Outdoor week in Slovakia: Skiing in Vysne Ruzbachy

The partner school in Slovakia offers an experience of skiing for its students.

Skiing is a sport that involves physical, mental, social and emotional aspects of wellness. Often winter season can bring people into a depression called Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.). Due to winter conditions - cold weather, slippery surfaces, higher risk of injuries - many children with special needs are kept indoors, which might have negative impact on their physical, psychological and emotional state.  Skiing combines the great outdoor air with physical activity and some sunshine exposure.

The following activities are planned:

- Introduction to skiing under professional guidance

- Focus on nature : winter world and environment

- Orienteering

- Construction of a hut made of natural materials.

The following value is added by the activity:

None of the other partner schools are located near a winter sports area. There are no experiences in this field and they are expanding existing concepts of outdoor activities. In addition, the partner school in Slovakia has special experience in dealing with people with autism. These experiences can also be incorporated into the concepts for outdoor learning. The special climatic conditions of a mountain landscape in winter can not be experienced by the pupils of the partner schools.