OUR SUMMER SO FAR

Sponge Tree have been as busy as little bees trying to think of earth friendly ideas to keep your kiddy winks happy, creative and learning new skills along the way!

Pictures of our busy summer so far! 

More to come as summer is not over yet : )

CLAY PAINTING

CLAY MESSY FUN

PEBBLE PAINTING

CLAY CREATURES MADE WITH DRIED PLANTS + TREES

PEBBLE PAINTING WITH NATURAL DYE + CLAY PAINT

MAKING NATURAL CHALK PAINT

PEBBLE PAINTING - GREAT EPHEMERAL ART WHEN USED WITH CHALK OR CLAY PAINTS

PAINTING ONES SELF GREEN

WILLOW SHAKER MADE WITH RECYCLED MATERIALS

MONO PRINTED PAPER LEAVES

MAKING NATURAL CHALK PAINTS

MONO PRINTED FABRIC SQUARES

BRICK BUILDING

WEAVING A HOVERFLY

WEAVING HOVERFLY STICK

LOVELY WEAVING WITH RECYCLED MATERIALS

NATURAL CLAY CREATIONS

SEPTEMBER ACTIVITIES

Hello everyone,
Sponge Tree are pleased to say we are organised this year and have 3 fabulous workshops available for children and adults to book on at Rodley Nature Reserve. We think this reserve is the ideal space to be learning and exploring new skills and having a go at being creative, whilst absorbing the natural surroundings.
For those of you that have never been to Rodley Nature Reserve, it is a wonderful setting with lots of wildlife things to see and do. The reserve has various bird hides, dragonfly ponds and refreshment and learning space in the visitors centre.

 

Children's Under fives nature workshop
Wed 12th September 10:45 am - 11:45am
Come and let your little ones explore and create in our under fives sustainable art + craft workshop.
Suitable for children ages 18 months +
Meet at the Visitors Centre

Please contact for a booking form spongetree@live.com 

 Adult Willow weaving workshop

Tues 18th September 6:30pm - 8:30pm

Come and join us for a twilight willow weaving workshop

Suitable for all adults

Meet at the Visitors Centre

£15 (Non members)

£13 (Friends of Rodley Nature Reserve)

Please contact for a booking form spongetree@live.com

Adult Printing Inspired by Nature workshop

Wed 26th September 10:00am - 12:00pm.

Come and learn easy printing techniques using natural objects.

Suitable for all adults

Meet at the Visitors Centre

£15 (Non members)

£13 (Friends of Rodley Nature Reserve)

Please contact for a booking form spongetree@live.com

All workshops include materials and take home makes!

SUMMER ACTIVITIES NEW SESSIONS ADDED

Just thought we would give you an up to date list of our where abouts, this summer

1. Pebble painting
Friday 27th July 9:30am - 11am
FAMILY FUN SESSION
Trinity 5-Rise Children's Centre
John Escritt Road
Bingley
BD16 4ST (01274) 435850

2. FAMILY FUN  MESSY CLAY SESSION
Wed 1st Aug 9:30am - 11:30am
Little Lane Children's Centre,
Little Lane,
Ilkley
West Yorkshire
LS29 8HZ  (01943) 436264 

3. FAMILY FUN MESSY CLAY SESSION

Wed 1st Aug 1:30pm - 3:30pm

Daisy Chain Children's Centre,
 

Elliott Street,
 

Silsden,
 West Yorkshire 


BD20 0DE (01535) 618668


4. Magic Shaker creating
Friday 3rd August 9:30am - 11am
FAMILY FUN SESSION
BINGLEY TRINITY 5 RISE CHILDRENS CENTRE

5. Mono printing
Friday 10th August  11am - 2pm
FAMILY FUN SESSION
Crosley Wood Road. BINGLEY
  

   

6. Willow fish weaving
Friday 17th August 9:30am - 11am
FAMILY FUN SESSION
BINGLEY TRINITY 5 RISE CHILDRENS CENTRE

 

7. Recycled garden mobiles

Friday 24th August 9:30am - 11am

FAMILY FUN SESSION
BINGLEY TRINITY 5 RISE CHILDREN'S CENTRE

                    

8. Natural printing
Come and create a natural printed piece of art work to add to our Children's Centre banner.
Friday 31st August 9:30am - 11am
FAMILY FUN SESSION
BINGLEY TRINITY 5 RISE CHILDRENS CENTRE

South Craven School Recycled Pond Sculpture

Sponge Tree have now completed their South Craven sculpture. 
We recommend the school add potted long grasses in the corners of the space and this will finish the pond off nicely. 

We have found this project a very good learning experience for us and we are very pleased with the finished result!

Rodley Nature Reserve

Sponge Tree and the help of people, young and older, to create this fantastic willow and recycled dragonfly. Please go and view this wonderful site at Rodley Nature Reserve down by the dragonfly ponds!

