Data Results from my StudyAfter analysis of the data, open coding, axial coding and selective coding what it all boiled down to was an ongoing and endless amount of possibilities found in the forest schools. Below is an image of a "systems thinking" visual model of what the data revealed. So, please let me explain this graphic. Yes, there is a lot going on in this image, but there was a lot going on at the Forest Schools too. Analysis Through the first stage of analysis I used open coding, which means as I read through I looked for particular themes and ideas that stood out or were reoccurring. There were 15 themes that stood out. I then read through the data and coded any words, phases or sentences that fit each of the themes. Axial Coding The next level of coding is called Axial. During this stage I looked for connections between the core theme and broke them down core themes into larger collective categories. Through this analytical technique four main categories emerged plus an outlier category. They are listed below with the sub-categories below them. The sub-categories are not in a hierarchical order. Selective Coding The final stage of analytical coding is called selective coding. During this stage I took another pass through the data and chose the core concept, which all other categories and sub-categories are grouped around in order to explain the phenomenon of Forest Schools. And it is no big surprise that the core concept is Nature. Nature Nature is the environment, the classroom, the supplies, the teacher and the inspiration for absolutely everything in these schools as one would assume. All experiences are centered around nature. Even if the school is set in a sparsely wooded area, whatever nature can be found will be use. All interactions, lessons and activities either revolved around being in nature or respecting nature. The level that directly connects to nature has three components; Creativity, Autonomy and Play The Big Three: Creativity, Autonomy and Play I will continue this story but I think I may be getting a bit too detailed for one post. So, after a month and a half of going through notes, and artifacts and all the data I collected in Germany and the Netherlands I have just begun to scratch the surface of what I found. I uploaded everything into NVIVO a data program to help me sort information. I have been honestly overwhelmed by the experience and have been mulling around in my mind what I saw and how to communicate it.
Above is the first round of data analysis, with the major themes that were found and data coded. This is completely fascinating. Any thoughts so far as I go into my next round of analysis? Forest Schools in The Netherlands I was able to see 3 different elementary schools in the Netherlands during my four days here. They were all located in the Haag. I can say they were not really forest schools per say. I don’t think they would consider themselves forest schools, but they would consider themselves a Forest Program. The children rotate to the forest program as a special class. They also incorporate it in at least one major lesson during the school year, and teachers who are value the program bring nature into more and more of their daily lessons. I was able to see three schools in three different stages of development for their forest program. This is very helpful to me because I want to start some sort of forest program in the US incorporating the arts. I know, that I cannot just go from the regular schools and give 5 year olds a knife and tell them to “free-range” their way to an education. Baby steps, I know, I know, baby steps… and these schools helped bridge that massive gap. Stage One The school that I visited was clearly in the intercity. They had relatively zero space to dedicate to a forest program. It was explained to me that 18 months ago the playground area was almost completely concrete. There were some trees around the edges of a triangular shaped play space, but they children were not allowed to mess with the trees and had a “no stick” policy. After some people were trained, they replaced a majority of the concrete for grass and green space. The children now have a pile of sticks to PLAY with and build structures. They create obstacle courses using branches and blocks. A massive tree had fallen the forest-trained teachers argued to leave the tree as a play structure and trim the branches. The administration initially questioned the idea but conceded. It is now a favorite play structure of the children. The recess staff state that the attitude has changed during recess. They feel they no longer are policing the children during recess, they keep occupied on their own. They are very busy and the adults do not have to intervene with what/how they are playing. Again, just like the 100% forest schools, children who are given the autonomy to explore and play are happy and in turn the adults are happy sustaining a less stressful experience for all. Stage Two This school has adopted the forest school program for about three years. They have designed a massive space dedicated to a fire circle, fruit barring trees, raised gardens and a willow arched walk. There is an afterschool program where children can walk to a nearby park (in the Haag, there are parks everywhere). They tie the forest space into lessons wherever they can. In one grade level they focus on a “World in Crisis” and discuss issues in the world, sustainability and how they can do their part to make the world a better place. They learn how to create a fire, and make soup from things found on their campus. Please view this video of the children from this school I visited. Stage Three Oddly enough, the school that had the least amount of trees and least amount of space had the oldest, most integrated program. The school was in a newly developed part of the city. It was very industrial