The Fire Circle At Forest School

The fire circle is a gathering place for children at the Fort Whyte Alive Forest School, the focus of our research. The children gather here to share observations about the changing seasons, sing songs, tell stories, and experience a feeling of belonging. The children also delight in the daily visits by Olivia the Owl (a puppet stuffy) who always has something interesting to whisper to the Forest School teacher. The children ages 3-5, are taught how to chop wood (with a mallet and a wood splitter), build a fire, and practice fire safety. The rich opportunities for skill-building, nature connection, and social interactions extend to many aspects of the Forest School, including building forts and snow quinzhees, climbing trees, hiking through rough terrain, appreciating and respecting plants and animals, and most of all, imaginative play in nature.