Tools Archives - Page 2 of 2 - Free Spirit Forest and Nature SchoolFree Spirit Forest and Nature School

Wow – what a great week we had with our Project Theme! Students took this opportunity to let their imaginations run wild and built so many different types of projects, including pencil and candle holders, carving projects, crossbows, creative signs for new home décor, an ice fishing stand, a giant cat bed, a home-made fidget spinner, a windmill, a wooden race car, and even new doll clothes from repurposed fabric. Students worked together to build community projects too, including a new swing, a gold panning mine from slides, buckets, nets and pipes, a raft and sail boat, some toboggans and a pulling sled from old skis (which will sure be handy with this fresh white stuff)! Some students even created signs to highlight some of our favourite places on site (like our not-so-secret forts, various campsites and the new “Wal-Matt” wild edible store!

We had a blast working safely and respectfully with tools, sharing equipment and helping one another out with the various projects being constructed. It was extra fun to have a chance to use some projects immediately, like the toboggans, boats and fishing gear. We visited many different spots on the property this week, including Fossil Mountain, where we tobogganed down the Concrete Factory (sand-bogganing on Thursday; snow by Friday!), Riverside, Lakeside and “The Original” Campsites where we had many fires to warm us up. We also explored the other side of the pond, where we found our first ever red-spotted newt on-site!

Some projects that were constructed went beyond physical creations and focused more on community and teambuilding – continuing on previous play, some students focused their energy on continuing their wild edible store and sharing their delicious creations (including a hot soup this time!), some students spent time building forts together and establishing new and improved shelters. It was an awesome week and full of adventure and play.

Without a doubt, you’ve noticed the dip in weather –and while we welcome the snow and all the joy it brings – please remember to bundle up! Pack extras (hats, mitts, socks), wear layers (fleece is great!) under your snowsuit, and don’t forget a thick neck warmer too! It’s also a great idea to have some hot food or drinks at lunch – soups and teas or cider are great this time of year. A HUGE props to the Friday group’s parents for layering up their kids – nobody was ever too cold and we were able to dive in and enjoy our first snowfall of the year!

Thanks for another week of fun!

Your Forest School Team,

Matt, Tamara and Kim

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Hey Folks,

This week at Forest School we channeled our inner Katniss Everdeen and learned all about Archery. It was a huge hit with our students. It certainly left its mark on us. We definitely hit the target with this activity…. enough silly puns – it was a great day and we hope to do it again in the future!

After learning about the components of a bow and arrow, we made for fossil mountain where targets were all set up, including Bucky Jr – a deer which now has the fire range named after him on our school map. After figuring out our eye dominance, learning how to stand and to properly hold, load and fire the arrows, we took aim and let them fly! The learning curve was fast, and after a few arrows, students were able to hit the targets quite often!

During their unstructured time, some students were inspired to create their own bows and arrows – and crossbows, hammers, and pencil holders – in a week of afternoons leaning heavily on tool-use. We learned how to properly use drills, hammers, saws and whittling knives. We were even able to hit some targets with the arrows and bows we made! And by the end of the week, we also trying out sling shots and throwing knives (specifically made for throwing and are very safe).

Meanwhile, others chose to make dream catchers or read books or play games during their unstructured time. A particularly cool project unraveled on Thursday, where students opened up a “grocery store” of wild edibles, soup they made and even sage mouthwash they learned how to make from a wild edible and sustainability book! They sold these items via a barter system or for currency (shells). It’s amazing to watch these moments unfold – the cooperation, collaboration, learning and imagination is inspiring and contagious! We’ll write and reflect more on the power of this experience in our “Campfire Notes” section soon.

Finally, we’d like to send out a HUGE thanks to Mark, who not only lent us all the recurve bows, arrows and targets, but also volunteered his time and shared his expertise with us. Without you, our day would not have been so incredibly wonderful. Thank you so much!

Next Week: change in scheduling!
We will be doing Nature Photography and postponing Caving until the following week. If you have a digital camera that you feel comfortable letting your child use, please send it along with them.

Have a great weekend!

Matt and Kim

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Tuesday