and literally had an offramp to a freeway next to it. There were trees but with trunks only about three diameters at the most, because they were only planted 5 years ago. However, in the small space they created a pond, an archeological dig, an area for building forts and structures, a raised garden space and an area where they were weaving a willow branch fence. It was small, but they really planned on how they would use the space. Near the pond they put a platform where children can peer over the edge, watch fish or water bugs, sketch the waterlilies or sail paper boats. When I observed there was a group of 10 children which was part of their rotation of activities. They could help build the fence, or just explore. Immediately the children paired off and started to build structures. Today no one wanted to work on the fence. I was told that yesterday nearly all the children wanted to build the fence. The teachers said it changes. The Wee Little Ones In all these schools there is a special space for the youngest children to play outside on a regular basis. Not structured play, but a choice. Some children stay in the shelter, some put on their “Wellies” and go into the sand area, or the tunnels. It looks as though toys are just left here from the day before, but it was explained to me that the teachers leave different things for the children to play with and discover each day. Fairy Real Estate Creating Fair homes is huge. The children love doing it. One of the things that the teachers have done is ask the children to partner up and design a fairy home and then put it on the market. Yes, advertise to sell it. What does it feature? Why is this fairy house special? What sort of fairy would you be marketing to for the house? Structures in the Park This particular school was in walking distance to the local park. In this park there is an area that they have large branches in piles. Anyone can take them an make a structure. When we were there, a structure was standing. My guide told me, tomorrow, this structure would be taken down and moved to another area, built by other children. No one gets mad, it is all part of how it works. Mushrooms Everywhere Also on the ground mushrooms were beginning to sprout up everywhere. They were the coolest things. They are inedible but not deadly, in case you were wondering. Forest School Certification Who knew there was such a thing. But apparently in the UK there is a place in which you can become anywhere from level 1- level 4 certified in forest schools. This schools includes standardized way of teaching about a fire circle, and fire safety. They also teach children how to use tools like saws and loppers. My guide through these schools was level 3 certified and a wealth of knowledge. The plan of the program is to have specific guild lines of how to use tools, then with the foundational knowledge, they are given more and more free time to build and explore. The idea is to give the children proper knowledge then the autonomy, then step back and watch what happens. How are the Arts Involved in Forest Schools? This is why I ventured out. This is the question I wanted to discover. Yes, The arts are clearly a solid part of the forest school program on all levels from the 5 hours in the outdoors to the programs that bring in nature once a week. Sometimes I found the arts are directed by a particular project that the teachers have created for the children. However, most of the time, the arts are part of how the children explore. This can be because, given the chance, children want to create, and make and construct. This involves creativity, and a lot of the time creativity means, drawing, painting, dancing, singing or acting something out. I cannot quite put my finger on it yet, but the autonomy has something to do with it. When given the freedom to do anything, the children I saw were interested in “making” and “playing” and to the non-education person, this seems like a waste of time… but it is not! The children are able to figure things out an problem solve and think critically on THEIR OWN TERMS. There is no right or wrong answer, just and extension of what they started. How is this different than “grown up” life? It’s not. I am still trying to wrap my brain around this… Check Out These Teacher Lounges
So, to all my teacher friends out there, I wanted to share with you the teachers' lounges I found in the Netherlands. Great spaces, outdoor areas, comfy chairs, and a kick-butt coffee machine. It is clear, just by the appearance of the teachers' space that they are appreciated and valued. I Amsterdam Apparently, I am Amsterdam. The sign says so. It is in front of the art museum that holds all the Dutch masters' works of art. As you can guess, I am now in the Netherlands for 4 days studying the forest schools here. But today is Sunday so I am checking out the city. I wanted to get the lay of the land on foot and I walked over 12 kilometers today… In the rain, because that what it does in the Netherlands in the fall, it rains. Bikes and Canals If you are wondering, where can I get that perfect photo of the canals? Well, the answer is EVERYWHERE! No kidding, there are so many canals it is like Venice, but more planned and grid-like. And the bikes, holy cow, clearly more bikes than cars and LOOK OUT! They will run you down if you are in the bike lane. Van Gogh Museum OMG, OMG, OMG!!! As an art teacher I cannot even! I am really here in Amsterdam at the Van Gogh Museum! I arrive 1.5 hours early. I am so excited. NEVER! In my wildest dreams did I ever think I’d actually be here seeing this in person. This is a dream come true. I have read about it, I have seen it on an episode of Dr. Who. but I am actually here. I just love Van Gogh. His artwork is so vivid and ahead of his time. He wanted to fit in soooooo badly with his contemporaries, but he just couldn’t, no