Skudeneshavn Primary School in Karmøy on the west coast of Norway are building an untraditional outdoor play area. The area consists of many exciting and different activity areas. In addition to different ball activities there are some areas that focus on some unusual activities where balance, climbing and "jungle"activities dominate. There are also areas to dance, play drums, singing, playing hopscotch, building huts etc.
Assistant Professor at Høgskolen i Volda has designed the outdoors playing area. He emphasises making an environment which stimulates to what he calls REAL PLAY. Flemmen has through the project "Play environment, the child and play" developed a theory to understand the phenomen of play. After some years' experience trying the theories in practical work in both a summer- and a winter environment, there is now a reliable documentation about Flemmen's theories on play.
Boht the teachers and the parents at the school have contributed voluntarily with a lot of work in the planning phase as well during the construction of the outdoor play area. Several departments of the municipality have also made the building of the area possible. The technical sector of the municipality took part in the initial part of the project with regards to calculating the use of material and safety as the area has to be in accordance to regulations about playgrounds. To finance the project the department of education and culture have been involved doing the paper work with regards to the financial part of the project. The Educational Advisory Office has run courses for the involved parts and co-ordinated this joint project between the different parts that are involved. In the initial phase of the project it was important that all involved parts got a thorough insight into what the contents and ideas of the project were