As we enter a new school calendar year, we look forward to meeting new faces and seeing familiar children continue to grow. As children become more acclimated to the flow of the FORESTplay day, and increasingly comfortable in their groups, we begin to see the many benefits of nature immersion. Our goals as staff includes facilitating development of the WHOLE child, which we pride ourselves in taking into consideration unique needs and being able to meet them with our smaller group ratios. Once we have a greater understanding of the groups’ interests, dynamics and behaviors, we can further plan weekly experiences and activities aligning with the needs of the group. Many of our kids gravitate towards adventures that involve finding specific forest treasures and collecting them. Collection of natural items is one primary way that children connect with nature.
Enjoying Fall in the River's Edge Forest
Fall brings excitement and joy not only to the kids, but guides as well!
Fall changes in the forest allow children to understand how the forest is very much alive, and recognize there is a world outside of themselves. Additionally, the variation in leaf shape and color allow for plenty of hikes focusing on finding special leaves. The colorful leaves inspire creativity and imagination as the children play. We’ve had many leaf creations, leaf hunts and HUGE leaf piles. We love seeing the children connect with one another while practicing key social skills to accomplish making the best leaf pile for all to enjoy.
Other FORESTplay fall activities have included adventures in search of mushrooms! November brought ideal weather conditions for mushroom and fungus growth. We use the magnifying glasses to see up close and discover all of the parts! Teaching the kids about the importance of fungi for the environment helps them understand not to pick all of the mushrooms to keep.
In our FORESTtherapy and social skills groups we have been focusing on mindfulness and relaxation. Some of our therapeutic activities include leaf mandalas, using leaves to create rainbows, and sewing them together to make leaf headbands or skirts. We also collected acorn caps to make colorful wool acorns together. These activities promote mindfulness as they require attention to detail and focus. The kids can also choose how they want to design their creations, promoting self-expression. There is encouragement and discussion as the group reflects on their week.
As the weather becomes cooler, we have been taking longer adventures which leads to new discoveries further from camp. Longer hikes are beneficial in many ways, including building childrens’ endurance, strength and resilience. We make sure to take plenty of breaks, checking out large root balls, and naturally stop for climbing opportunities on fallen trees. Beginning our FORESTplay days with an adventure through the forest appears to set a positive tone for the rest of the day and open the door for exploration and play.
Thank you for allowing us to work with your children. We are so appreciative for all of our supportive families in the River’s Edge community. Happy Thanksgiving!
