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Summerhill Academy Step Forward to Troopers Hill
--- Posting from our now closed Forum ---
After creating some great artwork at school in February the year 3 pupils came to Troopers Hill today. Their task was to help plan how the artwork would be used for marking the Copper, Zinc and Brass Trails on Troopers Hill and in the Woodland. This is all part of the Troopers Hill Stepping Forward Schools Project. http://www.troopers-hill.org.uk/steppingforward/schoolproject.htm
At 7am these symbols started appearing across the Hill ready for the children's arrival.
23 symbols were put out. There were to be used by the children in 3 different orienteering exercises, one using a compass and instructions, another following a map with grid references of the type you would see in an A-Z and the final exercise was simply to follow a map to the symbols and record what they were.
The first 30 children arrived exactly on time for 9.45am. We were so busy carrying out the "challenges" that we did not have time to take many photos.
Here's Kit, one of our volunteers, talking about some of the difference between crickets and grasshoppers to the children.
In case you are wondering, grasshoppers antenna are shorter than their bodies, crickets have longer antenna. Grasshoppers create their song by rubbing their hind legs against their forewings, crickets rub their forewings together.
A treat for finishing their compass challenge in good time was a chance to visit the chimney.
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In case you are wondering why Kit appears to be carrying a feather duster, it is actually a microphone.
This teacher seems to be taking a wistful last look at Troopers Hill before going back to school.
At 11am the second class arrived and it was so busy that no photos at all were taken. However you will see a video recording later. Kit is a professional cameraman and generously donates his time to Friends of Troopers Hill so we have a great collection of videos showing our activities over the years. http://www.troopers-hill.org.uk/video.htm
After lunch the third class arrived and Ruth Coleman, an environmental education specialist, who we have contracted to manage the development of the trails, took these photos.
Checking out the waymarker on the Copper Trail.
Looking for the next symbol on the Brass Trail.
Recording what's been found.
Working hard.
Continuing down the Brass Trail.
This "challenge" is fun.
Crossing the slopes
Walking along the Gully - another symbol has been spotted.
Volunteer, Chris, enjoying herself.
We were really pleased with how the day went. We have identified some extra information to supply with the materials that we will be making available from our website. We will be moving some of the symbols to better positions. We are very grateful to the Summerhill Academy staff, volunteers and children for all their help.
The children's symbols are being transferred to different metals to create small 2" square, oval or round plates to mark the trails. They will soon be installed on the Hill and in the Woodland. I wonder whether you will notice them? You will have to look very hard.
Thank you to Ruth, Kit, Chris and Julian for heir hard work today.
Posted by Susan, Wed Mar 20, 2013 11:14 pm
The children completed feedback forms about their visit. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.
http://www.troopers-hill.org.uk/school/13feedback01.pdf
One of my favourites was "I did not injoey it becas I wsa porly so I did not go".
I also liked "It was fun and out off breffing and tiurd". I know the feeling well.
Feedback like this makes volunteering feel very worthwhile.
Posted by Susan, Fri Apr 12, 2013 7:56 am
