Alpha – a series of interactive sessions that explore and
debate the Christian faith – are now in progress at St. Fursa’s Parish Hall in
Headford. They take place every Tuesday night at 8 pm and are open to anyone of
any age and with any belief, or no belief at all. The talks are free, include a
tea break and discussions.
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
Up
until about a century ago, children went to school outdoors. Under the sky,
inside a cave, behind a hedgerow, they learned the lessons nature teaches all
young creatures—resourcefulness, insight, respect. Lessons more crucial, and arguably
more valuable than turning on a tablet or playing wii tennis.
In
our never-ending quest to survive and remain a strong species, we humans have brought
our young indoors to protect them. But, to keep a child cloistered in an
overheated classroom robs them of a connection to the natural world and
restricts the development of empathy for the earth and their fellow creatures.
 |
|
‘Children
cannot bounce off the walls if we take away the walls.’
Erin Kenny, founder of
the Ancient Forest Education Foundation.
|
Across
the globe, in places like the Arctic Circle in Murmansk, Norway; in the forests
outside Berlin, Germany; and in the rain forests of Seattle, Washington; people
have developed outdoor learning centres for young children, in an effort to
regain the educational benefits of the natural world. The Glen Preschool in
Letterkenny, was the first and only such school in Ireland. Until recently.
‘There’s
no classroom as good as nature—the canvas is always changing,’ says Avril
Grufferty, owner of the recently-opened Outdoor Explorers Preschool in
Glencorrib.
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| Avril Grufferty, founder Outdoor Explorers Preschool |
A
few years ago, when Avril and her husband were on holiday in Donegal, she discovered
the Glen Preschool, and got some valuable tips and suggestions from its proprietor,
Sally. Previously an NCO with the Irish Defence Force, Avril had developed a
love of the outdoors, as well as a keen interest in childcare. Upon becoming a
Montessori graduate, she worked in a traditional preschool setting and has
found that children seem far happier when they are outdoors.
In
addition to a stellar attendance record, the kids of Outdoor Explorers
Preschool are seldom ever sick. Avril thinks it might be due, in part, to the
environmentally friendly bacteria the children come in contact with every day.
Grass, soil and butterflies have been proven to improve human health levels by
lowering stress hormones.
In
a study conducted in Japan, it was found that people who strolled in a wooded
area and/or breathed in phytoncides (chemicals emitted by trees and plants),
showed a 16 percent decrease in stress hormones, as well as an increase in the
activity of cancer-fighting white blood cells.
Plus,
going to school outside is fun! ‘The outdoor aspect of the school means that
children are allowed to express their feelings in so many ways,’ Avril says. ‘In a normal setting a child will sit at a desk and paint. But at Outdoor Explorers, one child may draw
a picture using the chalkboard, another draws on the trike area, while yet
another is drawing in the sand.’
Avril
feels children who participate in this kind of school are ‘less likely to stay
inside and be all about their play station,’ as they get older. ‘I firmly believe that if we all had 3 hrs a day outside when we were 3
years of age, obesity would not be the problem it is today.’
Because activities are regularly done in the rain, Avril supplies snow
and rains suits, but the kids don’t seem to notice the rain, she says. ‘To
them, it’s just another way to use our senses.’
When I visited the school, activities included planting cabbage seedlings,
crossing the ‘wobbly bridge,’ hill rolling, playing outdoor music, and pretty
much whatever struck the kids’ fancy. In the near future, Avril is planning
trips to the Cong Woods and a treasure hunt. She’d like parents to know that
the outdoors is much better for their children than being ‘stuck in a room.’
If you’d like to find out more, Outdoor Explorers brochures are
available at Solas.
And in Other News . . .
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| Sylvia Donoghue, Parent Drop-In Service |
Solas is hosting a new Parent Drop-In service. This is a confidential service where you can discuss any concerns you may have about your child's behaviour with a professional. Sylvia Donoghue of North Galway Family Services will be available to chat every Thursday from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm,
starting tomorrow, 11 September.
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