Week 1 Ash class

This morning, under beautiful blue skies—perfect Forest School weather—Ash Class began their first Forest School experience! The excitement was infectious as we set off ready to connect with nature! As with every new group, we started by learning the important rhythms, rules, and patterns that will guide us each week. On our walk down to the Forest School site, we thought of our own nature names, which we use each session. Gathering in the Forest School circle, we talked about the canopy above us and introduced our key rule: “Don’t pick, don’t lick, and watch your stick!” We kicked things off with fire circle etiquette, playing games like swapping places and animal matching. But the real excitement began when we got to explore the woodland! The children used hazard flags to mark things that could be dangerous or areas we want to protect—like the beautiful daffodils and newly planted trees. Some children crafted nature bracelets or weaved sticks while others built an incredible den—complete with rules and a secret passcode to get in! A couple of boys engineered a zip wire for toys, and another group created a nature sanctuary for soft toys. As the session came to an end, we sat around the fire circle to learn how to make our own hot chocolate and wash up afterward. The morning flew by, and we finished by passing the talking stick, sharing our favourite moments from our first Forest School.