence, socio-emotional development, motor skills, communication skills nature-connection and advocacy. This study examines twoquestions: What are the wellbeing impacts for children attending a forest school and What are the learning impacts. Semi-structured interview narratives from ten Bush Magic Adventures forest school teachers and parents were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Findings indicate wellbeing benefits including personal development, nature connectedness and psychological wellbeing alongside learning benefits related to content and process. Using the frameworks of nature connection and individual learning journeys, the study concludes that forest school impacts are idiosyncratic and meaningful in diverse ways. The findings support forest school as adjunct to curriculum-based learning while acknowledging the study’s limitations and practical implications.