Build a Bark Boat

🎂 6 + years ⏱️ 30 min 📍 Forest ⭐ medium

Do you love nature and adventure? Then this little adventure is sure to excite you! Imagine you are real captains and your ship, made from the treasures of the forest, sails across the vast sea of imagination! Whether in a puddle, a stream, or even in the bathtub – with your homemade bark boat, you can set sail on a grand journey. Before you start, remember that you will be using a carving knife. Children should only use the knife under the supervision of a parent or guardian, and there are even special carving knives for kids with a safety feature to prevent them from folding.

What you'll need

Bark
Branch
Leaf
Child's carving knife
Optional carving gloves
First aid kit

How it works

Here are some safety tips: Always carve away from your body, never towards yourself or others! Make sure your free hand stays behind the knife while carving! Take your time and ensure you have a stable stance when working with the knife.
First, you need a nice piece of bark. Go together into the forest and look for a piece that has fallen off and is about the size of your hand. It should be sturdy and not too rotten.
Now, carve the shape of the boat. Take the carving knife and shape the piece of bark into a small boat. Be careful not to break the bark. The boat should have a flat bottom and raised sides.
Make a small hole in the middle of the boat. This is where the mast will go. Insert a thin, straight branch into the hole. The branch should fit snugly and not wobble.
Now you need the sail. For this, take a large leaf. Attach the leaf to the mast. You can either tie it directly to the branch, or you can cut a small hole in the middle of the leaf and slide it over the branch.
Now your bark boat is ready to set sail! Place it in a puddle, a stream, or in the bathtub and let it sail. Have fun on your little adventure! Remember to always be careful, especially when handling the carving knife. And of course: Let your imagination sail freely!