Ep 43 - Is activism a part of Forest School?

Gemma kicks things off—shoes off, that is—explaining why a mud-bath “bare-foot break” can reset practitioner wellbeing as effectively as any spa session. From there the conversation pivots to a thornier theme gripping UK newsfeeds: 🌍 climate activism. Should Forest School leaders join Extinction Rebellion marches, glue themselves to bridges, or remain politically neutral?

Lewis admits he’s never protested, arguing that systemic, legislative change will stick only if it’s backed by personal, grassroots lifestyle shifts. Gemma counters that direct action can inspire those very shifts, especially when led by young people; she recalls Exeter’s youth-fronted strike and how chanting with a crowd felt both cathartic and educational. Together they weigh:

• the duty of outdoor educators to model stewardship

• risks of blurring personal politics with business branding

• potential DBS/employment implications of civil-disobedience arrests

• media claims that XR is an “upper-middle-class death cult”

• historic protest tactics (Rosa Parks, anti-tuition marches) versus XR’s decentralised approach

• the power of children seeing adults stand up publicly for planetary health

They finish by inviting listeners to share their own stance—march-lover, fence-sitter or sceptic—inside the new Forest School Podcast Community group, and plug upcoming CPD dates on storytelling, outdoor cooking, whittling and the April 202X Level 3 course.

Key Topics & Timestamps
00:05 – 02:50 Shoes off! Bare-footing as self-care
02:50 – 05:40 Feeling empowered (or odd) when parents copy the mud walk
05:40 – 09:45 Climate-march debate: personal vs professional activism
09:45 – 13:00 Legislation vs lifestyle: can protests create lasting change?
13:00 – 16:05 Extinction Rebellion overview & common media criticisms
16:05 – 18:45 DBS checks, arrests and teaching professionalism
18:45 – 22:10 Historic protest strategy: Rosa Parks to student fees
22:10 – 25:10 Youth-led strikes & why Gen Z gives Gemma hope
25:10 – 28:00 When school charity choices backfire (shoebox row)
28:00 – 31:15 Balancing political passion with community trust
31:15 – 34:50 Next steps: local XR meet-ups, family-friendly actions
34:50 – 36:10 Training calendar & call for listener stories

Links & Community

• Join the discussion → Facebook: Forest School Podcast Community

• Course dates & booking → https://theforestschoolpodcast.com/training

• Support the show → https://patreon.com/theforestschoolpodcast

• Email us → [email protected]

Have you marched, organised, or opted out? Tell us why—your experience could feature in a future episode.