Hosted by OSOS , contributed by VS23Ope on 6 June 2019
The World of Friendship Forest project is located in Finnish town Salo, where the School of Uskela, Anjalankatu Unit has implemented various smaller projects in their nearby forest to engage students in meaningful and interesting activities which provide benefit for the whole town community. The school provides special education for grades 1 to 9 (ages 7 to 16) and the OSOS projects have involved 60 students in total. The students of the school have extensive learning difficulties and behavioural and emotional troubles. The majority of students have a low socioeconomic status. From the point of view of students’ overall development, it has been important to provide them with socially significant activities and to provide students with experiences of success and sense of togetherness. The main partners in the project have been the sport office of the town and schools of Tupuri and Uskela, Kavilankatu unit.
Feel
The World of Friendship Forest project is located in Finnish town Salo, where the School of Uskela, Anjalankatu Unit has implemented various smaller projects in their nearby forest to engage students in meaningful and interesting activities which provide benefit for the whole town community. The school provides special education for grades 1 to 9 (ages 7 to 16) and the OSOS projects have involved 60 students in total. The students of the school have extensive learning difficulties and behavioural and emotional troubles. The majority of students have a low socioeconomic status. From the point of view of students’ overall development, it has been important to provide them with socially significant activities and to provide students with experiences of success and sense of togetherness. The main partners in the project have been the sport office of the town and schools of Tupuri and Uskela, Kavilankatu unit.
The roots of this OSOS project lie in 2012, when the forest club of our school got permission from the city to build a nature trail. The forest club began to make a nature trail and bridges over the ditches. We have made firewood on the lean-to of the area and built a grill there. We have been responsible for cleaning the lean-to. In winter, we have ploughed the nature trail in snowy times. The school has made birdhouses in the area on crafts lessons. We have installed the birdhouses in trees and taken care of their cleaning and repair. We have made several excursions to the forest, for example to pick berries and mushrooms to be used on home economics lessons. The OSOS project was built based on these experiences.
Imagine
The intention was that development work in the forest would benefit not only the school but also other users. At the same time, the city was planning a Frisbee golf course in the area. The city was aware of our active use of the forest and asked us to participate in the construction of the Frisbee golf course. At the same time, we started to create a virtual nature trail for use by schools and municipalities in the area. From the planned projects, the lean-to, Frisbee golf, nature trail, trail run, exercise equipment and mountain bike trail would all be available for free for the community.
Create
With city sports office, the students have constructed a Frisbee golf course (throwing platforms, guide signs, clearing of the terrain and chipping of sticks), installed picnic tables, and built new bridges in the area.
With the school of Tupuri, we have developed a virtual nature trail which is on a design and testing stage.
With the Uskela School - Kavilankatu unit, we have organized joint excursions in the area with Frisbee golf and grilling with friendship class students.