Written by Max and Neher
Our two 4th classes had a fantastic trip to Turvey Nature Reserve with Mouse, our trip leader, where we spent the day learning important outdoor survival and teamwork skills while enjoying nature in the sunshine. We worked in random teams to build shelters using only natural materials such as wood, branches and leaves. We had to make sure everyone could fit inside, that the shelters were warm and protected from the weather, and that they would help us “survive the night” if the coach did not come to collect us! Communication, cooperation and problem-solving were very important throughout the challenge. We also had great fun playing games such as Capture the Flag and Hide and Seek Tag, which kept us active and working together outdoors.
During the day, we explored the treehouses, wooden shops and huts in the OWLs camp and learned all about fire safety before roasting marshmallows and making delicious s’mores around the fire. A few brave students even tried mealworms!! As we heard, they are an excellent source of nutrition! We learned how important it is to respect nature by taking all of our rubbish home so that we do not disturb natural habitats and wildlife. We were lucky enough to see cows and sheep and also learned about local trees and flowers found in the reserve. The students have absolutely loved learning from Mouse throughout the year and this trip was a brilliant way to finish our outdoor learning experiences together. It was a memorable day full of adventure, teamwork and fun in the fresh air.