Our Week in the Forest
What a week it’s been in the forest! Between sunshine, rain and even a thunderstorm, our little explorers showed endless energy, imagination and resilience as they played, created and discovered together.
One of our special moments this week was collecting memories. Each child shared something meaningful with their forest educator, which was carefully written down and brought to life through mark-making and symbols. These creations were then placed into our Memory Box, a growing treasure chest of magical moments from their time in the forest.
Autumn treasures were everywhere, nothing was more exciting than the conker hunt. The children discovered them hidden under the leaves, using tongs to collect, sort and count their finds. Some imagined them as ingredients, others as pirate treasure and many couldn’t resist carting them around in buckets. Later in the week, they used tools to turn their collected conkers into key rings and necklaces - a patient and focused task that brought so much pride.
From clay creatures decorated with loose parts to self-portraits celebrating unique features, creativity was flowing across camp. The children enjoyed painting hand and footprints, measuring them with rulers and comparing sizes - a wonderful way to track their growth. In the mud kitchen, there was pasta, potions and even chia-seed slime, with lots of scooping, stirring and laughter along the way.
Cardboard boxes became the stars of camp - first houses, then cars, wolf dens and even a dance floor when the rain knocked them down. The children' s imaginations turned simple materials into endless opportunities for collaboration and fun.
A highlight was the tool session, where our Little Forest Folk-ers worked with hammers, nails and wood to create a new Zones of Regulation check-in board. Soon, this will be a daily resource to help them reflect on their feelings and regulate throughout the day.
Adventure walks led to tractor spotting, ball and hoop challenges, and of course, visits to the conker tree. Even when thunder and lightning sent us back to the clubhouse, the children stayed cheerful, treating it like another part of their adventure.
It has been a week of teamwork, imagination and growing independence. We can’t wait to see what the children get up to next.
Little Forest Folk
Putney Heath