Article
Hiking in the Grinten Forest with kids. Walk the QR code trail!
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Written by Ellen & Simone
Written by The digital world, outdoor play, and nature experiences sometimes have more in common than we think. With the QR code trail in Grintenbos, we have brought these three worlds together. Exploring the forest with children, searching for QR code posts, and scanning the codes give parents or supervisors playful ideas and activity suggestions for inspiration.
play
Cause
The Grintenbos borders the Veldmaat neighborhood and is a real 'neighborhood forest'. Locals come here for a walk or to let the dog out. It has also been an educational forest for almost twenty years. Every year all elementary schools from Haaksbergen come to the forest for part of a day to go through an educational program. Each grade has its own program. Appropriate to the age of the pupils and the educational goals.
Accessible
When the school programs are running, we see that many children visit the forest with their parents after school. The programs are no longer there then, the volunteers have gone home. The forest is "cleaned up" again. The materials from the programs are gone. Still a bit disappointing for the children who are eager to share their experiences in the forest with their parents. We were therefore looking for a low-threshold activity to fill the need.
Nature and digital technology find each other
At the entrance to the forest on the Geukerdijk is a panel with a QR code that refers to the explanation. A QR code is attached to ten of the twelve posts in the forest. Scanning the code takes you to Twente Natuurmonumenten's YouTube channel and you get to see a video with nature facts and activities you can do at that location. For example, children can balance like a squirrel and take a look at the bee hotel to see how many holes have already been bricked up.
VIP guests from Blossom childcare gave approval
The children of Bloesem child care know the Grintenbos from school and from the activities organized there by the after-school program. A few years ago they even donated the proceeds of the Christmas market to the Grintenbos to purchase new learning materials. Of course, they were given the opportunity to be the first to come and test the path. Thirty-five little VIP guests set off with their leaders after drinks of lemonade, Oerrr and QR code cakes. Just before dark they returned with enthusiastic stories and anecdotes. In short: the QR code path has been approved by the users and it will be used intensively. Or as one little boy so beautifully put it, "I'm going to show it to my mom and dad, my grandpa and grandma too and my aunt too. We are going to hear children's voices in the forest again often.
