ABSTRACT
This chapter is named after observing a young boy’s excitement when he was playing in a Forest School session, hunting for evidence of dragons. Building on the popularity of Forest School and the promotion of being outdoors during the COVID-19 pandemic, this chapter looks at the importance of connecting with the natural world and examines the benefits of being outdoors for both children and adults. Feelings of curiosity, wonder, excitement, thrill and awe, can present themselves in nature, allowing opportunities to feel and experience these invigorating emotions. However, some experiences can be deemed as too risky for children or can be a barrier to adults wanting to participate in Forest School. This chapter discusses the reasons for this and, with activities for practitioners’ playful participation and reflection points for both individuals and staff teams, this chapter will encourage you to find the magic in nature and the enthusiasm to go outside.
