An Open Start...

Following our last session, Andrew and I sat down and reflected on what we wanted from the Woodland Wild Play sessions.  We both agreed that we wanted it to be more child led to stick with the ethos of forest school.  Last week, we had practised the fire circle, covered the woodland boundaries and covered some basic rules.  So this week, we decided to let go of any planning and see where the children led us.  

Although the basics need to be kept to, there is also space to be purely child led without forcing rules in an adult to child manner.  The rules would be gently reminded of when necessary.

For the majority of the session, the children made dens, either on the ground or up trees, explored, put up tarpaulins in their dens, explored how to climb a tree using a rope and generally did their own exploration.  

There was a request for the ropes to go up, but at a higher level, so Andrew helped them put them up and led a discussion on now that we had higher ropes, how were they going to get on them.  Requests for ropes higher up in the trees were referred to Go Ape courses!

Working together to transport wood.

 The activity of collecting wood for the campfire is continuing, it was started last week, so this week, the boys devised a way of carrying more wood up to their wood stack. We will be having marshmallows and popcorn on the last session so they are working towards considering what we will need.  I was really impressed with the wood carrier and they look really proud of it.

Even the grown ups are getting involved with den building and tying knots

We finished with a game of Capture the Flag, using led strips as a flag, this involved a whole range of spying, diversions, attack, defence, communication, capture & rescue, creeping, moving quietly, being noisy and generally having fun.  It was a great way to finish the session before hot chocolate, we may need to cover some boundaries of not shoving and being mindful of other people, which is all part of learning to deal with life.

Hot Chocolate and Sultanas finished us of and refreshed us all before heading home.

And then...

It was all quiet, the owl was giving us advice on how to pack the car when we realised how beautiful the full moon was.  It dipped in and out of the clouds and gave us a light to view a beautiful old ash tree by. Andrew got his camera and tripod out of the car and we spent some time admiring the view as he photographed it.