Summer of 2022 brought me to one of the most vibrant cities in the United States, New York.

I was surprised to find a very saturated Forest School Environment within one of the largest urban centers in America-New York City. On a Summer day in 2022 director & free play enthusiast Lilly Clark welcomed me to tour Brooklyn Nature Days in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park. I was initially surprised by the size and scope of this program. Operating in one of the largest urban parks in the world, BND had 15 different groups operating in various parts of the park at once. Lily, Susanna, and Sarah founded Brooklyn Nature Days back in 2014. Alongside BND, they also operate a sister school that utilizes Prospect Park's nature scape, known as Wondorschol.

First thing in the morning, parents met for drop-off at various entrances along the perimeter of the park where the instuctors where waiting with a blanket on the grass. Instructors were equipped with some gear including a small wagon full of books and various materials. Children arrived with hats, backpacks, and an excited attitude for the day ahead. At 9:15am we said goodbye to parents and headed off down the trail. After a short hike and check in to assess how everyone was feeling, the children decided they wanted to explore the creek. Instructors led the children on a nature hike to the creek. Our day consisted of a short hike to a “base camp”, free play in a grove of trees, lunch under a beautiful maple, and story time. By the end of the day we had come across turtles, various birds, and lantern flies, which the children quickly warned me about and explained how its invasive nature makes it dangerous to their environment.

Although Brooklyn Nature Days did not partake in some typical Forest School activities, including barefoot exploration, swimming in the creek, or climbing trees, children received a rich nature immersion experience considering they were in the heart of bustling Brooklyn. Students were welcomed to use either the park’s public bathroom facilities, or a “nature potty” consisting of a small tent with a camping toilet(instructors packed out waste). Although fairly manicured compared to other rural site locations, Prospect Park offered more than 500 acres of nature for students to utilize. Although this forest school was not as “wild” as others I’ve visited, it still embodied the same general philosophy and offered children an opportunity to immerse themselves in nature amongst one of the largest urban centers in the world.

While visiting I spoke with various staff and learned how Instructors at Brooklyn Nature Days were offered various professional development opportunities including anti-biased training.

One variable that BND has had to face being in a dense urban environment, is elevated lead levels within Prospect Park. A statement on their website read, “A recent study by WNYC tested the levels of lead in the soil in Prospect Park. One area in particular, around the band shell on the west side, tested high for lead.” BND has taken a number of actions in the midst of this knowledge to assure the children’s safety, including an independent study which showed levels in acceptable ranges around play areas. You can read more on their website at https://brooklynnaturedays.com.