Day 1 forest school practical

Today began the practical part of our training and today was about coming together.  Creating through experience and sharing, a sense of community and place.
Coming into training today I was reserved, I held my fights, thoughts of nay sayers, my own doubts close and expected to justify my thoughts to explain myself and to put my ideas into a context for others before we could move forward.  I didn't have to! Today I realised what it meant to be in the right place, at the right time and with the right people.  Our group is eclectic, people were there because they believe, deeply that learning in and of nature is the right and most needed form of education for our children.  We come with many experiences, much knowledge and thought but what has brought us all together in this place, as one this week is the same and for that I am truly grateful.

Although there is so much about each other to get to know, there is a fundamental understanding that means that conversations flow easily, there is a genuine desire to know, to learn and to share knowing that we all have a similar foundation and belief.  Easy isn't the word, but comfortable feels right.

Activities - rope shapes, eyes closed, square, triangle, 5 pointed stars.
- moving a group through ropes
 Chances for observation of the group, who takes leadership roles, who takes a backseat.

Walk to home tree - notice the small, the minute - take view to the small, that is where the magic is, adults see big, children see small.  Attend to the small and find the engagement.  Identify plants, mushrooms along the way, don't expect to engage the whole group. Plants found, dandelion (lions teeth, leaves), coltsfoot, self heal, plantain, creeping buttercup (poisonous), mushrooms sticky bun/pine mushrooms edible, grow near pines sticky tops - all mushrooms with tubules are edible.

Slow walk through, students to meet their own needs by responding to interest.  Think of a way to call or collect people without interrupting the natural flow of the day and learning.

Home tree covered in small strands of coloured wool.  Leader engages students in excitement, story of fairies breath and imagination.  Explains the colour of the wool represents, earth, sea, sky, sunset and sunrise - describe and make connections.  Ask students to choose 2 colours that connect them.  Then find others with the same colours.  Nice way of finding groups, create partners from the group.  Ask for a volunteer - continue the story, adding intrigue with nonsensical suggestions.  Twist the colours together to form a tight band, BOING and tie the ends together using a granny knot (time for observation knot tying tenacity....then put it on friends wrist - forest school friends forever.  About coming together in a place, sharing an experience, having an opportunity to talk in a non threatening way to others, having a purpose.  Feel part of a club through getting something to keep, that bonds/ties connects the people of the forest school.  This activity has so many facets and so many opportunities for adaption to place and people - I'm thinking of using flax, adding treasures or tokens found that add meaning to the wearer.  Treating them like bead necklaces - experiences can add tokens if wanted/appropriate.

* Make connections to experiences that are familiar, if you can't imagine you can't do.

Tool talks - see manual for tool talk info. The need for direct and specific conversations about each tool, to take it slowly, to be consistent.  To introduce tools one at a time.  To combine their use when they are mastered.  Make time for practice, to try, to see.  Make groups of 5 people to allow for all students to interact at their pace and level.  'Safety officers' give room to watch and make suggestions to others in a non threatening, helpful way.  I see these as important, the need to be repeated, to make each a mantra that kids can use and apply.

Fire - talk about what works and why, making it a safe place with expectations that are consistent and positive.  Use positional language in games to establish and reinforce expectations.  In and out, around direction...ensures safety without the need for management.  Everyone feels empowered in the space and no-one 'owns' the space.

In thinking about our sessions, ensuring that we connect in the space, that we engage as tangatawhenua not only with each other but with the land, with papatunuku me te wairua o te ngahere.  To start the session with a karakia specific to the forest schools site.
Song - enviroschools connection - give thanks to the mother gaia...ē tū kahikatea

Making tent pegs - the process but with no end goal, does this ensure focus on the current activity without a desire to rush ahead. The feeling of success and pride that comes from creating something with your own to hands, something you can adapt, work with and keep.  This feeling for kids must give a great sense of achievement and allow them to share in their forest schools journeys in a way that only something tactile can.