We've been sinking into more core routines of nature connection over the past couple of weeks at Big Scrub Nature Play as the children have been introduced to the practices of "Fox Walking" and "Owl Eyes". Fox Walking is a sneaky way of moving through the bush, quietly and with agility, which allows us people to become "invisible" and undetected by wild creatures so that we don't scare them off! While we do that we use our Owl Eyes, to expand our vision and pay attention to all the eyes can take in.
You can encounter amazing things when you really pay attention to what's going on around you. So far we've been lucky to encounter water dragons, frogs, cane toads, tadpoles, caterpillars and an incredible amount of birds, just to name a few!
In terms of activities, on week 3 we have started introducing tool usage. As you might know at Forest School children learn to appropriately handle and use real tools - hammers, knives, axes. This happens, of course, gradually and only - and if - the children are ready.
So we started with mullets and did some flower pounding. The children created some beautiful flags, with lots of colours from the flowers and leaves we used.
When they finished the craft they all hang their flags on a rope we had been using for playing. It was quite a display!
On week 4 we've explored clay, crushed and mixed spices in our mud kitchen and made nature crowns with yellow and orange leaves we've been collecting and peacock feathers (donated by a lovely lady I've met who has peacocks on her farm!).
We've been sinking into more core routines of nature connection over the past couple of weeks at Big Scrub Nature Play as the children have been introduced to the practices of "Fox Walking" and "Owl Eyes". Fox Walking is a sneaky way of moving through the bush, quietly and with agility, which allows us people to become "invisible" and undetected by wild creatures so that we don't scare them off! While we do that we use our Owl Eyes, to expand our vision and pay attention to all the eyes can take in.
You can encounter amazing things when you really pay attention to what's going on around you. So far we've been lucky to encounter water dragons, frogs, cane toads, tadpoles, caterpillars and an incredible amount of birds, just to name a few!
In terms of activities, on week 3 we have started introducing tool usage. As you might know at Forest School children learn to appropriately handle and use real tools - hammers, knives, axes. This happens, of course, gradually and only - and if - the children are ready.
So we started with mullets and did some flower pounding. The children created some beautiful flags, with lots of colours from the flowers and leaves we used.
When they finished the craft they all hang their flags on a rope we had been using for playing. It was quite a display!
On week 4 we've explored clay, crushed and mixed spices in our mud kitchen and made nature crowns with yellow and orange leaves we've been collecting and peacock feathers (donated by a lovely lady I've met who has peacocks on her farm!).
Our base camp is still flooded, due to the heavy rain we've been having in the past weeks. So we ventured on the east side of the lake to find a new location - and we found quite a nice spot. However, sadly on this end there are not so many trees that are great for climbing. Our explorers have been really missing their special climbing tree, so on week 4 I thought a slack line could be a good way to test our balancing skills. Oh, I can tell you there was a WHOLE LOT OF MONKEYING AROUND!
We started off by asking children to go one at the time .. but I must admit that didn't last long. By the end of the morning they were all swinging on it - at once!
I am so grateful for these magical moments in the nature with such a great group of explorers. 'Till next week!
.png)
Comments