matter how hard he tried. He had so much more to offer that wasn’t appreciated at the time. What an amazing experience. The self-portraits moved me to tears. Completely AWESOME! The Annex of Anne Frank This was a completely humbling experience. I cannot even come close to imagining what it was like living during the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam during WWII. It was horrific. The museum moved you through the Frank family’s experience, from a happy middle class family, to hiding for two years with 8 people in an incredibly small space. The only survivor was Anne’s father Otto. This was so upsetting, my husband is Jewish. Many of my friends are Jewish. It is beyond understandable how something like this happened. I cannot believe how people were treated during WWII in Europe. Please never forget and hopefully this kind of reality will never be re-experienced by anyone again. Vondelpark This is the Central Park of Amsterdam. This was a beautiful park with a ton of places to kick back and relax. They even have a Picasso sculpture in the park and an impressing children’s rope course/ playground. This, as it was described to me, is very Dutch. It is just their way. They want their children to play, and take risks. They (the children) bike everywhere at age 10. They want their children to be independent. They value the children and their autonomy. Stoop Waffle This is so amazing. It is a flat waffle cone, that is sliced in half and slathered with a syrup. The syrup I believe is made with a combination of maple syrup, honey, and the happy tears of angles. It was so good! They are also commercially packaged in smaller versions, but it is NOTHING compared to the freshly made, warm, oooey, gooey stoop waffle… seriously life changing. The Dutch Way One of the people taking me from school to school explained to me the “Dutch Way.” It was fascinating. She was from England and admired the Dutch way of doing things. For instance, the schools I visited were in the Haag (about 1 hour from Amsterdam and a major location hosting the United Nations) and on the outskirts they were expanding the area. But prior to the development they discussed what the current residents wanted. And they listened to them (not the builders) and then the first thing they put in was the infrastructure. The trams and mass transit were first to come. They let them run for a year. When it was ok, then they put in the roads and bike paths…. THEN the homes came. Brilliant planning. Real positive. No wonder why the Dutch are polled as the happiest people and children in the world. The Family Hostel The hostel I stayed at is called Waldjugendherberger Sargenroth. Yeah, that is a mouthful. Basically it means a hostel that welcomes children. There are a ton of outdoor activities to do here. It reminds me of the state parks in Indiana. There is a massive forest behind the hostel with miles of trails. What a treat! The sign says Forest Classroom. I found out later that this hostel is used like a Forest School for children to stay for 3 days. Night Hikes This beautiful view is only enhanced at night. The stars are so bright here and the children have the opportunity to venture out and see this space at night. You can see for over 100 kilometers. They discuss nocturnal animals and cones and rods in the eyes and how it is an advantage for animals that roam at night to have more rods in their eyes. Each child is then given a small battery operated candle (it has not rained here in a long time so to prevent fires they use battery candles) and that lights the way to the peak of this look out. My photos did not turn out so the photo credit is to http://ichurchoka.com/no-seas-como-las-estrellas/scenic-milky-way-above-forest-in-night-sky/. Ants on a log The children were all given a piece of wood and told that it was their log that they were taking back to the ant hill. (Side bar- they have massive ant mounds here. The ants keep the floor of the forest clean from debris and carrion. They bring it back to their mound. They say the top of the mound is like the tip of an iceberg, the majority of it is below the surface. The ranger also discussed that the ants are very strong and work as a team to carry the objects back to their mound.) So, back to the activity. Each child is given a log but they cannot touch the gound so they have to one by one lay the logs down and make it to the other side of a field. They have to pass the logs and the trick is, they must at all times have a foot or a hand on the logs. Or they will lose that log. If they lose 5 logs, they have to start over. Anyone Want a Peanut? To teach a lesson on squirrels, their winter food storage and the importance of a good plan, the main ranger had an activity involving peanuts. Each child was given seven peanuts to hind in the general area of the forest sofa. But they had to remember where they hid them. Then they returned to the sofa. As squirrels, they pretended to sleep for a while and were instructed to find one peanut and bring it back. They got to eat it, then they continued with two nuts the next 3 times. Some children found all the nuts, some children’s’ nuts were found by others and taken, some children only found one nut because they forgot where they put them. The children learned the importance of having a plan, not leaving all their nuts in one place, because if something happened to that batch, they were doomed. Forest Sofa Forest sofas are great seating spaces in a circle in the forest. The children are told to gather sticks and logs and arrange them in a circle large enough to seat 30 people. The sticks are laid down and woven together in kind of a next like formation. These forest sofas serve their purpose, but let me tell you, they are not super comfortable on the rear end. Nope, this is not IKEA, friends. It is way easier to assemble, but not nearly