A Colourful Day in the Woods

Bismillah

The day began with a quick attendance and clothing check.

As we made our way down, we recited tasbeeHaat.

Little M was first to head down and as soon as he saw the open field; he ventured off, with his mom right behind him. We noticed he loves to lead and being the only boy in the group, he distinguishes himself quite frankly.

It was a windy day and being under the shed did not help much with the cold. As we started to set up, the children all followed M and went up one of the bridges. As the program is student led, we left the shed and went behind them.

The girls also followed his lead on a number of occasions. When he went down a trail, I asked the other parents if they had been there before. They said no, however, as staff headed with him, we all followed. Eventually we all ended up in a forest!

We stopped to hear the birds singing, the blowing of the wind and the falling of the water. The lead staff told the children that the birds are praising Allaah just like we did when headed down.

As we discovered the forest, we found a perfect seating spot. It was less windy there and had many wood stumps and logs around. One mom gathered the logs and organized a perfect seating for all. The children had their binoculars out and looked for a giant nest up in the tree.

The children sat down and asked for a snack. One staff took the children to gather their bags they had left in the shed. On the way back, the children used their compass to tell which direction to go.

We spread all the snacks on the mat. The lead staff washed all the children' s hands using a water bottle and then everyone shared the snacks. The mommies were fasting due to RamaDaan but we all sat together to feed the children.

As the children finished their snack, the lead staff recited a portion of Surat ar RaHmaan. The kids picked up one of the classmate's names, who was away, from the surah and claimed they missed her presence.

After snack, we had our activity circle. The group split in two with the older children learning about seeds and beans and doing a colour sorting activity, while the little ones engaged in mixing colours and vegetable printing.

Colour sorting of beans

Mixing and making colours to paint

Then we all helped clean up as per "leave no trace behind".

The children were in exploring mode. They found empty snail shells and N was very intrigued. She put one on a rock to observe. The staff prompted her to use the magnifying glass and then all the children asked for theirs. They looked like tiny scientists, Allaah yahfaDhum.

They continued to explore for a while and then little M initiated the walk back.

We said dhikr as we headed out of the forest and back to the shed area. Two staff members took the children to the playground while the rest of us sat on familiar seating in the shed. Little M was still busy exploring all by himself.

The children wanted to stay together longer and invited each other to come to their homes!

S started crying as she did not want to go home and wanted to play longer. But the staff had called it a day and we all headed back.