Stickland

10:15. 

We are getting ready to catch the bus. I arrive in the foyer where the children have been gathering what they need for the day and getting dressed in their warm clothing. Teresa, the forest school trained practitioner has also been very busy gathering up all that is required for a happy day in the woods. Snacks, water, spare clothing and the like. As they are waiting for the bus they are singing a song

One two three

Kieran's ready, Kieran's ready

Bag and boots, bag and boots

Waterproof and wellies, waterproof and wellies

Thank you Keiran, thank you Keiran. 

Sung to the tune of Ferra Jacka. 

There is discussion about Stickland as well as singing the song for each of twelve children. Other children have joined in this gathering and are welcomed, although it's not their day to go to the woods. 

10:30 and we are on the bus. There are bags of supplies and a box of food. Children and educators are chatting away, noticing things in the city as we drive towards the woods. Some sit quietly watching out the window. I feel quite sleepy. The city gives way to wider roads and suburbs, with houses rather than tall buildings. 

We arrive at a green space. It's alive with trees, moss, birds and even deer. There is a community area where different groups have structures to support  their 'programs'. There's a tipi that the scouts use, a yurt used by the nursery school, some timber shacks and a fire pit. We stop in the yurt for snack.

11:00

It's time for an adventure. Teresa waits for the children to finish their snack, to be ready to join the group. Some children wander off nearby, others stand with Teresa. It's not until all have decided to join the gathering that they move off together. The first stop is the public toilet. Again children busily investigate the environs nearby while others use the toilet. There's no pressure or stress to be quick or no expectation that they line up or stand waiting. When everyone is ready we move to the next spot, decided by the children. All agree to head to the river. Here we negotiate steep paths, exposed roots, rocks and low branches. We go down a steep incline to the water below. Here we come to a bridge, a bit of timber that has been placed there. It only goes part way across and the children tentatively make their way, carefully placing feet on the wobbly timber, then onto rocks and logs to get across. It doesn't take long for someone to get enough confidence to place their feet in the water, then even less time for them to be splashing and wading. Such fun and some do get wet, but that is their decision and there are cloths to change them into later. If they choose to be cold and wet while on the adventure, so be it. 

The adventure continues. If children choose to stop, we all do. 

I watch Teresa respond to some conflict. One of the children hurt another with a stick. She was immediately there, speaking calmly, comforting the child that had been hurt, drawing the child that did the damage near, gathering all the children together to share in this. She pointed out how much it hurt, suggested what could help, listened to the child crying and was ready to listen to the other. The situation ended in a hug and I observed that child being  very kind to his peer for the rest of the day. 

This child was behind the group and I stayed with her. There was a big gap between us and the rest but we weren't hurried or pressured. She had a great interest in the flowers that grew on the forest floor.

Here are some images of the woodland play space. I played hide and seek in amongst the greenery and watched that little girl roll a flower into a squishy ball. Note the fine motor as her fingers work the gooey mass. Note the language as she says "this is going to be all gooey and mushy now". 

Me in my happy place again.

12:00

Lunch in and around the yurt

12:30 

I watched a small boy laying in a pile of dirt for about an hour. During this trip I've seen a lot of this: children getting as close to the earth as possible, as if they can become part of it. They lie down and soak it up. The earth embraces them. This child spent over an hour making a mound and poking a hole in it, very carefully, then looking through it. It was a work of engineering and a work of art. 

"The silence, only broken very occasionally by a lone bird call, spoke of peace & tranquility & as he lay on the sand, felt the earth reaching up to embrace him, to hold him as its own & to help him exist at that moment in harmony with it and all around him. It's rare to feel this comfortable & this connected" (something a friend wrote to me recently which I think fits well here).

1:30

Some children ran full pelt across the field to a play area. Others stayed near the yurt. 

2:00

Children were called together to reflect on the day, sing a few songs and get ready to board the bus

2:30 

Back on the bus. 

3:00

At the centre the children needed to change and put things up to dry. They then played in their rooms or outside. 

4:00

I met with Lynn at last, who is the head of the centre. We had a fantastic long discussion about her PHD research in transition to school. Lynn has followed the experiences and progress of children from Cowgate to the early years of school. We talked about children's and parents ideas and attitudes towards school. Lynn found that many expected certain things of school and a lot of it has to do with fitting in and conforming, which I thought was really interesting. When parents were asked if they would like their child to be seen as an individual or someone who fitted in, most said fitting in. Again, I could have spent hours discussing this but it was time for me to go and for her to get on with her busy day. 