as comfortable. (photo credit:https://www.landlove.com/article/8/projects/let-s-build-a-forest-sofa) Robin Hood I absolutely love this activity. The children actually can make their own bows and arrows. I was so excited to learn how to do this. The branch they use is from a chestnut tree. First they soak one end in water for several days. This makes the wood pliable enough to bend. Then with a sharp knife (yes a sharp knife) you whittle the ends of the stick. Then tie a strong string to one end, bow the stick with your knee and tie the other end. It sounds so easy, and it really was. Then with a smaller stick, sharpen it to a point and make a notch in the other end and boom, you have a working bow and arrow. They kids shot them at paper targets and it really worked. It was so cool. Yes, I know exactly what you are thinking… are they nuts? Making a sharp arrow!!! What are they thinking? Again, NO ONE was hurt. The parameters were set and the children complied and they had a heck of a time. TIME TO MOVE ON>>> After visiting this last location I had time before my flight to explore Frankfurt. Frankfurt There is a special blend of old and new in Frankfurt. This area is so neat because it is Midlevel buildings surrounded by sleek modern skyscrapers. I found this so interesting so I looked it up. According to Wikapedia (I know, not the most reliable source, but handy) “Bombing of Frankfurt by the Allies during WWII killed about 5,500 residents and destroyed the largest medieval city center in Germany. The 8th Air Force dropped 12,197 tons of explosives on the city.” Because of this, there is only a small portion of the “old town” remaining. Below you can see the picture I took compared to what remained after the bombing. (Photo credit: http://www.fr.de/politik/zeitgeschichte/zweiterweltkrieg/1945-in-frankfurt-wie-frankfurter-das-kriegsende-erlebten-a-483616) Euro Tower Euro tower is a 40-story skyscraper in the center of Frankfurt. The building served as the seat of the European Central Bank until March 18, 2015. Frankfurt according to their tourism website is the most international city in Germany, the largest financial center on the continent, and the historical city of coronations. Fun fact: 1 in every 4 Frankfurters (HA! See what I did there?) hold a foreign ID. Locks of Love I am sure you have heard of the Locks of Love bridge in France. Well, my friends, there is one in Frankfurt too. It is pretty cool. BTW Check out that skyline. OMG!!! What the Heck? So, I come from the river to hear pleasant, peppy accordian music. I think, "Wow, this really added to the ambiance." Then I see WHO is playing it... It is some dude in a really bad Mickey Mouse costume, not unlike the ones on Time Square in New York. There was just such a bizarre vibe, cheesy/creepy Mickey, Mideavel buildings, The "Chicken Dance" being played on the accordion... WAY too many contradictions for my brain to take in at one time. Walderlebniszentrum Soonwald This week I was visiting a center where school groups (ages 8-11) come and stay on sight for three days. It is about 23 kilometers away from the hostel I am staying at this week. Here the children stay in apartments that are really small bunk houses that serve a total of 12 children with an attached kitchenette and bathroom. There are about 20 of these apartments. But the location is massive. The children hike in the woods and learn about the trees, moss and the animals in the area. My interpreter (aka the only person who speaks English very well) was ill today and didn’t show. But that was just an opportunity for me to learn more and more German. I have to admit, the odd game of international password was a bit exhausting, (mostly for the poor guy who had to tour me around) but the facilities were amazing! It reminds me of the good old days at Camp CHI. The Main Buildings The main buildings on this property are over 200 years old and there are trees here that are over 300 years old. The actual organization that has brought children here just celebrated their 10th anniversary. The cafeteria is a newer building that has solar power and is very energy efficient. Not to mention the food is very leker (delicious)! OMG the VIEW!!! This property, just like every property I visited in Germany was a public space. There are several hundred acres that range from deeply wooded forests, to picturesque views like this. In my head all I could think of was "The hills are alive, with the sound of music..." It's so beautiful and it is shared. Anyone could walk through this facility and hike on the many trails. It was a very weird concept, because in the USA (besides at a state park) most venues like this would be privately owned and any "outsiders" would be asked to leave. The Playground On the property there was a massive playground that the children played on during their down time. It had a theme of a black stork which is a bird that has a legend for this area. Unfortunately, due to the language barrier, I'm not sure the full story. But again, families would also be here playing on the structures and mingling with the children. Remnants from WWII As the property manager was showing me around we came across a hiker who had collected several shells left over from WWII. As most areas in Germany, this forest was heavy hit during the war. Something I noticed is that there seems to be a constant presence of the shadows of WWII. There are no symbols from the Third Reich in any public space that I visited, but the people, are very aware of their past and they don't pretend it didn't happen, and educate their children about the facts, with the hopes that something like that won't happen again. Education and facts are key. The Bauhause The work room has a serious of set of power tools that the children can use. Similar to the Waldkindergartens nature is important and most of the materials they use are found on the property. However, unlike the Waldkindergartens, these are set lessons that they will repeat for each group that comes to the facility and are not part of a child centered approach to learning. Bird Houses
