And also as the technologies have been taking over our lives for some time already, we have forgotten to move, to lead healthy lifestyles. That's why the teachers from Vilnius Mykolas Birziska Gymnazium organise an annual three-day trip to the National Park of Aukstaitija in Lithuania and take around 300 students to the forest to learn some life skills. Don't worry! The students stay safe and sound during the trip:)
You might ask what life skills we can teach them? First of all, children learn how to make a fire and cook food when we don't have our parents around. They also learn how to set up a tent which will definitely be useful in the future. Secondly, the students learn some teamwork skills. Because setting up the fire or a tent, cooking supper is not a one person's job. In order to get food for supper ,you have to contribute to the team. Thirdly, our students learn a lot about the life in the forest, about fauna and flora of the lakes and rivers as they canoe through the nicest lakes of the country. Not every student can climb on one of the highest hills in the region and count seven lakes surrounding it. And finally, the students get the chance to improve their physical health as the teachers come up with various activities to see how strong both physically and mentally our students are. I'm sure that there is no better place as the middle of the forest where students can play games without thinking about marks and exams, which is a great way to take your mind off the problems.
We also try to integrate some other subjects into this trip because we don't want the students only have fun without learning some serious things. Geography and biology are the subjects that are taught during the trip. We try to go on a hiking trip (we usually walk around 12 km a day) through the forest and the marsh where children can see different trees, plants, listen for the birds and even see a grass snake. Another thing we try to do is to introduce some cultural heritage by showing how regional food used to be made or presenting the historical facts about the region. The students get a double benefit: they improve their history skills and get to try a very tasty soup - fish soup cooked over the fire. The ecological part is also very important as we can teach the students about the importance of keeping the forest, lakes and rivers clean. After every activity students feel a moral obligation to clean after themselves.
The middle of the forest is a perfect place to have the lessons of physical education. Instead of playing basketball, doing high jumps or running short distances, students and teachers thought of many other active and fun ways to do sport and keep physically fit. For example, students can play football but not the regular one, but the one in which two students are tied together and who have a goal either score the goal or defend the gate. It's fun, entertaining and teaching collaboration. Another activity which requires not only physical strength but also critical thinking skills is called Hit the Balloon. The balloons of two different colours are tied to kids' calves which the kids have to take care of and not let the "enemy" team blow them off. This includes both brain and body agility as the kids have to look around and strategise their moves and win the game. One more activity which is fun if the weather is hot and sunny is the race in the river against the flow. The kids have to be fast and run in the shallow part of the river against the flow. The first to reach the rope twice wins the game.
If you want to change the environment and do something non-traditional, you can always take the students to nature and organise different activities there. All you need is a little bit of creativity and willingness to spend a few days without a comfortable bed or hot shower. But believe me, the experience we get there is invaluable. Not only will the students like the trip, their parent will thank you for taking the kids away from the computers.
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