Last Friday saw the return of our wonderful Fathers' Day Forest School party. An unplanned, dramatic start saw our dads proving themselves heroes as they helped an injured DofE hiker who had been passing through the school grounds. Their kindness and empathy were just some of the many attributes that we wanted to celebrate and reward with a special afternoon of bonding up in the woods. 

Deciding there was no better way to begin a warm afternoon outdoors than with an ice lolly and cookie, we started our celebrations around the fire pit area with some refreshments. In true Forest School fashion, there were then some adult led activities available as well as the option for free time and den building! Many children and their dads chose to have a go at our Hapa Zome station, using this ancient Japanese printmaking technique, to create artwork from the natural resources around us. Particularly suited to people who like bashing things with a hammer, we thought this would be a perfect arty crafty activity for our guests! 

The pupils also delighted in creating their dads Elder bead necklaces. The wood from the Elder tree contains a soft pithy core, which the pupils removed with a tent peg to create hollow beads. Accompanied with some thread, knots and the occasional feather, many of our dads then had a priceless piece of jewellery to take home with them as a momento!

With time then also spent however they wished: swinging in hammocks, creating fairy gardens, building impressive dens and even some hide and seek, we hope that all our visitors had an enjoyable afternoon. An afternoon outside, with beautiful weather and some of their most favourite people, I don't think the children would have wished for anything else! Many thanks for joining us, Dads, and we look forward to welcoming you again next year!