10 Winter Forest School Activities

As the days grow shorter and the air turns crisp, forest schools, those outdoor learning spaces where children connect with nature through play and exploration, don’t hit pause. Instead, they lean into the season, transforming snow-dusted trails and frosty ferns into classrooms alive with wonder. Winter forest school isn’t just about bundling up; it’s about teaching resilience, curiosity, and a deep respect for the natural world during its quietest months.

Drawing from recent educator discussions and tried-and-true resources, here’s a roundup of winter forest school activities that are sparking joy and learning. Teachers emphasise adapting to the cold, think layered clothing, hot cocoa breaks, and activities that celebrate rather than combat the weather, whilst developing skills like teamwork and environmental awareness.

1. Den Building and Shelter Crafting

Nothing says “winter forest school” like huddling in a child-built shelter, giggling as snowflakes drift through the branches. Teachers rave about this classic as a gateway to engineering and imagination, especially when the ground is blanketed in white.

How it works: Children forage for sticks, leaves, and tarps to construct mini-dens. In winter, add a twist by incorporating snow walls or evergreen boughs for insulation. Discuss animal adaptations, like how squirrels stash nuts under the snow.

Teacher feedback: “Year 4 had a fantastic time at their first Forest School session. There was den building, hole digging, massive marble run making, swinging, tree climbing, team building and lots more! They can’t wait to go back again next week!” One UK primary school teacher shared this enthusiasm, highlighting how these hands-on builds boost confidence and creativity. We suggest starting small to build skills gradually, turning potential frustration (like collapsing structures) into lessons in perseverance.

Pro tip: Pair it with storytelling, children “inhabit” their dens as woodland creatures surviving the big freeze.

2. Fire Skills and Campfire Cooking

Fire is winter’s best friend in forest school, and teachers are enthusiastic about safe, supervised sessions that teach chemistry, safety, and even nutrition. It’s not just toasting marshmallows; it’s sparking a lifelong appreciation for sustainable energy.

How it works: Collect tinder, kindling, and logs, then light a controlled fire pit. Activities range from making healthy campfire recipes like apple pancakes to simple s’mores with a nutritional twist (swap chocolate for fruit).

Teacher feedback: Picture children whipping up apple pancakes over an open flame whilst exploring 92 acres of woodland: “Our Forest School is still going strong this winter! The group made apple pancakes over the fire… a perfect hands-on nature adventure.” Teachers note how these sessions cover topics like heat transfer and fire ecology, all whilst keeping little ones cosy.

Educators stress the “teachable moment” in risk assessment, children learn to respect fire’s power, developing important life skills through managed risk-taking.

3. Winter Wildlife Tracking

Winter quiets the forest, but sharp eyes reveal a hidden world of tracks, feathers, and frozen wonders. This is a low-preparation activity for blending observation with empathy for cold-adapted creatures.

How it works: Lead children on a tracking expedition to identify animal footprints in snow or mud. Discuss which animals are active in winter and which are hibernating. Use field guides to identify different track patterns and consider what the animal might have been doing.

Teacher feedback: Preschool teachers seek “fun winter activities for a cold winter” tailored to 3-5-year-olds, with ideas like tracking deer mice prints near sheds. A kindergarten duo shared a video of children “exploring and digging to jumping in leaves and balancing on logs,” emphasising choice-driven curiosity that builds resilience.

4. Nature Scavenger Hunts

Scavenger hunts transform a winter walk into an adventure of discovery, encouraging close observation and appreciation of seasonal changes.

How it works: Create lists of winter treasures to find: icicles, evergreen needles, bare-branch silhouettes/shapes, animal signs, frozen puddles, different types of bark, seed pods, and winter berries. Children can collect items in baskets or photograph them.

Teacher feedback: Year 6 teacher Miss R. captured the magic: “Love observing the children in this environment. They create resilience, wonder and develop a deep connection to the world through a hands-on, immersive experience.”

We recommends sensory walks to tune into crunching snow and frosty scents, turning passive trudging into active discovery.

