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Bark Boat

Making Bark Boats

Posted by: Rhonda October 15, 2019

Inspired by the plentiful fir cones lying about, Winnie-the-Pooh invented the game “Pooh Sticks” (so named because he found that sticks were easier to identify than pinecones). Even kids unfamiliar with A.A. Milne’s’ classic story enjoy playing Pooh-sticks at every bridge they cross; seeing whose stick will emerge first on the other side. Try taking this activity a step further by challenging your kids to craft little boats out of natural materials.

A bark boat is one of the simplest boats to make, and perfect for autumn when there are lots of beautiful leaves to use for sails:

What you’ll need: sticks, pieces of loose tree bark, leaves

  1. Choose a sea-worthy piece of bark. (Will it float?)
  2. Bore or dig a small hole in the center.
  3. Shove a twig into the hole for a mast, making sure that it fits snuggly.
  4. Thread a big leaf onto the stick for a sail.
  5. Find some water and launch your fleet!