On 1 November, Forest School Azerbaijan held a family mushroom expedition. Children and adults collected mushrooms together, learned about their role in nature, and explored forest life through observation and games.
The expedition brought together family time and outdoor learning. Searching for mushrooms offered an opportunity to look more closely at the natural world and discover organisms that play an important part in forest life.
During the expedition, participants learned about the role of fungi in forest ecosystems. They explored how many fungi break down fallen leaves, wood, and other organic matter, returning nutrients to nature’s cycle.
The discussion connected individual observations with a wider question: how does a forest function, and why do even small, easily overlooked organisms matter? Children learned how fungi help maintain healthy soil and support the wider ecosystem.
At the end of the day, children took part in educational games. The activities focused on attention, observation, comparison, and inquiry, helping participants revisit what they had learned during the expedition.
Knowledge about nature became connected to personal experience. Children could relate new ideas to what they had seen in the forest, discuss their discoveries, and apply their learning through play.
The mushroom expedition gave children and parents an opportunity to spend time together and discover the diversity of life in its natural setting.
For Forest School Azerbaijan, gatherings like this reflect an important principle: learning extends beyond the classroom. Nature provides space for questions, observations, and discoveries, while getting to know it helps build a foundation for caring for the environment.
Sometimes, an interesting lesson begins right beneath our feet, beside a fallen leaf or a small forest mushroom.
