Winter coming

We had a den making session today as we go into the winter having somewhere to shelter if it rains is quite important.  So as well as making a couple of play dens, we made a new shelter.  To make it we put up an ‘A’ frame which we then square lashed a pole to and then to a tree over which we slung a tarp.  The tarp was pegged down with hi viz rope over the weeks we will add sides some log seats and a small fire pit so we can boil the storm kettle.

Our new toy this week was a flask, we can use when we can’t have a fire.  Anyone who has been to a meeting recently will have seen the style of flask with the pump action top to get the hot water out.  As always we had help with putting the hot chocolate powder in cups and then the children wanted to put the water on the powder.  So placing the cup on the log table next to the flask the children pressed the top and it may be a sign of the times but most of the children pressed the button expecting the water to flow not realising they had to put some work in by pumping the button.

After hot chocolate was drained and biscuits had been munched we played thicket which as always goes down really well so everyone was nicely hyped up in time to go home.    

Welcome back Helen

It was welcome back to Helen who is helping out again so she was straight back into the hot seat setting up the fire for hot chocolate. This term we are moving the tree house to a different tree and building a shelter just in case the winter is as wet as the summer was. With our building plans set it was time to revise our knots as there is going to be a lot of rope and string to get tangled in. We started with our stopper knots and figure of eight which held no problems for anyone. We then moved on to the clove hitch which is the basis for square lashing and raft lashing so one we need to master. It was positive to see that most did not give up and some would not stop until they could do it again and again.

Before snack time we divided into three groups and each group chose an area in the FS to build an island. After the hot chocolate had been supped the groups returned to their areas to which I had added piles of sands too and they started modelling their islands. Each group came up with different ideas and started telling stories about what was happening on their island there was a monster island, a pirate island and a tropical island. With the addition of lumps of clay the islands had characters modelled to live on the island and piece of cloth became flags and tents. I think the islands will be returned to over the term and it was really nice in the way the children wanted to show off their islands to their parents at the end of the session which makes me think that we will always do pick up from the FS area in future so that parents can see what their children have been up to.

We are back

After a summer of sport it was time for the Forest Games.  With a few new faces we started the session with refreshing the FS rules and playing the name animal and action game just to make sure everyone knew everyone else’s names.

We divided into two teams and started with an obstacle race under willow hoops, balancing along logs, hopping over willow hurdles, make our way along the slack line and before a run back to tag the next person it was a swing over a giant chasm (will two sticks marking an imaginary chasm).  We then moved onto a relay race with no baton drops with a course around trees through arches and through long grass.  From the track we moved on to stick bowls a jack (two sticks crossed and lashed together) was thrown onto the pitch and then everyone threw a stick (marked either with blue or yellow tape) and the team that got the closest won.  We finished the games with javelin made from two hazel poles, we had different levels of success at throwing these. 

After a cool drink and a biscuit everyone got a medal that they decorated and then it was over to free play.  Next  week it is tree house repairs and sparks