In 2018, the Roots and Boots Forest School received an Environmental Stewardship Grant from the Trust.  The founders of this Nova Scotia based not-for-profit, Sara Wolthers and Kellie Allen, used the grant funds to hire leaders to assist special needs children, so they too could enjoy a forest school experience.  

Allen explains, “We facilitated 62 children in a total number of 2615 outdoor hours thanks to the grant support of the Trust.”

“Forest School is very different from a typical kid’s modern life these days,” says Allen.  “It’s about getting children active and involved in outdoor fun and inspired by nature.”  

Allen explains, “Unstructured play time outdoors, in the woods or along the streams, offers kids different experiences everyday while playing group games, learning about the plants and animals they see, art, music, cookouts and storytelling. It’s a lot of fun.” Feedback from a forest school parent included, “I have truly never seen my son enjoy anything more than this program. Thank you for exposing him to the woods early in his life.”  

“We believe Forest School helps develop a real connection to and knowledge of the land.  We loved sharing that broadly with more kids that can benefit,” adds Allen.