Inspiring teenagers to use the Broads
Lighting a fire and cooking lunch from the wild, sailing, canoeing and dressing reed and sedge – these are just some of the back to nature activities that 140 Broadland school children will be experiencing to inspire them for the summer holidays.
The 13 -14 year olds from Broadland High School, Hoveton, who live in the heart of the Broads, are being treated to an activity day by the Broads Authority on Thursday 16 July to give them a taste of the opportunities on their doorstep.
They will each choose two activities from sailing, canoeing, reed and sedge cutting, bushcraft and geo-caching. The event, which is part of the Broads Authority’s 20th birthday celebrations, will centre on Horning Sailing Club. The children will be transported to their chosen activities by electric day boat, the Broads Authority’s reed lighter, Helen of Ranworth, and the Nancy Oldfield Trust’s Nancy Bee passenger boat. Broads Beat will also be involved.
The event was organized by countryside ranger Elaina Whittaker-Slark after a spate of minor vandalism in Hoveton. Hoveton Youth Provision, supported by the police, sent a questionnaire to Broads school children asking what they do with their spare time and what they would like to do.
“The Broads weren’t mentioned at all,” said Elaina. “I thought it was really sad considering they live in the heart of this beautiful, wild wetland. I wanted to inspire them to use the Broads sustainably during the summer holidays and inform them what an important and special area they live in rather than be stuck in front of their computers at home. Young people have got so much energy and it’s such a shame to waste it. It’s about knowing what there is to do. I’m hoping they’ll get addicted to the Broads.”
14/07/09
