Women’s centre branching out with new forest workshops
This past weekend several families from the Lennoxville area made their way into the woods near D’arcy-bennett Park for a “forest school” activity organized by the Lennoxville and District Women’s
Centre (LDWC). Over the course of a morning, each family experimented and played with methods to build a forest shelter under the guidance of facilitator Sophie Mccafferty.
“Forest school is a concept of giving kids and, really, just anyone a little freedom to explore and be in that space,” Mccafferty shared, “You need to connect people with nature before they can care about protecting the environment.”
Although the activity still maintained the necessary social distancing rules by requiring families
to remain within their own bubbles, the facilitator explained that one of the main principles of forest school is the concept of free play, and the ability to explore a space without strict guidelines about what to do and how to do it.
Currently a student of Environmental Sciences, Sustainable Agriculture, and Indigenous Studies at Bishop’s University, Mccafferty said that she was the one who approached the LDWC about leading the workshop upon moving to the area last fall.
“Working with children is something I’ve very passionate about,” she said, explaining that she used to work in a forest-school based daycare in Montreal.
Based on the success of this event, several other activities are in the process of being organized for the remained of the spring and summer, including one on discovering local insects, and another on orienteering.
More information on the workshops is available by calling the LDWC at 819-564-6626 or emailing programs@ldwc.ca