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.