We had a wonderful day in the forest on Tuesday! The weather was so beautiful, and the children were all able to get into some great play at the fallen oak site.

A group of students spent over an hour focusing on building fairy houses, complete with gardens, spy cameras, and tiny furniture!

Another group of students spent the morning putting on parties! Building parties, dance parties, singing parties, climbing parties! We noticed how collaborative the children were, really enjoying bringing other into their games!

Another theme we took note of was problem-solving, both in the environment and emotionally. The children take such good care of each other!

Wednesday themes:

• Play silks became cat fur • Building with sticks • Binoculars and bird field guides • Freeze dance • Mud cake and mud cupcakes • Compromise • Paper bowl umbrellas • Paper bowl lamps • Sharing • “House” • Spiderman •

Thursday was an adventurous day! We dodged heavier rain and we’re able to take a walk to the ravine the students have loved playing in lately! Unlike last week, we didn’t find a stream running through the ravine, but did find lots of moss, snails, and sandy soil…not to mention a juvenile Red Bellied Watersnake on the trail! Thank you to Marc for your wonderful help as our Forest Helper, and to Graham for bringing a nourishing lunch!

Friday began with a very exciting visit from a landscaping truck near the drop off area! We watched as our park friend, Berto, dumped a load of mulch into the parking lot!

Once we arrived at the Crow’s Nest, some friends made a pretend campfire with firewood and playsilks. They gathered sticks to roast pretend marshmallows. We took a walk to the ravine again, in search of a stream left by the rain. We didn’t find a stream, but we did find slugs, sand, and lots of moss again! We hiked back up the big hill just in time for Sarah to bring lunch.

Notes from Eva!:

Students enjoyed making volcanoes and caves in the sand pit; Jamie found a giant worm and was brave enough to pick it up and show her friends! The day finished off with a fun game of finding dinosaur bones and fossils in the sticks and rocks around the pick-up area. Though students’ bodies may get tired after a long morning of playing in the forest, their imaginations never do.

We’re wishing you all a fantastic weekend, and can’t wait to see you next week!