PequeCamp and JoveCamp by Explora Natura
School of Naturalists
In contact with nature at PequeCamp and JoveCamp
We're going to tell you about the results of some of our workshops based on the primitive man PequeCamp and JoveCamp from Explora Natura in the Posada la Niña Margarita.
Lately, we've been running these one-day events in two formats: during the week for visiting schools, and on weekends as family camps for parents and children.
This last option is also very popular, as we organize activities for parents such as hiking, cycling, a natural cosmetics workshop, and of course, snacks and refreshments at the Posada beach bar. After the day's activities, some who wish to do so stay overnight in the magical rural apartments of Posada La Niña Margarita, as it's a pleasure to stay there and enjoy the whole weekend as a family.
Meanwhile, the children, nearby but working independently, participate in workshops led by our instructors. The central theme is Primitive Man and his way of life. In this way, the children learn about Prehistory while having fun, as it's not a typical school day. This day is very different because the children engage in hands-on activities, practice their motor skills, and develop their ingenuity and creativity, just as our ancestors did to survive.
In our PequeCamp and JoveCamp, we aim to create activities that, for one day, take us away from phones, tablets and video game consoles and enable us to establish personal relationships, learn values and breathe in a wonderful natural environment belonging to the Sierras Subbéticas Natural Park.
The activities of these days have been very productive and fun for the boys and girls who accompanied us, they traveled in our time machine to play as was done in the past, learning in the heart of nature the things they study in the classrooms.
Like ancient children, at PequeCamp and JoveCamp, they helped build an underground oven, always under the supervision and care of our counselors. In these ovens, we roasted chicken breasts, seasoned with salt and rosemary and wrapped in lettuce leaves. We also had our workshop on making pigments for cave paintings, crafting bows and arrows (one of their favorites) for later shooting, a mosaic workshop with stones, and the Olympics of traditional games (dirt skiing, sack races, tug-of-war, etc.). They also built huts with natural materials, just as we always did when we were little, and as primitive man did when necessity led him to leave the caves and live in nomadic huts alongside his livestock.
Of course, during the meal, which was always carefully prepared and special for intolerances and allergies, parents could come closer to see how they were doing, and in this way we all shared experiences and smiles.
Finally, and one of our star activities, the children get to jump in a puddle for a day. Yes, jump in a puddle! With parental and adult permission, the children have a blast jumping and getting dirty (it's okay, they bring a change of clothes). It's a way for them to feel connected to nature, to allow themselves the luxury of getting dirty for a day without being scolded, and to release tension. Who didn't jump in puddles as a child? They always spend the whole day looking forward to this activity, as word gets around and they ask about it first thing in the morning.
We repeat this activity almost three days a month, and of course, more and more schools are incorporating it into their school trips due to its educational nature and its clearly defined objectives, which focus on learning about history, nature, environmental education, and values—all of which are much needed. The children learn while having fun and become enthusiastically involved, which allows for meaningful and genuine learning.
With the warm hospitality of the Explora Natura team and the overall experience of the day, they tell us that the children always leave talking about what they've done, remembering the counselors, and raving about how great one activity or another was; and finally, they're exhausted and ready for bed. However, the next morning they wake up beaming with pride, and the first thing they grab is the gift pendant we gave them and their "Explorers" certificate for participating in the camp.
We are very satisfied, happy and excited to develop and perfect our workshops for the "little ones" and that more and more children who deserve more activities like this will come to them.
We continue to offer more workshops and events in addition to our regular school trips. For more information, please don't hesitate to contact us or visit our website exploranatura.es/
Greetings, explorers!