The students made bird houses. First they were told of how certain birds are finding it difficult to find good safe places to make nests. To help the birds they were going to make bird houses. The children were all issued six pieces of wood, cut to the exact size they needed to complete the project. Then they were taught step by step how to create the bird house. There was a lot of problem solving, because they had to figure out the best way to hold it to hammer the wood. They used power tools and they had to figure out how to get the drill to work correctly. They even helped work the drill press (with me) and use a wood burner to create a design or their name to individualize their structures. Here’s the thing (hold onto your hat safety people) there was not a safety goggle in sight. The girls’ hair was not tied back, there were saws, 6 wood burners and power tools all going on at the same time…. But not one injury. The class of 27 children were all just fine and created a bunch a really great birdhouses. And let me tell you, they were very proud of what they had made. Today I am going to continue the information from the #3 Waldkindergarten. I stayed here three days so I really got the opportunity to see the day to day workings and the details. This photo is from the first location, but I think it is important to mention that nearly all locations have similar structures at locations, such as, Waldkindergartens, in-house schools, or playgrounds. They are meant for children to climb and jump from... typically the highest point is around four feet high. It was great to see the children climb, jump and "fly." This is all part of understanding the independence and The Farm: This location had a full working farm. It had two geese, a horse, pony, 2 mules, 3 pigs and a lot of chickens and goats. The children come to this location on the property on Tuesdays and Thursdays. They put bridles on the pony and mules and walk them then brush them out. The children love this. Other children gathered peaches that had fallen and greens and fed the pigs. One child had the idea to tie the greens to a rope and feed the pigs that way… like fishing for pigs. She liked the idea. Birthday's at the Waldkindergarten For the children's birthdays they decorate an area that also has a string of 365 multicolored pompons. These represent each day of the year and are coordinated with seasonal colors. For instance, October has deep orange and red and January has light blue and white. The children also get to bring a special treat too, like a lecker (delicious) cookie. AMERICANA! Today, when the birthday child passed out the cookies the children were all chanting... AMERICANA! AMERICANA! AMERICANA! I started to panic. I thought they were coming for me and I was going to be sacrificed! But come to find out, that is the name of this cookie with frosting, chocolate candy drops and gummies. I have never seen a cookie like that from the US. Maybe it is called an Americana, because it is covered with 6000 grams of sugar. The Apples: The children had picked apples on the first day. On the second day the children cored the apples then they cut them. The apples were large and the knifes were sharp. All ended well. No one was hurt. They dipped them in batter and fried them. They discuss nutrition and other important issues regarding healthy living. Not everyone wanted to do this. The attitude of the teachers is, “Why get upset?” If a child wants to eat some of his apple, they think why not? Why stop them? So I have control? That’s not what you do as a cook, why would you force a kid NOT to try it. Climbing Day On the third day that I was at this Waldkindergaten we went to yet another location. (FYI there are a total of 5 specific locations on this property. I am sad to say I did not get to see all of them.) This location had a solid canopy of trees. As you could imagine, there were some downed trees and other branches in plies throughout this 200 square yard area. There was also a "cliff" that was a very steep 15 foot hill. Some children ran to the hill armed with ropes and tied them to the trees (with the help of the teacher) and they repelled down. Then they climbed back up. There were 5 different ropes and a lot of physical activity and imagination. Ropes Course
The teachers know that the children like to climb so they created a makeshift ropes course for them. The children learned large motor skills, cooperation, and collaboration. I am so sad to be leaving my German family. I cannot believe I have been here two weeks already, and now, like a little bird, I must fly on my own. That means I have to rent a car and drive on the Autoban! OMG! But it will be worth it because I am going to a FABULOUS training site for Waldkindergarten teachers in Soonwald about two hours north of Landau... for me driving it will be about three hours. These photos were taken from the top of a 13th century church bell tower. The view was beautiful. It was great to see the town (and nearby villages) from a bird's eye view, where I could point out the places I had been. As the sun sets in the west you can see a castle. This is pretty cool, but what makes it better is that it the same castle that the last Waldkindergarten was near. So, yeah, I, an American, actually biked that far. TA DA!!!! So, let's discuss the venue for my last night. It was a privilege to be able to actually see the inside of this amazing structure. The craftsmanship and brilliance that went into this bell tower is remarkable. I know, I know, I am the queen of hyperbole, but really, this place was awesome, hand cut slate tiles, dovetail joints, just everything.
