First Dam
Directions: Dug in 1960s, First Dam (as we have come to call it) provides a semi-permanent source of water for the plants and animals of Mt Majura as well as endless fun and fascination for the many generations of Blue Gum students that have visited over the years. The dam itself is the main attraction, providing opportunities to engage with the water and surrounded by several appealing obstacles that students enjoy traversing and exploring. First Dam is the most visited area on the mountain, calling to students from Playgroup all the way to Year 10.
A Sense of Place
Question: Do you have a favourite place that you visit often? A place outdoors that feels like home? What are the smells of the space?
As a major locating and focal point for Blue Gum on the mountain, First Dam has become a home base for students of all ages, through a relationship built over weeks, months and years of getting to know the space. First Dam is a classroom; a space for play, exploration and questioning, and gives many students the opportunity to ground themselves and find comfort. Below are quotes taken from students and educators reflecting on their time in this space.
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On Thursday each week, Ironbark spends time exploring a place that fosters a deep sense of connection for our community. Mount Majura has been a rich learning ground for many avenues of research and continues as such this term as we explore the themes of connection and tradition.
The benefits of regular time on the mountain can clearly be seen with students demonstrating confidence, capability and expertise in physicality and exploring the bush, as well as care and knowledge of the local environment and the impacts of people upon it.
Change and the Elements
Questions: How is the dam looking on your visit? What do you notice about the water, the plants, any flowers? What are the ants doing? How will you record your observations to check for changes and growth the next time you come? What elements of nature can you notice? Take a moment to look around, close your eyes, what does your skin feel like? The water of the dam brings many animals around, what can you see if you are quite for a moment?
As the most visited of all locations, the First Dam plays host to students throughout the year, in all weather conditions. Each visit allows us to reflect on the changes wrought by the seasons, whether that is the shrinking waterline in dry years or the flowing of creeks as the dam breaks its borders in wet years. The continued relationship with a space allows for observations to happen overtime in a natural way.
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Being on the Mountain each week helps us develop a sense of place; an emotional connection with a particular environment. We see our place changing from day to day, week to week, and across the seasons. Immersive and meaningful experiences in natural spaces support the development of environmentally-conscious and curious people. Through engagement with our hands on Mount Majura (and feet, legs, arms.... our whole bodies really!), we open up opportunities to deeply engage our heads and connect our hearts to this wonderful natural space.
As annoying as it can be to keep a hat on and to set drawing up, the wind is also an incredible phenomenon! This invisible, powerful force blows everything around, changes how we move and takes our breath away! Babies blink with confusion when buffeted by wind, and toddlers marvel at leaves being carried off through the air by big gusts. How rude of me to bring negativity to my windy-day programming! I decided instead to embrace the wind, to give it visibility and to put words (and song!) to the effect it has on us! And just like that, we adults were distracted from our windy irritation and reminded of the joy the wind can bring.
Recent rains have revealed many transformations, with new growth, animal activity and water levels capturing our focus and sparking our curiosity. Another change, the impacts of which have been felt keenly by some, is the prevalence and activity of ants, particularly the large and sometimes fierce species. This prompts us to reflect:
What must we do to closely observe changes in places that feel so familiar?
How do we identify and manage new and recurring risks?
How do we support each other to stay safe while enjoying all of the benefits of challenging ourselves in nature?
