Siobhán Madden

Arts & Crafts in Nature

Siobhán Madden is based in the Wicklow hills in Ireland. She is a visual artist, writer and film maker. Siobhán is also a Forest School Leader and works both freelance in schools, and with her own groups in Wicklow. She founded The Natural School of Art which works with Nature as co-faciltator to nurture our creative expressions and insights. Siobhán works with all age groups and finds the unique and creative unfoldment of children in particular, a real joy. Siobhán has a BA degree in Fine Art from the National College of Art and Design (NCAD) in Dublin. She is currently in the middle of a Masters in Arts and Engagment with a special purpose award in eco-arts practice, at Crawford College of Art and Design, in Cork.

Siobhán sees the interconnectedness of life and wishes to give space to nurture a positive relationship with the earth through the creative arts.

Hadas Shvat

Arts & Crafts in Nature

My name is Hadas, and I live in Israel. I started my journey in Waldorf education as a teacher assistant in a Walford kindergarten. I immediately felt, that I had found something I was looking for, for a long time: a warm, peaceful environment, surrounded by nature and harmony, a place where I could find rest.

Since then I had completed my BA in Waldorf education. I am playing, creating and learning through my fingers. I sew, knit, wave baskets, create with felt, and am keeping my hands busy. I study the simplicity parenting approach and help parents to create a loving environment for children to learn and explore. I raise my two young boys in that spirit and constantly keep learning.

Chicco Accornero

Drama, theatre and music

I am a Jazz musician and a Jazz Drums and Percussion Instruments Teacher.

Since 2008 I have been teaching Drums and Percussion Instruments at the "Carlo Soliva" Musical Institute in Casale Monferrato. I have also carried out introductory courses in Rhythm and Percussion Instruments at Lower Secondary Schools and Summer Camps for young students.

During these courses, I was able to interact with children of a very young age, and I was able to ascertain their spontaneity and ease in learning the main notions regarding the use of the various percussion instruments. For the past nine years, I have been collaborating with several Day Centres for motor and cognitive disabilities - with the formation of Percussion Instrument Ensembles made up of these wonderful children. For me, this continues to be one of my most beautiful educational experiences.

I am very honoured to have the opportunity to be part of the Village Forest School and I hope to bring a breath of music and good vibrations, sure that Rhythm is an important means of communication.

Serena Brabazon

Drama, Theatre & Music

Serena Brabazon has studied drama and music in London and physical Theatre at the jacques lecoq school of theatre in Paris.

She has worked for many years in children's theatre,radio and film.

She looks forward very much to collaborating with Moses, working with stories from his native land,looking at music and rhythm, characterization and storytelling in what promises to be an exciting week of dramatic exploration in its many forms!

Roberto Ajmone

Survival & Forest skills

My name is Roberto Ajmone, for over twenty years I have studied the practice and sharing of different traditions of yoga, understood as a relationship and conscious and loving participation in life.

For the last fifteen years I have been a swimming instructor, lifeguard and pool manager in various swimming pools in Piedmont, where I have had the opportunity to interact with children, young people, adults and the elderly.

Over the last few years I have been involved in Permaculture and Synergistic Agriculture, both on a personal level and by collaborating with a number of schools in the area in the context of educational gardens.

Ozro Hamblin

Survival & Forest skills

Hailing from northeastern Utah, I spent most of my childhood roaming natural history museums, state and national parks, and wild places throughout North America. Growing up with a park ranger and paleontologist for a father definitely had its perks. Camping, hiking, rafting, cycling, backpacking, mountain biking, and rock climbing were typical activities of my youth.

After 9 Years in the military, I left to pursue one of my longest dreams which was to work in Antarctica. I worked two seasons on the “Ice” from 2007-2009. I returned to University after 10 months in Antarctica and learned to fly helicopters while taking courses in Wilderness Rescue. In 2014 I began working for the US government first as an environmental protection specialist then as a wilderness and backcountry ranger.

My adventures across the globe have led me to take on many roles including international development, park ranger, wilderness guide, conservationist, environment protection specialist, and sustainability program manager. I love exploring nature with others and sharing passion for the environment with like minded souls.

Clare Jeffries

Food & Farm

I love working with children and helping them see the connection to food, the earth and their own body and health. I qualified in 2006 from the University of Westminster in London and have been helping people heal through nutritional medicine ever since. In recent years I made the decision to specialise in children’s health and wellbeing. Some years back now I also founded a company called Foodie Kids, running classes and workshops in schools, nurseries and the community. These aim to show children where their food comes from and encouraging them to have a natural curiosity in how nature can nourish us, all through hands on fun ways of exploring and cooking!

I have two sons, one 12 and my 13 year old who taught me a lot about managing fussy & difficult eaters! I now have both personal and professional experience in this area and use my knowledge in groups or one to one sessions, to help children overcome fears or resistance and gain confidence in trying new foods much to their parents relief! I’m looking forward to having fun with the children on the summer camp this year in such a beautiful setting!

Julie Hancox

Food & Farm

I love nature, food and flowers!

Since graduating as a Nutritional Therapist in 2016, I work with people to find their way back to health, guiding clients on food and lifestyle choices.

