Sessions
Free Flow Exploration
Children will explore the gardens, woodlands and outdoor spaces, with the opportunity to engage with a variety of inspiring nature based activities designed to foster curiosity and allow the imagination to run wild. This is a time for children to lead their own learning with many moments to connect with nature and be inspired by the awe and wonder that lies within. They will develop a wide range of independent skills that they can take back to their everyday with an evolving understanding of the natural world, knowledge of how to grow and use plants and their role within the community to take care of the planet. This session is available on both Monday and Tuesday.
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The Art of Storytelling
Storytelling is woven into the very fabric of human history. It stretches back long before written words, perhaps even sparking alongside the development of language itself. Some of the earliest glimpses we have are prehistoric cave paintings until oral traditions then became the cornerstone of storytelling for millennia. Skilled storytellers, perhaps shamans or elders, would hold the power to weave tales of history, heroes, and the natural world. These stories weren't just entertainment; they were a way to pass down knowledge, culture, and values from generation to generation. This class encompasses everything involved in storytelling. From learning a story in depth, to retelling a story from memory, to learning performance and voice skills - children will explore old and new stories from traditional English folklore. They will explore the folk tales of the forest and learn about the forgotten stories of magic that inspired some of today's most popular tales. They will also have the opportunity to explore 21st century ways of recording their stories - using film and animation.
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Woodland Craftsmanship
Our aim is to support young people to build a healthy and dynamic relationship between themselves and the woodland. This will include the actions of craftsmanship; planting, cultivating, harvesting, using, making and mending. We will create an ecosystem for children to explore the tools and skills connected to these actions. In this ecosystem, the culture of craftsmanship can be passed on to inspire everyday lives generation after generation.
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"The Earth has music for those who listen."
William Shakespeare
Relax Kids - Mindfulness and Relaxation
This is an opportunity for children to tune in to themselves and learn how to navigate their own internal worlds. This is a space to grow and develop our social, emotional, spiritual and interpersonal development skills. A space to slow down and cultivate our own personal relaxation and mindfulness toolkit. This is a time to develop our practice of becoming more aware of the senses, acknowledging thoughts and feelings, and observing them rather than letting them control our emotions and actions. Activities will include the use of the Arts (art, dance, drama and music) Creative and Expressive Art, Visualisation, Guided Meditation, Somatic Movement, Yoga and so much more! This session is lead by Amy, our own in-house Mentor and Child Psychotherapist who brings an abundance of knowledge, creativity and playfulness to each of her sessions.
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Environmental Art
Environmental art is a range of artistic practices encompassing both historical approaches to nature in art and more recent ecological types of works. It primarily celebrates an artist's connection with nature using natural materials. This session is an opportunity for young people to use the natural environment to share artistic creations that are intended to enhance or become part of the environment, to share a story, or to make a statement on topics or environmental issues that are important to them.
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