‘Rock retreat’ is a fun outdoor activity suitable for young children of all abilities. The aim of rock retreat is to combine natural materials into providing a home for the rock dwellers. This allows children to better understand nature, their environment and to express their creativity.
Resources
- Rocks, Concrete Slabs, Stones
- Bricks—Different types
- Blocks (Breeze blocks)
- Pallets
- Spade
Explanation
A number of ways you can create your rock retreat. Place a pallet upside down on the floor then fill with stones, broken bricks, and rocks. Once flush to the top repeat, maybe each layer can be different material ie layer one—bricks, layer two— stones etc.
When finished, create the top either by putting slabs over or make a slanting roof out of pallets. Other ways are to place a load of rocks together and then put soil and leaves over the top to create a roof.
Even get a slab or two as a base, then with breeze blocks/bricks build up a hotel, finally placing a slab on top to keep it dry. If you want to help toads, you could also dig a shallow depression under the base slabs.
Safety Tips
Make sure your adhering to the best practise with regard to lifting slabs and beware of fingers and toes when placing the slabs down.