
FSL Membership criteria
FSL membership requirements overview (please contact FSL for detailed requirement descriptions):
Program director and lead instructor qualifications:
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Bachelor’s degree
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CPR/First Aid certification child-adult
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Wilderness first aid certification, and/or Wilderness First Responder certification if your site location is more than 1 hour from the nearest emergency medical unit
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Training/professional development hours in:
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Child development (college credit or certified professional development courses)
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Forest/nature-based education (via ERAFANS, Forest School Association, etc)
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Naturalist skills (Master Naturalist training, Living Earth-type programming approved by FSL)
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Continuing education credits every year
Assistant instructor qualifications:
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HS diploma; ages 18+
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60 hours of training/professional development hours in a related field (child development, forest/nature-based education, naturalist skills, etc.)
Professional portfolio of your team structure including:
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Parent and staff handbook and detailed description of your program outlining how you are meeting FSL best practice standards including a 1:6 adult:child ratio for children aged 4+, 1:5 for ages 3+, 1:4 for ages 2+, and 1:3 for children under 2-years-old
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First aid kit on site
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“Leave No Trace”
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Toileting and sanitation practices
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Daily hazard checks
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Snack mid-morning, and lunch if program is longer than 3 hours
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Rest time if program is longer than 4.5 hours
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FSL weather closure policy regarding dangerous temps, storms, and high winds, etc.
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Emergency preparedness plan
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Professional risk assessment site report (format available in FSL documents section)
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Background checks for all adults working with the children
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Keeping attendance
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Children’s medical records
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Site visit assessment and observation
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Yearly renewal application and full re-evaluation every 4 years