The unexplored relationships between forest schools and climate change: the parental perspective

This study addresses a gap in understanding the relationship between forest schools (FS) and climate change (CC) by exploring parents’ environmental attitudes, behaviors, and preferences for FS amid CC challenges. FS provides regular outdoor experiences that foster children’s connection to nature, serving as climate-resilient spaces with the potential to reduce carbon footprints and conserve resources compared to indoor education. Using a mixed-method approach, 312 parents from Israeli CC ‘hot spots’ with children aged 3-6 enrolled in FS or regular schools completed a questionnaire; 20 FS parents also participated in follow-up interviews. Results indicate that FS parents exhibit stronger environmental attitudes, though no significant differences in environmental behaviors or CC concerns were observed. FS enrollment correlated with more frequent nature visits, with some parents noting transformative impacts on their children. The study emphasizes the need for increased awareness among parents, educators, and policymakers on FS’s potential in addressing CC.