The loop meanders beautifully around the schoolyard and into the surrounding forest and along the way, the pupils encounter motor function challenges and great places to hang out. Around the loop, there are various playing fields, a skater course and various small “islands” that inspire reflection and staying in the forest – among other things a tree top house and an area with nesting boxes and insect hotel.
The vision behind Skørping School’s new activity area is first and foremost to encourage more playtime and movement among especially the older pupils. This has not become less relevant now with longer school days which are the result of the school reform. In addition to accommodating the school’s pupils, the school also wants to open up and embrace the local community and the many recreational users in Rold Forest.
Both these interested parties were thus also part of the project planning phase and in the finished result you see their input among other things in the fact that the school has a service area where the many mountain bikers of the forest can get their bikes ready and wash them.
The purpose of the campaign “DRØN på skolegården” (More active schoolyards) is to create more playtime and movement in and around the schoolyard – both in and outside school hours. Specifically, the goal of the campaign is to develop and realise physical measures in the schoolyards and in the outside areas of the schools to promote movement among the schools’ pupils and the local community. 106 schools wanted to take part, 17 projects were further qualified and seven projects were realised.
Behind “DRØN på skolegården” (More active schoolyards) is a partnership between Realdania, the Danish Foundation for Culture and Sports Facilities and the Danish Cancer Society. Realdania and the Danish Foundation for Culture and Sports Facilities have supported development and realisation of the specific projects, and the Danish Cancer Society supports the research part. Together, the parties have set aside DKK 21 million and in addition to this, the municipalities will contribute a little over DKK 10 million in self-financing.