This week, we began our brand-new theme - My Forest! Even though the sunshine hid at times, our Little Forest Folk-ers filled camp with colour, creativity and lots of forest fun.
We started the week by making natural dreamcatchers using sticks, string and colourful yarn. The children loved chatting about dreams! Our tuff tray became a “pasta restaurant” as little chefs scooped and stirred rice, orzo, spaghetti and herbs. Some of the food critics were very particular, sending dishes back to the kitchen with giggles all around!
The children joined forces in a collaborative finger-painting activity, adding colourful leaves to a huge tree mural and talking about everything they love about the forest. Later in the week, they explored hapa zome art, pounding leaves and flowers into fabric with hammers. Patterns of bears, dinosaurs and even self-portraits appeared, inspiring lots of creative storytelling. With blackberry season ending, we also used the last of the berries to make blackberry paint, decorating a community canvas with shapes and letters for “big school.”
One morning, the camp turned into a birdwatching hide. The children used real ranger tools - binoculars, a compass and a map of Putney Heath - while discussing how each could help them explore. In the mud kitchen, swampy oobleck kept little hands busy, while others enjoyed peaceful leaf rubbings, revealing beautiful forest patterns with chunky crayons.
To end the week, the children made sparkling nature globes. They gathered tiny treasures - leaves, petals, acorns - then mixed them with water, glycerin and glitter. With every shake, the forest came alive in a swirling storm of sparkles and smiles.
It’s been a week of imagination, exploration and community creativity. We can’t wait to see where the ‘My Forest’ journey will take us next!
Little Forest Folk
Putney Heath