Kearyn and Adrianna, 13-year-old students at the Royal Blind School (Sight Scotland) in Edinburgh, recently enjoyed an outdoor learning session building a den in the woods. The school is located across from the Astley Ainslie hospital, whose gardens are open to the public and contain over 2,000 trees. The students visit these gardens for outdoor lessons with Margon, who teaches them about nature.
Building a Den in the Woods
During their latest session, the students went to a wooded area to construct a shelter. Despite recent rain, they felt warm sun and smelled the wet ground, which was spongy underfoot. Wind had scattered twigs and leaves. The students found a tree with textured bark that felt like veins; Margon explained these were old ivy vines. They heard birds and felt the breeze rustling leaves.
Finding Sturdy Trees
The pair needed two sturdy trees to support the den's rope. After searching, they found suitable trees with enough space between them. They used a rope to hold a tarpaulin, creating their den. Inside, they sat peacefully, focusing on woodland sounds and smells. Before returning to school, they built a smaller den for toy animals using natural materials.
Bringing Nature Back to School
On the way back, Kearyn and Adrianna collected twigs and leaves for an art project in their school's sensory garden. They expressed gratitude for having a natural space near school for outdoor learning. 'We love our outdoor learning sessions and feel lucky to have somewhere near our school where we can experience nature,' they said.