Sponge Tree New Flyer

Wonderful design by Mr Chris Taylor.

Baildon Jubilee Banners

The Jubilee banners which were created by 1300 children from the four Baildon Primary Schools. Every child created a piece of red, white + blue felt to help create these fantastic commemorative pieces of artwork. Sponge Tree's Nicola and Paula designed, managed and created the finished pieces of art. Each banner is now ready to return back to each Primary School to display in their place of choice.

Sponge Tree would like to say a huge thank you to:

Q20 Theatre, Baildon Parish Council, Bradford Council, The Lord Mayor Dale Smith, All the wonderful children, parents and staff at each Baildon Primary School, Sponge Tree staff and volunteers (you know who you are), Staff at Baildon Library, Baildon Belles and to every one who has supported and helped to make this wonderful project a possibility.

We hope each banner will take pride of place in each school, to commemorate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee 2012.

 Please click on this link to see photos of each completed banner

TheUnveiling of the Baildon Jubilee Artwork

SUMMER SESSIONS AT KEIGHLEY STAR CENTRE

Introducing our collaboration with the Keighley STAR centre. 

We have limited spaces available for children ages 6+ for a full day at Keighley STAR centre 9:30am-3:30pm @ £30 per day. 

Taking bookings now!!

PLEASE SEE OUR BOOKING FORM BELOW AND CONTACT US FOR MORE DETAILS!!!

Calling all Baildon Primary Schools!!

PLEASE RETURN YOUR CONFIRMATION OF ATTENDING THE LORD MAYOR'S PARADE, AS WE NEED TO KNOW HOW MANY FELT ROSETTES TO MAKE.

Baildon Diamond Jubilee Project

Sponge Tree are pleased to announce their Diamond Jubilee Project, which will be commencing on 26th March 2012. Each Baildon Primary School will contribute time and space to for us to provide wet felting workshops. Every child in each school will create a piece of felt with reds, whites and blues. Every piece of dried felt will then be collected from the schools.

Sponge Tree will then create four textile panels. Each panel will be an animal which is of importance to our Queen Elisabeth II.
We have the Welsh Corgi dog, the Suffolk horse, the Royal Mute swan and the red stag deer.

The first felting workshop will commence at Sandal Primary School on Monday 26th March. We will then be at Hoyle Court Primary School from Monday 16th April, The Church School from Monday 23rd April and Glenaire from Monday 30th April.

The four panels with Baildon School Children are invited to be in the Lord Mayor's Diamond Jubilee Parade on Sat 19th May!!!!!!

Sponge Tree would like to say huge thank you to Baildon Parish Council and Q20 Theatre for funding this project.

Saplings colour sessions

Our Saplings colour sessions are aimed at children in their early years. Colour is a concept that young children can relate well to. It fits with the ever changing seasons and colour is happening all around us. Each session highlights a different colour each week and correlates it to what is happening in the world outside.

Each of our sessions are carefully written and developed to suit children ages 2 - 5 years and to use sensory and natural arts, play and discovery.

 

 


















Each session has 2 activities; music; toys; songs and a story which  focus on the colour.  
1 of our activities is an adult and child shared activity, this focuses on developing fine motor skills and encouraging creative interaction. It is also a great way for adults to learn new skills too!

Most of the materials we use are sustainable, ethically sourced, taken from nature or community raised.

Start of session
We have a relaxed and calm structure which is child led.
Adults and children are invited to join us at the start of the session and we encourage children to practise a small amount of brain gym. This helps to focus the children and bring us together.
We briefly explain the colour for the week in line with what is happening in the natural world and show examples of the activities for that session. 
We explain how to make the activity and any risk factors for adults to consider.

Each session is individually risk assessed.

End of session
Adults and children are invited to join us at the end of the session for a story or a poem and songs relating to the colour of the week. 
We sing the rainbow song every week, to celebrate colour, with our rainbow wand.
Finally, we give a mission for the week and discuss the focus for the colour for the next week.
 
The sessions last for 1 hour.  

Sessions are term time only.

PLEASE CLICK ON EACH COLOUR BELOW FOR VISUALS

WHITE

RED

ORANGE

YELLOW

Comments and feedback from parents and carers 

"Love the emphasis on nature."

"My children have been introduced to different environmental concepts and experienced new sensations they would have never experienced at home."

"My child has learnt more about the world around her, 

 very friendly and lots on offer."

"Local, friendly and affordable."

"There is nothing like this in our area."

"We would love more sessions!"

"My child has learnt how to develop creativity and co ordination."

"Fantastic craft ideas looking into nature, given me good ideas  of how to teach nature in a fun way."

Sessions will be filled on a first come first served basis.

We really look forward to seeing you at one of our future sessions!

Contact us 

spongetree@live.com

www.spongetree.blogspot.com