5. Bird Feeding and Watching

Winter bird watching combines wildlife observation with acts of kindness towards creatures struggling to find food in the cold months.

How it works: Make bird feeders from pinecones slathered in peanut butter and seeds, or create fat ball feeders using suet, seeds, and yoghurt pots. Set up feeding stations and observe which birds visit. Use binoculars for closer looks and field guides for identification.

Educational value: Children learn about food chains, migration patterns, and how different species adapt to winter conditions. This activity naturally leads to discussions about habitat and conservation.

6. Snow and Ice Experiments

Winter weather provides perfect conditions for hands-on science investigations that capture children’s natural curiosity.

How it works: Conduct freezing and melting experiments with ice blocks containing natural objects. Create coloured ice sculptures using food colouring in water-filled containers. Investigate which materials melt ice fastest (salt, sugar, sand). Measure ice thickness on puddles and track temperature changes throughout the day.

Educational value: These activities introduce scientific concepts like states of matter, temperature, and the properties of water whilst keeping children engaged through play. Camps like Fishers Winter Break have successfully blended “icy experiments” and “frosty fun” into their programmes.

7. Winter Forest School Art and Natural Crafts

Winter’s palette (if it snows), infinite whites, stark blues, and pops of red berries, inspires creativity. Teachers discuss how art activities ground children in mindfulness, countering cabin fever with expressive outlets.

How it works: Try snow painting using food colouring in spray bottles on fresh powder. Create bark rubbings on frosty logs to explore texture. Collect natural materials to make seasonal wreaths or mandalas. Weave sticks and dried grasses into dream catchers or wall hangings.

Teacher feedback: Woodland Classroom bloggers focus on tree identification in winter via bark and buds, blending art with botany. One nature writer mused on children spotting “a hundred signs of spring” in February snow, urging adults to borrow their “tiny bright woodstove hearts” for inspiration.

8. Tree and Plant Identification

Winter strips trees bare, making it the perfect season for learning tree identification through bark patterns, bud arrangement, and overall silhouette.

How it works: Create bark rubbing collections and match them to tree species. Examine winter buds with magnifying glasses, noting their arrangement, colour, and shape. Learn to identify common trees by their bark alone—silver birch, oak, beech, and ash all have distinctive patterns.

Educational value: This activity develops observational skills and botanical knowledge whilst encouraging children to see beauty in winter’s stark landscape. Resources from Learning through Landscapes offer prompts for all-year programmes, proving winter’s hush amplifies voices of nature.

9. Storytelling and Outdoor Drama

Winter’s atmospheric setting provides the perfect backdrop for imaginative storytelling and dramatic play.

How it works: Read tales of winter survival, then act out scenes in the forest setting. Create character voices for hibernating animals or winter spirits. Use natural materials as props for impromptu plays. Encourage children to write their own winter stories inspired by their surroundings.

Educational value: This combines literacy development with physical activity and creative expression, helping children develop confidence and communication skills whilst deepening their connection to nature.

10. Survival Skills and Winter Challenges

Teaching age-appropriate survival skills empowers children and builds confidence whilst emphasising respect for nature’s power.

How it works: Teach knot-tying for securing tarps and shelters. Practise navigation using maps and compasses. Learn to identify edible winter plants (under careful supervision). Discuss how to dress appropriately for cold weather and recognise signs of being too cold.

Educational value: These activities teach practical life skills whilst encouraging children to think critically about risk assessment and personal responsibility. As one educator noted, it’s about “Developing resilience, wonder, and a deep connection” that indoor screens can’t match.

Why Winter Forest School Matters

Scrolling through educator forums, the theme is clear: Winter forest school isn’t easy, think soggy boots and numb fingertips, but it’s transformative. Teachers celebrate the growth: children who once shied from mud now embrace snow tunnels, learning that endurance is not always about resistance.

Winter forest school teaches children that nature doesn’t hibernate from learning—it simply changes its classroom. By bundling up and stepping outside, we show children that adventure, discovery, and growth happen in every season. The forest classroom awaits, tracks, flames, and all.