Director Application: Sara Collins

Application to become a Director and Trustee of the Forest School Association

Name:…Dr Sara A Collins………………………………………

Organisation/Freelance:…Self employed works as Eco Urban Ranger……………………….

(If you are involved with any organisation – please state the name of the organisation and position held).

Sector Experience/Skills (please rate each from 0 to 3: 0 = no experience, 1 = general background/experience, 2 = Strong relevant experience, 3 = direct relevant experience):

Sector Experience	0	1	2	3
Early Years Forest School			√
Primary Years Forest School			√
Secondary Years Forest School	√
Special Needs Forest School			√
Play Sector	√
Environmental Organisations involvement with Forest School			√
County Council Forest School	√
Academic Research for Forest School/Higher Education	√
Outdoor learning				√
Forest/Woodland management				√
Forest School Training	√
Other (please specify)  Working in a committee structure with an established code of conduct. Remote working and facilitating				√     √
Skills
Media/Communications including social media				√
Business/Marketing				√
Fundraising		√
Events				√
Public Speaking				√
Other (please specify) Photography Writing and publications				√   √

Please indicate which role you would like to apply – job descriptions for the Treasurer and Company Secretary are attached.

Directors
Post	I would like to apply for this post on the FSA Board  (please tick)
Director – Company Secretary
Director – Treasurer
Director – Without Portfolio	√

Please tell us a bit about yourself (max 500 words), including;

• Why you are standing for FSA directorship?

I have been a Forest School Practitioner (Level 3) for four years.  Despite working with the same schools for a number of years self-employment can be an isolating experience, the teachers just don’t have the same expectations or challenges.  I decided to address my professional isolation through the Accredited Practitioner of the Institute for Outdoor Learning programme.  I chose this because I wish to maintain a high standard of work and because the process offered a mentor to work with.  I now have accreditation (March 2014) part of which was a commitment to put something back into the industry.  This was the reason that I applied as a volunteer to support the FSA Facebook content.  Following this experience I would like to support the FSA further.  I worked in a commercial environment for 8 years and completed my MBA (1996) during this period.  I have maintained my interest in business and teach a course of biotechnology entrepreneurship at Bath University.  I am particularly interested in Marketing and Social Media which enables me to express the ‘Geek’ side of my personality.  I would like to see all children benefiting from Forest School and to that end I would like to contribute to the FSA to grow the FSA membership and support my fellow practitioners.

• Your Forest School experience (and this is not necessarily a pre requisite but you will need to have some basic working knowledge of Forest School)

After a career break caring for my son I trained as a Forest School Practitioner (Level 3).  I have combined this with my PhD in forest entomology and knowledge of natural history to work self-employed as the Eco Urban Ranger.  I work with urban children in Portsmouth and currently go into four schools on a weekly basis and four others when their budget allows.  I work with all ages of Primary School children of a particularly wide ethnic diversity.  I use the Forest School ethos within my sessions but regret that the schools budget does not stretch to ‘conventional’ Forest School experience and the schools want all the children to have the experience.  However, we explore all aspects of Forest School including fire, tool work and activities addressing aspects of emotional intelligence.

• How you personally can benefit the FSA.

Pre motherhood I worked in an international business environment for 8 years developing my skills of working with and achieving goals with a diverse clientele including academics, government officials, retail companies and customers.  Since qualifying as a Forest School Practitioner I have worked with a number of schools for four years and have an understanding of the challenges that working outside can present to schools and teachers.   I have been a school governor for six years and am used to working to the high standards expected of such volunteers.  I am also used to the advantages and disadvantages of working with volunteers as a ‘vicar’s wife’.  I maintain my knowledge and interest in how companies use Social Media and develop their brands and have used some ideas for my own work.  I want Forest Schools to be the accepted form of outdoor education for children.  To this end I would like to support the FSA through the role of a director.

• Please declare any special interests or affiliations with other organisations in the Forest School sector including commercial, public sector or voluntary.

Eco Urban Ranger – self employed

Volunteer with the Woodland Trust

I have worked with the Woodland Trust on family engagement sessions at Penn Wood, near High Wycombe.

I am a member of the Woodland Trust.

I am a member and Accredited Practitioner of the Institute for Outdoor Learning.