Welcome to: Dee Point's Outer Space Shelter' project! At Dee Point Primary, we're passionate about providing our young learners with a vibrant and stimulating environment where their imaginations can truly soar. Now, we're excited to take this to a whole new level - literally - with an outdoor nature learning shelter.
We envisage a shelter that isn't just a shelter, but an interactive, educational, and fun installation. The project is more than just building a shelter: it's about fostering an environment where children can interreact with the natural world. Research has consistently shown the immense benefits of nature therapy on children's mental and physical health. Having this outdoor shelter will enable us to develop outdoor learning whilst helping to reduce stress, improve mood and boost concentration.
What we'll deliver:
- 164 children to access outdoor learning
- Part of our outdoor learning experience for over 480 children during their residentials
- Education around environmentally and affordable living for a sustainable future
Why it's a great idea:
The wider community will benefit from this project through relations and friends of the school. The room will be the centre of a wellbeing garden we are creating, which we are proposing to be accessible to all aside from children. This will be at the back of our nature area which will feel secluded from the school.
As well as the school, this shelter will be accessible to many others within the community. We are already involved in intergenerational work and engagement in other groups such as Here and Now and the Belong project. As it is on a low level ground it will be accessible to all types of disabilities from wheelchairs to blind people, there will be no access restrictions.
Along with directly impacting 500 children, we include their families who access the school daily and could be up to or over 3000 people. We would also welcome community groups which would benefit, the numbers would be ongoing over the years.
Steps to get it done:
- Prepare the space and based ready for the permanent shelter
- Purchasing the wooden structure
- Set up the shelter as an outdoor classroom ready for use when delivering sessions
- Use the outside of the shelter as additional growing spaces in our gardening sessions
Our project: Dee Point's Star Shelter,' aims to foster a deep connection between our children and the natural world.
The Shelter is designed to become a living classroom where students can interact with various elements of nature. By providing hands-on learning experiences, we hope to cultivate an understanding and respect for ecosystems and the importance of maintaining their delicate balance.
Sustainability is at the heart of this endeavor. The shelter will be constructed with eco-friendly materials, demonstrating our commitment to sustainable practices. We also plan to incorporate features like rainwater harvesting and solar panels, turning the shelter itself into a learning tool for renewable resources.
Moreover, the serenity of nature will serve as a form of therapy, offering a soothing environment that enhances mental well-being. Natural sounds and sights will aid in reducing stress levels, improving concentration, and fostering a sense of peace.
