Kia ora whānau,
On Friday, we embarked on our long-awaited first excursion to the beautiful patch of bush just around the corner from us at Preston Bush. What an adventure it turned out to be!
As we wandered through the forest, we were busy observing the tiny trees growing into towering giants, discovering intricate spider webs, and lifting logs to uncover what was hidden beneath. We were using all our senses to explore the world around us, trying to find out what creatures call this place home. Then, just as we were deep in our investigations, the rain began to fall. No worries though— the trees provided a natural canopy, keeping us sheltered as we continued on our journey.
Our next discovery was an inviting low branch, perfect for climbing and playing on. Just as we were about to enjoy it, one of our youngest adventurers set off on their own exploration of what seemed to be a lovely clearing of soft leaf matter on the ground. Our Kaiako, however, quickly realised that this spot might not be the best choice for exploring—it was wet and muddy. And before we knew it, our little explorer had gotten stuck in the bog! 😬
Soon, one by one, another half dozen curious children ventured into the boggy mess, each discovering the same thing: the further they went, the muddier it got. Each one ended up needing a helping hand from our Kaiako to escape! Wet, muddy, and a bit flustered, we eventually managed to free ourselves and found a drier, less boggy path to sit and enjoy our morning tea.
By the time we returned to the Toddler Room, we were covered in mud but filled with exciting stories to share. Although it was a messy adventure, we can’t wait to visit again—next time, perhaps with fewer little ones and with some of our older friends from the Rimu room, who can help us identify the safer spots to explore without getting stuck in the mud!
Here are a few snapshots from our adventure. They might be few due to the rain and excitement, but they offer a glimpse of the fun we had. We can’t wait for more!