Since 2022, I have been leading local foraging walks in the UK, teaching safe foraging techniques to identify edible plants. I have a passion for creating healthy meals, preserves and teas from my modest vegetable garden and from locally foraged ingredients. I am excited to be returning to Italy, having worked in Monza teaching English in my 20’s.

I love sharing my passion with children, including my 8-year old son. I can’t wait to be one of the leaders on this adventure and help the children have fun with food at the Summer Camp!

Fun fact! We have 3 Silkie chickens called Snowball, Shadow and Helga!

Eliah Golden

Camp Chef

Hi there! I am Eliah Golden from Boulder, Colorado, and I am excited to be at the Village Forest School for summer camp with all of you and partaking in this amazing experience together! As a professional chef of over 20 years, my passion is rooted in nourishing the mind, body, and soul through thoughtfully curated cuisine. I focus on carefully sourcing ingredients with intention and enhance their true being and beauty through simple preparation and unique flavor combinations. I love knowing my farmers and honoring them and their land through a beautiful menu and dining experience. I thrive on tackling problems with eloquent solutions, whether I am executing high end plated dinners, or pop-up street festivals for 10,000 people. As a lover of herbalism and holistic health, my internationally inspired flavors rely heavily on the ample application of fresh and healing herbs, spices and nutrient dense ingredients. I am driven by the fundamental belief of “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” In my free time, I enjoy working in my garden, cuddling my chickens, tinkering on my various ferments and tinctures, playing the piano, travelling and being silly with my husband, Beau, and daughter, Analise.

Pom Granin

Food & Farm

Our activity stems from the desire to spread the culture of respect for horses, in an environment surrounded by nature and in a supportive, welcoming and non-competitive atmosphere.

One of our main intentions is to teach the children who come to visit us respect for animals and nature, and to share with other children, so as to create an environment that is educational and familiar for each of them.

FOOD & FARM

Farm, garden and cooking
June 26th – 30th

• On site Horse lessons
• Feeding and learning about farm animals
• Pick, prepare, cook, eat
• Foraging hikes
• Preserving
• Art inspired by the garden seasons
• Big farm family lunch Weeks end to share week's activities

DRAMA, THEATRE & MUSIC

Drama week with renowned English Professional Story Teller.
July 3rd – 7th

• Beginning to end play production (older age group)
• Puppet theatre production (younger age group)
• Drama games
• Costume making
• Mask making
• Storytelling
• Singing
• Big farm family lunch Weeks end to share week's activities

ARTS & CRAFTS IN NATURE

Arts and crafts week with renowned and published American Nature Art Specialist.
July 10th – 14th

• Natural craft hikes
• Found object sculpture
• Group art projects
• Clay mining, processing and modelling
• Papermaking
• Puppeteering
• Mandala making
• Painting
• Big farm family lunch Weeks end to share week's activities

SURVIVAL & FOREST SKILLS

Survival with Experienced international Survival camp specialist.
July 17th – 21st

• Shelter building
• Orienteering
• Hikes
• Foraging
• woodworking/carving
• Outdoor kitchen
• Storytelling
• Big farm family lunch Weeks end to share week's activities

A BABY STEP IN NATURE

If your child is younger than 4, Orsolina28 in collaboration with VFS is proposing an alternative for toddlers.

Orsolina28 opens its doors to the very youngest babies with four meetings over four weeks discovering, at the hands of mom or dad, movement and nature.

Details and enrollment at Orsolina28

Baby Steps:

Games, small circuits, exercises and experiences to stimulate motor and sensory development. Forty-five minutes dedicated to the discovery of space, music and movement through dance as a means of expression and contact between baby and parent.

Snacks grow on trees:

The mid-morning snack as an opportunity to learn about nature and the gifts it offers us. Four fruits that are born and ripen as the season changes will be the theme of the meetings in the garden to discover together the importance of nature, listening to its rhythms and coming into harmony with them.

28 June 2023

10:00-10:45 Baby Steps

Musicality: discovering the different nuances of music. Approaching the world of rhythm and listening, with the help of some simple instruments.

11:00-11:45 Snacks grow on trees

Mulberries: what does the White Mulberry taste like? What about the red one? And the Pink one? How is this almost forgotten plant grown and what is its importance in country tradition.

5 July 2023

10:00-10:45 Baby Steps

Spacial awareness: outdoors or indoors? Let's explore the space around us and learn how to share it with others!

11:00-11:45 Snacks grow on trees

Cherries: There are different varieties of cherries - let's taste them together! Discovering pollinating insects that are very important for the production of our food.

12 July 2023

10:00-10:45 Baby Steps

Motor skills: Watch me swing! We increase coordination, mobility and body perception.

11:00-11:45 Snacks grow on trees

Small Fruits: Raspberries, currants and gooseberries - fruits as small as we are. How do these plants differ from the trees encountered in previous lessons?

19 July 2023

10:00-10:45 Baby Steps

Espressiveness: Smiles and somersaults to express yourself. Games and exercises to discover what our bodies can do.

11:00-11:45 Snacks grow on trees

Plums: What are Ramasins? We learn about different varieties of plums and why it is important to use local plants that grow in balance with their adversity.