Forest School Adventure ends... (Part 14)

So here it is, my final day on the Scilly Isles. I'm going to miss waking up to this view...

Cases groaning as we squashed our treasures inside, beds stripped, rubbish in sacks, luggage hauled to the port for 10am, and then the final few hours enjoying St. Mary's.

My hand baggage is heavy so I chose to stay very local. A wander in the shops, lunch by the sea, a swim, a book, and sunshine.

It sped by way too fast!

Last night we all dined together, all 9 volunteers plus Katie and kind of said our goodbyes then. Today all 5 of us staying at Kistvaen were on the 4.30 Ferry, so we mingled a bit, found our own way to say goodbye to this place, and boarded together for a calm crossing to mainland Cornwall.


We laughed, and chatted, and dozed on the deck in the sun. The denim blue sea was gentle, with ripples and dolphins speeding us on our way. 

Penzance was welcoming and the boat service ran like clockwork, all too soon we were on the docks in a group hug saying goodbye.

We have lived in each other's pockets for almost a fortnight! Shared rooms, food, clothes, drinks, and life stories - staying up and put the world to rights

We plan to keep in touch. It's been the kind of trip where you make connections for life. We're all very different but we all found common ground and enjoyed our differences. 

Currently I'm on an overnight train to London on the second leg of my homeward journey, and already it feels weird not to be accompanied by... someone!

We hope to do it all again next year also! Life has a habit of making us stumble over such ambitions, but we're ready to battle our way through as best we can to make it happen.

For those who of us who run Forest School sessions, the aim is to visit each others settings and swap ideas, give support, and form a network that will help improve our own practise. For those who are retired the opportunity to visit new friends in different parts of the country will be siezed! And the invite is to all those who helped!





The premise of this entire venture was a simple 'help wanted'. People with an interest in Forest School needed to make child to adult ratios flexible enough to provide 8 days of amazing Summer Sessions for children aged 3 to 14.

The result however, has also meant bringing together strangers to develop shared ideas, shared ethos, conversation, communication, teamwork, support, fun, laughter, improve self confidence, motivation, discovery, to face anxieties, find their voice, discover new places, travel (planes, trains, automobiles, AND boats), explore different environments, and have an awfully big adventure. 

It's been amazing on so many levels.

Just as Forest School should be.

Location: United Kingdom

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