In this brutally honest and often hilarious episode of The Forest School Podcast, Lewis and Gemma brave torrential storms to dive deep into one of the most unspoken realities of outdoor education: burnout and fatigue. As Forest School leaders themselves, they share the emotional and physical toll of holding space in the winter months—when the woods feel like they're hibernating, children are still full of energy, and practitioners are managing fire safety, food, waterproofs, soggy play, and emotional support all at once. They discuss how seasonal changes affect both children and adults, why storytelling surges in colder months, and how the same playful activity takes on heavier consequences when everything is wet and muddy. This episode also covers burnout prevention strategies: from micro-moments of mastery play, to peer connection, building infrastructure, setting boundaries, and finding joy in the ever-expanding “spider web” of Forest School interests. Expect mud, mindfulness, mess, and mutual support.

⏱ Chapter Timings:
00:00 – Post-storm reflections and soggy boots
01:43 – Why we’re talking about burnout
02:48 – Fatigue, SAD, and seasonal energy shifts
03:49 – Holding group energy when everyone’s cold
04:26 – Winter storytelling and group cohesion
05:04 – Autumn learning curve: mud, mess, and surprises
07:16 – Invisible giving and the emotional bank account
08:10 – Sharing emotions honestly with children
09:17 – The benefits of working in a duo
10:12 – Investing in yourself through training
10:50 – Solo play in the woods as restoration
11:55 – Mastery play, Zen gardens, and mental reset
12:40 – The joy of never being perfect in Forest School
13:43 – Hobby vs. profession: keeping joy alive
15:10 – Building professional networks to combat isolation
16:54 – Off-site rituals for emotional decompression
17:55 – The mental drain of weather-checking
18:26 – The endless nature of self-employment
19:41 – Boundaries around planning and marketing
20:30 – Creative constraints and resourcefulness
21:18 – Site improvements and the importance of shelter
23:03 – Cosiness, fairy lights, and ‘Hygge’ in the woods
24:19 – Bad weather vs. bad locations
25:17 – Understanding children’s fear of weather
25:57 – Wind as an emotional antagonist
26:38 – Learning site resilience over time
27:15 – Upcoming Sunday retreats and practitioner days
28:16 – Cooking retreat details and how to book

🌲 Keywords: Forest School burnout, practitioner fatigue, outdoor educator wellness, emotional bank account, winter storytelling, muddy play, SAD in outdoor education, woodland wellbeing, Forest School reflection, community support, seasonal shift, burnout prevention, Forest School infrastructure, mindfulness in nature, hygge in the woods

🔖 Hashtags:
#ForestSchool #OutdoorEducator #BurnoutRecovery #ForestSchoolPodcast #NatureFatigue #WinterPlay #OutdoorLearning #StorytellingSeason #ForestSchoolLife #PractitionerSupport #HyggeInTheWoods #WoodlandWellbeing #SelfCareForTeachers #SeasonalEducation #NatureBasedLearning

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