Forest School Jo

So here it is, my final day on the Scilly Isles. I'm going to miss waking up to this view... Cases groaning as we squashed our treasures inside, beds stripped, rubbish in sacks, luggage hauled to the port for 10am, and then the final few hours enjoying St. Mary's. My hand baggage is heavy so I chose to stay very local. A wander in the shops, lunch by the sea, a swim, a book, and sunshine. It sped by way too fast! Last night we all dined together, all 9 volunteers plus Katie and kind of said our goodbyes then. Today all 5 of us staying at Kistvaen were on the 4.30 Ferry, so we mingled a bit, found our own way to say goodbye to this place, and boarded together for a calm crossing to mainland Cornwall. We laughed, and chatted, and dozed on the deck in the sun. The denim blue sea was gentle, with ripples and dolphins speeding us on our way.  Penzance was welcoming and the boat service ran like clockwork, all too soon we were on the docks in a group hug saying goodbye. We have lived...

Tomorrow will be the penultimate day. Forest School with the 3 - 8 year olds, I'm really looking forward to it, watching the children enjoy the woods and exploring the environment. Today, however, was my last full 'day off', and it was glorious! The sun shone, the sea sparkled, the white sand glittered, the green of the trees and gold of the broken was vibrant. A few volunteers and I headed off to St. Martin's, the 5th inhabited island here at the Scilly Isles, and the 5th one we've visited. This wasn't the usual boat trip chugging over to a sister port, we took the long way, the wildlife tour around the Eastern Isles, and looked out for seals! The water was very calm considering we are nestling in the British corner of the Atlantic. The breeze was warm. Seals lazed on the rocks or bobbed their heads out of the water to watch us pass by. It's never entirely certain who is the voyeur! The people holding mobile phones aloft or the water creatures watching us w...

The last two days haven't really involved Forest School, but the have involved exploring, hiking, and nature! Saturday a group of us volunteers took the boat from St. Mary's over to Tresco and visited the Gardens there. The garden is home to many trees and plants that seem tropical in the UK, it has amazing views out onto the island it is planted on, the sea and islands around it, and of its own vistas. It also has the friendliest Golden Pheasants I have ever met AND the most adorable red squirrels! Having wandered the garden we strolled the coast, had lunch, and hiked back to the jetty in the nick of time for the last boat! Today, Sunday, we climbed back on one of the many boats that ferry people between the islands that make up Scilly and sailed to Bryher.  We made use of one of the many honesty huts and started our walk with home made cinnamon buns, and an artist's open studio, before exploring coves and bays, a little sea swimming, and a wander to the bustling fete. We ...

My actual volunteering here on Scilly is almost over, but my stay isn't. I'll be back at Forest School on Wednesday with the younger 3-8 age group. But between now and then I have 4 days to myself. Evening at St.Hugh That doesn't mean I'll be solo. There are 8 volunteers on St. Mary's Island, all here to help ensure a Summer Camp can go ahead. Some people have links to Katie, who runs Isle of Scilly Forest School, and some of us contacted her after she put out a notice of help wanted! There are 2 friends here from the Sussex Coast who have many years of experience of working with children, one of whom regularly attends Forest School within the Primary she works in and is going to start leading sessions in September. There is a Forest School Leader & Scout Leader who has travelled from The Midlands, another FSL who braved the journey from Cambridgeshire, and a Forest School newbie from just across the water on the mainland in Cornwall. We have a volunteer who has...

In true busy forest school fashion, no time to take lots of pics today! The group of two dozen 8-14yr olds had a blast. Woodwork, slate painting, den building, hammock lazing, slack line challenge, etc etc kept everyone entertained! The older children need supervision from a distance. They are much more able, and much more independent, but just as willing to chance their luck pushing boundaries!  We also had a visit today from the Scilly Wildlife Trust who explained a little of the environment we were all in, and took the most interested children off for a Wildlife wander.  Today they also had the opportunity to make a Basha Boat, which was literally carried to the nearby beach to test! Lots of children dipped in and out of helping, but the adults did the most of the actual building! The setting continues to be stunning - but that is every inch of St. Mary's, and every other island in the Scilly's. The biggest difference between Forest School at Chartham and here is the settin...

Today we were in the forest with 24 children aged between 3 and 8 years old. The day started damp because of sea mist, cleared up, and returned to misty as we packed up. We started with some activities but held back with a few more ready to bring out as the day progressed.  Other than the usual requests for help with shoelaces and dungarees, it was a session where all the children found ways to enjoy and engage with their surroundings while mostly ignoring the adults! This must look strange from the outside, but child-led, self-motivation is what Forest School aims for, and today the children cooperated, collaborated, made friends, and explored. They looked at the Forest from different levels. Climbing is always popular and a great vantage point to just watch what others are doing. Swinging and bouncing are both exciting and soothing at times. Finding tour balance with a friend just makes it more fun! Putting on a show, Forest Karaoke, is always a winner, as is making tour own prop...