Meet Rachel Longley of Ashdown Forest School

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Longley.

Hi Rachel, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Absolutely! Growing up in a small town, my childhood was surrounded by nature. We spent our days climbing trees, catching frogs and grasshoppers, picking dandelions, camping, and building stick forts in the woods. This love for the great outdoors was rekindled while pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood and Elementary Education, nestled between the bluffs and the river in Winona, MN.

During my practicum work, I quickly became disheartened with the overly-structured approach to teaching young children. In the midst of reconsidering my major, I met Barb Nagel, the person who planted the first seed of “nature-based learning” in my mind. I attended one of her workshops, ‘Enjoying Nature with Children’, and she lent me her personal copy of Richard Louv’s Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder. Simultaneously, I was given the opportunity to dive into the benefits of nature immersion and outdoor play through one of my teaching philosophy courses, leading me to discover the Forest Kindergarten model, originating in Scandinavia. All of my doubts about education were transformed into a passion for making a difference in the lives of young children.

In 2017, I was fortunate enough to accept a student teaching placement on Vashon Island, WA at Chautauqua Elementary School, working alongside two incredible teachers in both 2nd grade and kindergarten. Soon after graduation, I began teaching at Children’s Country Day School, a farm and nature-based preschool in Mendota Heights, MN. My co-teacher, Denise Abbott, made a lifelong impact on the way I interact with children – to this day, I aspire to be like her! I then returned to the west coast and trained under the inspiring Erin Kenny, earning my Forest Kindergarten certification from Cedarsong Nature School (the first outdoor nature preschool in North America).

I began to gravitate towards small-town living, and my entrepreneurial mindset was eager to create something from the ground up. With that, Ashdown Forest School was founded. I purchased 6 acres of woodland in beautiful Breezy Point, MN and designed a school building where I could both live and teach. During this time, Jake and I met and instantly became a team – partners in life and in work. With his support, my vision was brought to life. Ashdown opened in the summer of 2019 and we have continued to grow since then, now serving around 40 families each year – in an effort to protect the magic of childhood, connect children and families with nature, promote mindfulness, kindness, social connection, and self-empowerment, and to inspire others to do the same – with a commitment to 100% outdoor learning in all weather.

We’re grateful to now have a cozy yurt classroom, two additional lead teachers, and a yoga specialist. Our forest school programs operate year-round, with full time and part time scheduling options. We’re honored to be a part of this growing movement!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The bumpiest of roads! I sometimes wonder how I found the unwavering determination to start a forest school in the first place. Tunnel vision undoubtedly carried me through. As a true introvert, still building confidence in my profession, I often pushed myself to the limit emotionally. There have been moments when I have felt completely out of my element. It wasn’t until the start of the pandemic that Ashdown really took off. In a time when families and educators had to take a step back and reevaluate schooling, outdoor programs stood out as the best alternative.

The saying, “not all classrooms have four walls”, quickly became a reality for many young learners. With this sudden growth, new struggles came to the forefront. We have since been overwhelmed with an overflow of applicants seeking enrollment, as well as aspiring forest school leaders from across the country seeking guidance on how to get started themselves. Although the benefits of outdoor learning are undeniable, licensing bodies are still warming up to the idea, making it challenging for even those who are well-prepared to successfully start an outdoor school. With no administrative background, this workload has felt unmanageable at times.

Thankfully, we have found like-minded people along the way who have continuously reminded us of our impact and offered support when we needed it most. In the chaos of life as small business owners, we’ve found that every so often, the road smooths just enough for us to take a deep breath and remember our “why”.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Ashdown Forest School?
Ashdown Forest School is a founding forest school in Minnesota, offering Scandinavian-inspired nature immersion programs for children ages 2-7. These are a few of the aspects that set our program apart from traditional preschool options:

NATURE IMMERSION
Nature immersion is defined as “unstructured free time in nature resulting in an intimate, deep and personal connection to the natural world.” Our forest schoolers spend up to 6 hours outdoors each day, naturally promoting environmental stewardship, stimulating children’s innate curiosity, and fostering compassion and empathy for the earth and all living beings.

PLACE-BASED EDUCATION
It has been shown that learning and exploring in a permanent location encourages personal connection with nature, promotes a sense of belonging and comfort, builds an awareness of seasonal changes and patterns, and ultimately begins the flow of environmental activism. Our forest schoolers have the flexibility to explore 30 acres of field and forest land each day, developing leaderships skills and confidence in nature.

FLOW LEARNING & AUTHENTIC PLAY
Flow learning, also known as child-led or interest-led learning, flows naturally from children’s curiosities which may be influenced by the seasons, plants and animals, or individual interests. Children learn more deeply when the curriculum arises organically and they are given space to engage in something that is relevant to them in at that moment. Authentic play, play that is entirely voluntary and self-driven, is effortlessly woven into our daily rhythm. At forest school, flow learning and authentic play are valued above all else, which means teacher-directed activities are a rarity.

EXPOSURE TO RISK
Exposing children to moderate risk and allowing them to develop an awareness of their surroundings is essential for their development. Our forest schoolers are resilient – on a typical day, you may find them happily playing in -15° weather, engaging in sword stick play, running around barefoot, climbing trees and balancing on logs, or whittling around the fire.

FOREST PACK PROGRAM
In an effort to make forest school more inclusive, to build a sense of community, and to ensure the success of an outdoor program, we provide top to bottom outdoor gear for all seasons – including hiking backpacks, hammocks, and full sets of rain and snow gear from the highest quality European brands. We take the saying, “there’s no such thing as bad weather..” seriously!

What makes you happy?
Protecting childhood and helping children find their voice brings me the most joy. Entering our forest school day fully present and agenda-free, watching the magic unfold as we embrace a bit of stillness and boredom.. there’s nothing like it! I also appreciate guiding children through setting personal boundaries and building confidence in themselves. Young children are impressively capable – growing these social-emotional skills fuels me! Children bobbing around in matching rain suits is a close second.. it’s just too cute and never gets old!

We’re incredibly grateful for our friends and neighbors, John and Alice McGee, who have become an integral part of our program. Our connecting woods and The Old Nickel Farm bring a sense of wonder to our days at forest school. We’re also fortunate to have access to the peaceful nature trails preserved by Jim Nickel, who has graciously welcomed our students into his space, lovingly called ‘the sanctuary’.

Contact Info:

• Website: ashdownforestschool.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/ashdownforestschool
• Facebook: facebook.com/ashdownforestschool