Fort Building! 🌲

We’ve been up to something extra fun down in the woods lately...

FORT BUILDING!

A few weeks ago, students began designing and building their own woodland forts. Winter is actually the perfect season for this kind of project. There are plenty of fallen branches to use, fewer leaves on the trees, and less wildlife to disturb. It also means no surprise snakes hiding under logs.

Students have absolutely loved this project. Fort building naturally invites collaboration, and the kids have been working together to plan and build their structures. One of the first challenges was choosing a location and deciding what makes a good one. Students considered flat ground, avoiding thorns, and checking for hazardous branches overhead.

From there, teams worked together to carry and position large branches to create the skeleton of their forts. Trust me, they found some MASSIVE branches. They had to think critically about balance and structure to keep their forts standing, experimenting with placement and learning from what worked and what didn’t.

Many groups even added extra rooms so more people could fit inside. This turned their forts into shared spaces rather than just shelters. Along the way, students practiced problem solving and adaptability. On one lightly rainy day, they tested leaves to see if they could protect their forts from the elements and discovered that they actually work pretty well.

Beyond engineering and teamwork, fort building supports so many other skills. It encourages creativity, imaginative play, communication, leadership, and perseverance. It also builds physical strength and coordination while giving students a strong sense of ownership and pride in their work. Most importantly, it allows kids to connect with nature in a meaningful and joyful way.

Some students even went above and beyond by designing campfires, because what is a shelter without a cozy fire?

Enjoy these photos of the magical creations your students are building. It has been such a joy to watch their creativity flow, and I am so proud to be a part of this village.

With peace,

Ms. Emily