Zen Tower

We were set the challenge of competing with 2 other groups to build the tallest tower using only natural materials. Our team approached the challenge with a desire to build and create but not to compete. We found ourselves naturally drawn into purposeful roles: 2 builders, 2 gatherers. The process of making the tower became very meditative: we became deeply absorbed in the action and aesthetic of building the structure.

The competitive basis of the task seemed to us to go against what each of us felt and understood about the ethos and aims of Forest Schools practice. Is Forest School the place to introduce competition between peers? What would we be trying to teach through peer competition? Is competition with peers the best way to motivate?

My thoughts and feelings come back to recognising that whilst competition can provide motivation it must also be recognised that wherever there are winners there are also losers: someone experiences success and others experience failure.

Competition between peers is not something I would consciously choose to introduce into a Forest School programme. My leanings are much more towards mutual success and achievement through cooperation.

Fire starter

Logs are pegged securely in a square about 1 metre across to define a safe working space. A bed of finger-width sticks provides a base for the tinder and kindling to rest. Cotton wool and birch bark are covered with fine dry kindling twigs. slightly thicker twigs form a small tipi around the tinder and kindling pile. A magnesium striker is used to generate a spark to ignite the cotton wool; which in turn lights the birch bark; then the kindling; then the small twigs. More twigs are added to keep the fire going until the twigs are large enough to maintain a steady stable fire.

Simple seating

A simple seat using three trees, two lengths of wood and twine. The ends of the twine are tied to the trees using timber hitch knots so that when someone sits on the seat the knots tighten. The lengths of wood are tied in place using clove hitches. The finishing touch was knotted netting to the seat more comfortable.