Blog Archives

Nostro amico, Vico!

31/7/2019

When we have such a small, well behaved group, it's easy to take them anywhere!

It was so hot today that we decided on our favourite place, Lago di Vico. And the children made the most of the facilities, playing games and hanging out in the shade.

Of course most of them took a dip and enjoyed water gymnastics and hunting for fish.

For lunch we ate hotdogs and sandwiches.

After lunch Ottavia taught all the children how to make friendship bracelets and it has been a massive craze ever since..... (In fact they are still making them now in front of the movie!!!!!)

It was hard to tear ourselves away from Lago di Vico, but finally we headed back to the Hazelhut, the children had a dip in the pool and then called their families. We had fish (from the freezer, not the lake!) for dinner with potatoes and spinach. What a super day!

Horsing around together

30/7/2019

A morning with the ponies at La Martingala was just what our Hazelhutters needed to bring the group together.

The staff at the horse riding centre were very impressed with the good manners and excellent listening skills of this group.

They also showed excellent table manners at lunchtime, which is always a pleasure to see!

After lunch our caring group went to visit the ponies a second time to give them some water melon rinds as a treat.

Back at the Hazelhut, the kids enjoyed some free time and played football, made chickens and helped in the veg garden.

For dinner the children all enjoyed a home-made burger, followed by home made ice cream. What a day!

Getting to know you

29/7/2019

Today we have really enjoyed getting to know the Hazelhutters in our care. Sports and games can tell you a great deal about someone and the Tai Qi session James led showed us that we have a very open-minded and calm bunch.

The 'coconut' shy showed a willingness to take a risk.

While skipping needs determination.

When the children interact with animals we can see their sensitive side, but also the comical one!

Spending time in the vegetable garden shows us that these children were happy to help and later to eat a healthy diet.

At lunch we learned more about the kinds of things the children like and dislike.

And in the afternoon we discovered how creative and diligent these kids are as they tackled a range of crafts.

We learned that these Hazelhutters can play alone or with others, whether adults or other children.

And we're feeling blessed to have such a special group to stay this week!

Stormy Sunday

28/7/2019

Ironically the stormy weather has brought some very calm and lovely children to the Hazelhut this week.

Most of them are animal lovers... which is good news for Belen!

Some of them love birds too, which seems to be good news for Toni and Andi....

And all of them are respectful towards nature, which is crucial for happy Hazelhutting!

Before dinner we spent time getting to know each other while making water colour pictures. Many of the children chose natural or meteorological themes for their pictures.

For the first time this year, we ate the Sunday night lasagna and salad indoors as the storm has picked up again. Now the children are quietly watching 'Splash!', our evening film. Everyone seems comfortable and happy - long may it last.

Another goodbye

27/7/2019

Once again it was time to say 'Goodbye!' to another group of Hazelhutters.

Since this was one of the cleanest, tidiest, most organised groups we have ever had, it was possible to spend some time finishing our traditional Finnish pieces (not cake!) for the family tea party.

Then we headed into a very hot Ronciglione for shopping and lunch!

We were very thirsty, so stopped for a refresher in Tatiana's bar.

Then these kids proved that they can shop like troopers!

Everyone was grateful for a relax at lunchtime and for Marilena's delicious food.

Back at the Hazelhut, we played some games in the cool of the basement and then the parents started to arrive....

...So we handed out the certificates and prizes and once again sang the farewell song. We especially want to thank our Workaway family from Finland this week, for all the joy and novelty they brought - from yoga to coffee cake to hand rhythms and new vocabulary. We hope you will return.

Fishing and other fun games

25/7/2019

The thermometer was reaching some top temperatures this morning, so we headed out fishing early...

Everyone was very eager and a new Hazelhut record of 35 fish was set!

When the fishing was done, the children enjoyed catching up with the little kittens born at the lake a few months ago.

Back at the Hazelhut we had planned a healthy lunch because the vegetable garden is in overload and the children have been gathering vegetables all week!

In the afternoon one of out teen helpers from Finland taught the children how to make a special Finnish cake for our Hazelhut parents tomorrow.

The children were very eager to assist and the cake smelled delicious in the oven - we can't wait to taste it!

Later the talent show was a huge hit with music and magic!

Then, at the pizza party, there was even more music from Finland and Brazil!

Adults, teen helpers and children enjoyed the tasty food and the kids made up games to play with the music - what a fun time!

Getting arty this Wednesday

24/7/2019

Once we had welcomed our 5 day children to the Hazelhut this morning, we began our first activity - making a sock plushie.... this took a lot of patience and skills, but the results were worth it!

After all that concentration we enjoyed some melon and biscuits...

We clung to the shade at lunch time for our picnic as the sun was beating down today and the cats were suffering too! Almost everyone went in the pool later..... naturally...

In the afternoon we were very lucky to have Kai, a music teacher from Finland, to teach us some new ways of looking at sound. It was amazing!!

Escape to the lake!

23/7/2019

Hazelhutters love Lago di Vico on a hot day, so we decided to forgo horse riding for a week and spend the day at the lake.

The children enjoyed playing many games from badminton to Dobble in the shade of the trees.

They read books and drew pictures and made hundreds of origami items.

James made hotdogs for lunch... and after a brief rest to digest we all played some circle games together. The first was 'il conto'.

Next we played 'Heads Down Thumbs Up'...

Our final game was pass the clap, taught by one of the teenage helpers - it was very tricky!

After another dip in the lake we ate some watermelon and then returned to the Hazelhut.

After a whole day outdoors, the children were happy to spend some time inside and we took the opportunity to bring everyone back together for the Hat Game.

One of the Hazelhutters made an excellent suggestion that we should supplement our fish finger dinner with a tasty poached egg or two.... so we did...YUM!

Sports Day

22/7/2019

Our Hazelhutters were joined by 3 day children today and they showed us excellent throwing and archery skills

They cooperated well in the water relay and showed that they are happy whether winning or losing.

In the afternoon pool Olympics, we saw that they could swim fast

and have no fear of being under water.

This week we have been lucky to have Aino, a yoga teacher from Finland, with us and she worked with the group in the afternoon teaching us some relaxing but challenging positions.

We felt proud of how open-minded the children were and how quickly they managed to learn. Thank you, Aino, for bringing something new to the Hazelhut!

Before the children called home, they helped in the kitchen and garden so that we could have some tasty dishes this week. What a caring bunch they are!

Welcome everyone!

21/7/2019

Another Sunday and another group of children in the Hazelhut pool!

...Or nearby!

After a refreshing dip and a quick snack, everyone moved to the art room for this week's recycle challenge - our object this time was..... old coffee bags!

It looked so much fun that even James and Ottavia joined in!

Later the children spoke to their families or enjoyed some free time....

...but no Sunday is ever complete without... the dinner photo!