Forest School Adventure (part 9) Down Time

My actual volunteering here on Scilly is almost over, but my stay isn't. I'll be back at Forest School on Wednesday with the younger 3-8 age group. But between now and then I have 4 days to myself.

Evening at St.Hugh

That doesn't mean I'll be solo. There are 8 volunteers on St. Mary's Island, all here to help ensure a Summer Camp can go ahead. Some people have links to Katie, who runs Isle of Scilly Forest School, and some of us contacted her after she put out a notice of help wanted!


There are 2 friends here from the Sussex Coast who have many years of experience of working with children, one of whom regularly attends Forest School within the Primary she works in and is going to start leading sessions in September.

There is a Forest School Leader & Scout Leader who has travelled from The Midlands, another FSL who braved the journey from Cambridgeshire, and a Forest School newbie from just across the water on the mainland in Cornwall.

We have a volunteer who has been friends with Katie's for a long time and helps out every Summer. Last but never least, there's a friend of Katie's family visiting who has some Forest School training. 

There are various schedules around all our visit here. We came by boat or plane. We arrived at different times on different days. We may be staying longer, or leaving sooner. But we are all here for Forest School.

Our age range is from 20 to retirement, our Forest School, work, and life experiences vary, but we all share an enjoyment of the outdoors and a love of working with children, and we've all got on well during the first week of this experience.

Some of us are living together as well as working together. We do socialise, but we also split up and follow our own interests. I'm sure we all disagree on many things, but I'm also sure we're adult enough to agree to disagree! 

We're making connections and friendships that won't cease on the ferry back to Penzance.

So on these few 'days off' we will be visiting a couple more islands, and finding new nooks and crannies to explore, and making the most of our time here.

Right now it's 7am. I'm sat in bed with a cuppa. In front of me is a picture window that looks out across Hugh Town, through which I watched sunrise...

The weather has been glorious, and even when it dulled a little there was no need to alter Forest School at all.

This weekend is promising much needed rain, but in true Forest School attitude it won't slow us down! 


The Adventure continues, maybe not IN Forest School for a few days, but BECAUSE of Forest School.

Location: United Kingdom

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