Thirty-eight children aged 4 to 8 had their school trip to FireWare this year. On their bicycles they came from Jena Plan primary school De Zilvermeeuw in Wieringerwerf to the headquarter of FireWare. Accompanied by parents, teachers and other involved supervisors we made it a fantastic day!
Tickle Bugs
The theme of the school trip is tickle bugs. And not just any tickle bugs, but tickle bugs invented and designed by the children themselves. Tickle bugs appeal to all senses. We can see, smell, hear, feel and taste them (although the tickle bugs are not eaten). During the school trip the children go on an adventure with their tiny critters. They take a picture together, dance with it in the children’s disco, eat with it, find out what sound it makes and get their face painted in the colours of their tickle bug! Just a selection of all the activities the children can do.
From a blank canvas to an experience
The journey from nothing to a multi-sensory experience is one that we at FireWare often take. Often in the presence of adult first responders with a simulation or education challenge. Young children are quite capable of making this journey on their own. And usually much better than adults. And that’s why we as designers and people with more years of life experience can learn a lot from these children. But you have to be open to that! And vice versa: the children can experience for themselves which steps are needed to get from idea to experience. And what other techniques you can use.
Learning by yourself
Together with the children, the FireWare employees work on the multi-sensory experience. For each child separately. What is involved in making and recording the sound of your tickle bug? If you want to have your picture taken with your little critter, how do we do that with a green screen? What about a photo frame? What can we do with lasers and 3D printers?
But we also play fun games, have fun and act crazy. We learn a lot from each other on a day like this. Employees of FireWare are given the opportunity to learn new techniques, or to work with equipment or functions of equipment they would normally not or less use. So we learn in material knowledge, equipment knowledge, organisational structures and communication! And at the same time, we help to create a wonderful memory for many happy children.
Inspiring collaboration
A truly successful class trip is made by all of us. Teachers, parents, carers, the staff at the location, volunteers and especially the children. It was great fun and beautiful to see how everyone, from his or her own perspective, was able to contribute to this day!
A call to other companies
As a company or organisation, welcome schools for school trips and excursions! But not just because it is “socially responsible”. Or because we teach children that working with hands and technique is tremendously cool. Both are true. But mainly do so to learn as an organisation. To let employees learn. Because as adults (or people with more years of life experience) we can learn so much from those little people!
