Tuesday 4 August 2020

OF BOOKS, and ADVENTUROUS READING SPACES

“It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men’s hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air that emanation from old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit.” –Robert Louis Stevenson

Nyeri, its environs and the larger Mt.Kenya region, is a fascinating place
to explore especially for readers who would love to connect what they read with the great outdoors. It offers an experience that is steeped in history and lauded with generous natural beauty.

Recently we had the amazing priviledge of visiting this little known about location for one of our beyond books outdoor activities.The Dedan Kimathi University Wildlife Conservancy is not only a lush woodland but it is also among the last tracts of indigenous forest in the region,  steeped in revolutionary history. Did you know, that during the Mau Mau rebellion, the dense forests were a hideout for Kenyan freedom fighters, including national hero and Mau Mau leader Dedan Kimathi? Did you also know that the conservancy is also part of a larger forest system known as Nyeri forest, currently managed by the Kenya Forest Service?

Our walk in the woods with one very informative forestry guide known as Rashid, provided our children with the unique opportunity to incorporate the sights and sounds of the outside world into their reading encounters, move them away from the screen and spark their curiosity and imagination. For the adults it was more of the peaceful outdoors , the air , the thing that simply wants to make you laugh and forget for a while that the world is a difficult place.

It’s no secret that being outside reduces stress, depression, and anxiety especially in this time of covid. At a time when children,teenagers and adults spend so much time online , it has never been more important to emphasize the importance of having unstructured time outside.

There is something beautifuly , mysteriously complex about being in the middle of the a nature trail that just ignites your creative juices all the way from story telling to art. Sitting quietly to pause and read in this peace and tranquility definately takes you to another level. While out there i could hear the discussions from all of us and i know that compositions about adventures in the forest will be much more interesting from this day onwards and for a few hours that day we really did enjoy ourselves and we will surely be going back

INSPIRE BEYOND BOOKS activities and adventure camps provide an array of lifelong benefits
for children, including:
  • A much-needed break from technology and digital media
  • A chance to “rewrite” one’s narrative or story
  • Multiple opportunities to step outside one’s comfort zone and experience personal growth
  • Connecting to and developing an appreciation of nature
  • Building lifelong friendships
  • Developing skills to thrive in the 21st century

To have a beyond books adventure, do not hesitate to write us an email. In the comments section, you can let us know if you have had similar beautiful reading adventures and any place you may recommend will be highly welcome.


The Librarian

8 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Thank you. It is important for people to make this connections between what they read and what is in the world. Definately makes reading very interesting
      The librarian

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  2. Amazing , now I want to visit.

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  3. Awesome read. I can't wait to be part of this experience with the kids

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