Wednesday 28 October 2020

Bivouacs

Not far from the Tangihua Lions Lodge is an area where kids on school camps can make bivouacs using dead material from the forest floor.  Sometimes students sleep a night in their creations.

I thought to post some photos of the efforts of the school that was there last week after I heard someone refer to the bivouac of life and held my tongue rather than admit I had no idea what he was talking about.  Thank heavens for Google.  It's a good expression referring to life as a temporary shelter.  Google tells me "it re-emphasises that we are on earth only for a limited period of time and whatever we wish for should be achieved while we are alive."





 I'm taking part in My Corner of the World

30 comments:

  1. Those children did a really great job - they all look worthy of being slept in overnight. I love seeing children out doing this sort of thing, teaching them confidence and self-reliance when taken out of their normal comfort zone.

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    1. I do too, Margaret. There's some great team-work goes on, too.

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  2. This has got a popular pastime in the forest here. The local children also leave crisp bags and pop cans to add to the mess.

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    1. I've never had that problem, Adrian. The fact that their teachers are with them might help with that. (And their teachers have to deal with me!)

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    2. The teachers here are as bad if not worse than the kids.

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  3. The bivouacs are imaginative but I'm not sure the second one would offer a lot of shelter from the rain or anything else for that matter.

    As for the definition of 'bivouac of life' and the statement "whatever we wish for should be achieved while we are alive" seems to indicate a definite lack of belief in a here-after and is, for most, a blindingly obvious statement.

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    1. I once made the mistake of asking if a structure like that second one had another purpose only to be told no, they had no girls on their team to do the ferns. Obviously the little chauvinists thought fern gathering was beneath them. Shame that group didn't spend a night in their bivvy.

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  4. The kids must have had fun building these, but none of them look like they would provide much in the way of shelter. But perhaps that is not the point.

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    1. Occasionally a group comes along who really get the idea of what it's all about but most of the time the results are pretty much like these. As long as they use dead plant material and work together to construct something the teachers are happy.

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  5. I think some of the more airy shelters are an expression more like the art of life where one does not need so much protection from the elements. More like the idea behind a gazebo. Yes, life is temporary, and we should make the most of it while we can. Lovely post.

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    1. Thanks, Yvonne. I think even when the kids are doing their very best to build a weather proof structure to sleep in themselves they know they can go to the lodge if it all turns to custard. I've come across some in the bush that really have been built for someone to sleep in. They are always more substantial.

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  6. Wow! These kids are quite skilled!

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  7. They would love to hear you say that, Amy. They are always so proud of their efforts.

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  8. Wow, they did a great job. If i ended up out there, i'd probably be awakened in the middle of the night with my creation falling on me.

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    1. Me too, mimi. I think I'd prefer a ferny structure to the more solid log heavy ones.

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  9. ...Pauline, this looks like the fun that I had years ago when I went to Boy Scout camp. Thanks for the reminder!!!

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  10. WOW! Those kids did an incredible job!

    Happy Thursday, Pauline!

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    1. They had a lot of fun and were very proud of their efforts.

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  11. They are substantial shelters the kids have made. I see them in our forest too but not as god as those.

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    1. I think the numbers involved might have something to do with that, Di.

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  12. There's some very good efforts there, I like the first one.

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    1. There was a bit of planning in that one, Amy.

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  13. I stumble across things like this while walking through the wood or even on the beach sometimes. They are not usually quite as well made as the ones you have pictured though. I think it might be a little spooky to sleep overnight in one.

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    1. I think you'd be pretty safe overnight in the bush around here. Not that I'd enjoy it much!

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  14. What great creativity! I think I will stick to my bed inside the house, thanks :)

    It's great to see your link at 'My Corner of the World' this week !!

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  15. I think I'd prefer a bed to the bare ground, Betty!

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  16. Nice projects for the kids, but I would hope the rain stays away-- but that's life!

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  17. Hello Pauline,
    I am sure the children had fun putting together these shelters.
    MY days of camping outside are over, these reminds me of the show called Survivor. I hope you have a great day!

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  18. It seems like a very fun project and a great way to get kids outdoors and away from their electronics!

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