Part of the bushcraft element of Forest School is creating a den/shelter/basha that will protect you from the elements in a survival situation.
This valuable skill is resource intensive and requires access to considerable amounts of branches, leaves, ferns etc in a wooded environment; not a problem at our Kirkley Hall venue, but more of a challenge for a school setting.
That is why we here at FORESTed. advocate mini dens when we work on a school site that doesn’t have the advantage of it’s own woodland/trees.
We bring in bags of sticks and twigs and even leaves if necessary and the children learn the theories of den building following exactly the same principles and methods as if they were building a full size den. Tarpaulins can be included in the session so the children experience making a shelter that they can fit in.
The mini dens in the accompanying photo were created by some of the Yr5 pupils I have been working with at a school in Sunderland. It has proven to be one of the most popular sessions I have run with this group.
If you would like to benefit from this session or other Forest School sessions please see here for our contact details.