I came back to the apartment feeling sad and a little lost now that my study tour was finally at an end, and increasingly daunted by the mountain of clothing spilling out of my bag, spreading and cascading like an Edinburgh mist, the result of my not being able to find my camera charger a few days ago. 

So now I have the trip home to face and the job of putting all this into some sort of sense to talk to my colleagues about on Monday at our preschool conference. Who's idea was that? Oh yes, that would have been me. 

Thank you for joining me on this journey. I have really loved having you all along, knowing that there are people from all over the world interested in this concept and my discoveries. My email is posted on the blog in my profile so please feel free to contact me if you'd like to. 

I may have a few things to share as I make my way home, but if I don't, see ya!

I've arrived in Fife

I'm in Fife. It was no mean feat getting here, let me tell you. After some significant drama and another lesson in resilience I find myself yet again alone in a hotel room with my luggage and my iPad, contemplating the adventure that this is, and enjoying the softening of the experience that a large glass of wine can bring. ( they serve large servings here which I think is about half a bottle). 

The trip from Denmark to here was not, for the most part, much fun. I got to Copenhagen airport by taxi in plenty of time and enjoyed a dark ale and a conversation with a fellow called Mike at one of the bars. I like connecting with people, and he was interested in what I was doing so far from home. It's always fun trying to share the concept of Nature kindergartens with people who have never heard of the concept or contemplated it. 

Then things went pear shaped. Long story short, my flight from Copenhagen to Brussels was delayed, giving me significant worry that I might miss the connection again. I didn't, I made it by minutes. Brussels airport has gates A and B and the journey to gate B that is reserved for connecting flights took nearly an hour. Knowing I was cutting it fine didn't allow me any time to take in the atmosphere, and the usual fug I'm in when trying to find my way around was another reason to walk around with an anxious frown stamped on my face the whole time. I did make it however, just in time to join the line to board and the next flight was without incident. 

Ok, so this is where the fun starts. I arrive at Edinburgh, get through customs and  start confidently to the car rentals. I walked the long stretch, a five minute walk outdoors, covered but still exposed and cold and don't forget I'm carrying and pulling over 30 kilos of luggage. The wind is arctic and whips my scarf all around my head. I arrive at the office where a gorgeous young girl serves me. She is chatty and friendly and so comforting, that is until my credit card is declined! What! Declined! It can't be. But it was, and I had no back up plan. They needed a secure credit card to let me take a car and I didn't have it. I wanted a car with a gps which was going to cost a huge amount extra, plus they said I needed insurance. It was going to diminish my scholarship funds considerably, but that was mute because my credit card was declined. Her tone changed from sweet and friendly to officious and professional. They could do nothing for me. So I caught a bus.

Panicked calls to the teachers credit union and my husband were to no avail. Nobody was open and once Graeme is asleep that's it until morning. I managed the .05 km walk from the bus stop to my hotel, all uphill and this time sleet added to the blustery winds whipping my face. I  got past the concierge without having to leave a credit card for security, got settled, showered and dressed to emerge back out on the street to find a meal.  I walked along a lovely ancient street where there were a fantastic selection of cafés and I chose one where two young fellas were playing and singing traditional Scottish folk music. I drank cider, ate salad and tried to relax. 'Live very moment' was sign posted on the door and it reminded me that every moment is precious even when things seem insurmountable. 

Sleep was hard to come by and I have to admit I shed a few tears in frustration and worry that night, but sleep I did. 

That restless sleep found me ready for breakfast the next morning. The breakfasts here have been amazing! I start with fruit and yoghurt, progress to toast and eggs, mushrooms, baked beans, then finish with a pastry or two. All this with lashings of tea and some times a coffee as well. Going home to Vegemite toast is going to be an adjustment. 

I got stuck into that breakfast with all my might, packed and left my room. I tested my credit card and found it worked fine. I bought a shiny new tom tom, I checked with the flight centre across the road about the car hire plan I'd paid for in full and was told I don't need extra insurance, and I caught a bus fully armed and ready to tackle whatever came my way. I got the car at no extra cost and drove to Fife. 

So here I am, in the hotel room, enjoying the quiet and settling in with a cup of tea and my new book. I'm looking forward to visiting the Secret Garden tomorrow. I'll let you know what I learn and experience. I will be meeting them at their forest venue, meeting new people and having the time of my life. 

Bye for now.