Rathmines Forest School

Rathmines Forest School is based in a beautiful mature woodland on private land, the former walled garden of Rathmines Castle, sadly long-gone. It is an idyllic natural environment in the heart of the city. We run a weekly after school for children aged between 5 and 12 during term-time and various holiday camps during school holidays.

Children thrive in the outdoors. They thrive when they have a connection to other people and to nature, not to mention to themselves. Our Forest School aims to offer young people opportunities to participate in guided free play and focused activities in the natural environment and woodland, thereby enabling them to make these vital connections.

We aim to enhance the confidence, self-esteem and independence of participants through providing a learner-centred programme, offering choice, enabling them to take supported risks and giving them freedom, time and space to explore, free from prejudice or discrimination.

We aim to support children and young people in developing responsibility for themselves and others and in doing so assist them in acquiring a lifelong connection to nature and a holistic way of being in the world.

We look forward to welcoming your children into the woods.