Yesterday, after my visit to the Waldkindergarten I had enough time to hop on a train and travel to Heidelberg. It is a beautiful German town famous for its Gothic Churches and the a university that was founded in the 1100's. Oh yes, and the Heidelberg castle, or more like the ruins of the red-sandstone building. Let me tell you friends, the Germans really know how to castle. This thing was massive and very impressive. For those fans of Young Frankenstein, all I could think was, "Nice Knockers." Am I right? And are you kidding me? Look at this wine barrel! I think that they had some very serious priorities. Kiss the monkey! This Bridge is known as the "Old Bridge" that crosses the Nackar River and connects to the old part of town to the new. The statue was to remind everyone to look over their shoulder as they cross and remember where they came from and that no one is more important than others. For more information on Heidelberg please click on this link. It is a pretty great place to visit.
www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g187286-Heidelberg_Baden_Wurttemberg-Vacations.html The 3rd Waldkindergarten I had the amazing opportunity to have and extended visit to yet another Waldkindergarten. I visited for three days and got to see the morning drop off routine and pick up and the extended time that some children get to stay. The day begins at 8-8:30 for drop off, 8:30-12:30 for class, then 12:30-1:00 for pick up and extended day until 4:00 for the families who work. The Property The property is 10 hectares (which is about 25 acres) and is positioned under the watchful eye of Hambach castle which dates back to Medieval times. This is the view during the walk to our destination which was about a 30 minutes from the drop off point. Keep in mind we were walking at the pace of 3-5 year olds. Some children run ahead to meeting points where they play, and hang on trees as the other children make their way to the location. All children know the meeting spot and are trusted to wait. The Location (TODAY) This property has 5 different locations. This location was very impressive! I thought I had seen it all and knew what to expect, but I was wrong. As soon as I saw it in the clearing I was thinking, Holy Moses! This is AWESOME!!! It had a teepee, several meeting areas, apple trees, a fire pit, a home made adobe oven, climbing logs... and this was just in the meadow area. In the the woods, there was a Bauwagon with a front porch, a play dining area, a kitchen constructed from logs, a rope swing and several fortresses (we would call them tree houses but the children had decided they were knights and these were fortresses. Making Swords & Sheilds The children decided that they would "do battle" today and they would make their own swords and shields. The Medieval theme has been running for quite some time and the more questions they have, the more the teachers are able to provide them with content and materials that will meet their needs. In this case the children just started problem solving and figuring out what to do. What the teachers did was supervise for safety and then create an arena where the battle would take place. They roped off an area and two by two they would battle each other. The best part was watching 8 small children (girls & boys) with swords and shields in tow as they screamed down the hill to the arena. It was as intense as that scene from the movie Bravehart. Imagination and Autonomy Below you can see the kitchen area, one of the fortresses (which the children designed and helped build) and a spiral meditation area. This space had so many possibilities and some children liked to work in groups, others alone, the children were spread out and knew their boundaries. I felt as though I was witnessing the development of independence, a love of inquiry and learning sprouting from their imagination and autonomy. The distance of the town from Landau is about 10 kilometers away in a town called Queichhambach. Since it is a close, distance I rode my bike on a beautiful bike trail that went through four towns. Wine is an important industry in this region, therefore the entire path was full of breathtakingly scenic vineyards. I must also mention a wicked work out- hmmmm, with all this exercise I think I may have been sent to an fitness camp without knowing it. Bonus Photo
There is so much more to say about this Waldkindergarten, but I must leave for now. But here is a bonus photo for today. At the carnival, which is the cleanest, most impressive carnival I have ever seen, it has this ride, and OMG the clown is something you would find in your worst nightmares. Oh, heck no! I am not riding that thing. |
Who I amI am an Associate Professor at the College of Charleston and a former public school teacher of 15 years, This blog is my documentation of a journey through Germany the Netherlands, and now England, investigating Forest Schools and how the arts are infused in their daily curriculum. |