Forest School SUMMER Camp
at Kippure Estate for boys & girls
7-12 years
20-23 August 2019
4 Day Camp: €110 per child
(10% reduction for siblings)
Time: 10am – 2pm
Give the children a wonderful wilderness experience through bushcraft adventure, nature games and exploring the woods.
Book early to avoid disappointment. Call Clíona now (01-458 2889 ext. 3) or send an email to eco@kippure.com
Getting children to go outdoors these days is hard when there are so many attractive electronic games for them to play indoors. But nature intended children to be outside playing and breathing lots of fresh air. It helps them sleep at night and think straight during the day; it lifts their spirits and keeps them fit and healthy. With 240 acres to experience the best that nature can offer we are perfectly located near Manor Kilbride, on the Sally Gap road, to give children a chance to get out into the wild but in a supported environment. Forest School is all about letting children be children. They need to run around, find their feet, climb up stuff, jump off, experiment with making things, learn to use tools safely, see the risks and look after themselves, learn to respect themselves and others, learn to respect nature, share their feelings, say things out loud, not be afraid, and so much more…. All this learning happens as they follow their own interests, and develop new ones. It is child-led learning! With direction they will :
- build shelters
- climb trees
- whittle wood into usable objects
- play games
- erect low ropes and swings
- light a camp fire in the Leave No Trace way
- cook on an open fire
- connect with nature
- show their creative side
- share stories and songs
- identify plants and animals
- and much more!
It’s really up to themselves what they want to do, we just facilitate the learning. In this way they build resilience and self-confidence which is crucial in the early stages of their lives; it sets them up for life.
Weather
Weather is not an obstacle if they are dressed properly so they will be expected to wear warm clothes, a good waterproof raincoat and rain trousers, wellies, hat and gloves and have a waterproof bag to carry a full change of clothes (just in case). They should also bring a healthy packed lunch of sandwiches and fruit (like in school please avoid ‘empty’ calories and E numbers), and bring bug spray and sun cream to cover all eventualities.
Injury
As this is an outdoor forest school where they will be running, jumping, climbing, dragging branches and generally doing all the things children enjoy, scratches or bruises may be unavoidable. We will endeavour to keep these to a minimum. All our forest school leaders are First Aid trained.