To spend a successful day outdoors at Forest School requires that all children come prepared with suitable clothing and equipment. Please visit our Gear List to find tested recommendations. When dressing, remember that layers provide the most comfort and flexibility, and generally on a cold or wet day you would dress your child in three layers.
Base Layer
The clothing closest to the skin. A good base layer is snug fitting and helps to keep you warm by absorbing sweat and allowing it to evaporate. This layer should be made of wool, silk, or synthetic material. No cotton.
Mid Layer
The clothing that goes over your base layer and under your outer layer. Fleece jackets and pants and wool sweaters make great mid layers and will keep you warm even when wet. Lightweight down jackets are great for dry days. Depending on the temperature you may wear multiple mid layers. Once more, no cotton.
Outer Layer
The outer layer is your waterproof or water-resistant layer. This includes a coat and pants. This layer is often shed at forest school, but you wouldn't want to be caught outside without it.
Layering Examples:
Tail end of Summer, Autumn, + Spring:
Mild days - anything goes. Be sure to pack an extra set of clothing (lightweight leggings, underwear, socks and a tee) in a ziplock or grocery bag in the backpack. A hoodie, fleece or lightweight down might be nice for the morning
Wet days - base layers + rain gear. If it’s cold also, put on a pair of fleece pants and an extra midlayer jacket before the rain gear. Rain boots required
Cold days - base layers, mid layers, possibly another set of mid-layers, outer layer that does not have to be rain proof, gloves, hat, wool socks and insulated boots that aren’t too snug. If the shoes are snug it can restrict bloodflow and make the feet even colder! Pack extra layers and hand warmers.
Winter:
Wet days - base layers, mid layers, sometimes snow pants and jacket, sometimes rain gear depending on the overall temperature and precipitation type. Wool socks, hat and insulated waterproof boots.
Cold days - base layers, mid layers, possibly another set of mid-layers, outer layer that does not have to be rain proof, gloves, wool socks and boots that aren’t too snug. If the shoes are snug it can restrict bloodflow and make the feet even colder! Pack extra layers and hand warmers.