Preschool Programs

Abstract Art and Imaginary Play in the Forest

September 27, 2019

It was a sunny, mild fall day at Forest Playschool! We started our morning with a collaborative art project on cardboard out in the yard. We experimented with mixing colors, drew critters and splattered paint like Jackson Pollock. After cleaning up our creations, we jumped right into morning meeting. Our morning meeting leader decided that today would be the perfect day to visit one of our favorite Audubon spots - Forest Camp! So we gathered all of our belongings and headed into the woods. 

Photo: Audubon Vermont

It was so beautiful and sunny out that our morning meeting leader asked if we could walk the long way to Forest Camp. So we walked through the garden and admired what will probably be the last bloom until Spring. On the Hires trail we found a Monarch butterfly wing laying on the ground. We stopped to ponder what might have happened to this butterfly - how did the wing end up here? A few of us thought maybe the butterfly had become a bird snack or succumbed to the frigid autumn mornings. 

Photo: Audubon Vermont

Once we got to Forest Camp, we sat and snacked around the fire circle for a story. After snack it didn't take long for us to start scrambling up trees and exploring the dirt for worms. 

Sarah Hooghuis, Environmental Education and Outreach AmeriCorps Member leads Forest Playschool. Photo: Audubon Vermont
Photo: Audubon Vermont
Photo: Audubon Vermont

We enjoyed lunch around the fire circle and listened to another story. The rest of the afternoon was filled with imaginary play! Our group has come up with the "Bear" game where one of us becomes a bear that is terrorizing the forest and the rest of us try to hide from it. It's been very funny to see the social dynamics and rules of this game progress. It seems to be bringing the group closer together as friends! We ended our day with a gratitude circle and walked back down to the education barn. Can't wait for next week! 

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