The Preschool on hiking
We visited Utsikten Preschool in Ottestad, just outside Hamar, to hear how they use Nordic Cab.
When the preschool goes on hiking, there’s a lot to bring along. Sturdy carts with ample space make outdoor adventures effortlessly easy for both staff and children at Utsikten Preschool.
– We’ve found the perfect solution for both adults and children,” says Merete Nilssen, the director of Utsikten Preschool in Ottestad, just outside Hamar.
She is referring to the four carts from Nordic Cab that the preschool has acquired, which from day one became everyone’s favorite for outings.
– Since the carts arrived at the turn of the year, they’ve been in constant use by both the toddler and older children’s departments. Now, we can’t manage without them,” she says with a smile.
For Children and Equipment
– We have two carts for equipment and two carts for the few children who cannot walk on their own. It’s perfect for our needs,” Merete explains.
The transport cart can either be pushed or pulled using a harness.
– We prefer harnesses because then you have both hands free to guide or assist,” she says enthusiastically.
The cart holds everything needed to ensure a great hiking.
– Everyone who works in a preschool knows how much we need to bring—bags, food, and equipment. Carrying all that is heavy and impractical, especially when you also need to bend down and help the children. We used to use backpacks and didn’t find it ideal. With these carts, we’ve found a much better solution,” says the preschool director.
– If a little one gets tired, they can sit in the cart and rest a bit. That wouldn’t have been possible with backpacks,” she points out.
Always with You
Utsikten Preschool is beautifully located with the forest as its closest neighbor, full of hiking trails and exciting destinations. Additionally, Lake Mjøsa is very close by, and Hamar city can be reached with a short bus ride.
– Regardless of where we’re going, it’s handy to have the carts with us so we’re covered with what we need. This summer, we took the pull carts on a trip to Tangen Animal Park. We had to bring a lot, and we loaded everything into the carts. No stress, just very practical,” she explains.
Safe and Secure
One of the things Merete and her colleagues appreciate is that the carts have large wheels and excellent stability.
– Safety for the children is our highest priority. At the same time, it’s important for me as the director to ensure that the staff are exposed to as little physical strain as possible. That’s why it helps that the carts are designed so the kids can get in on their own. Additionally, they are relatively lightweight, yet solid and stable, so they don’t tip over,” Merete explains.
Designated Spot
This spring, one of the carts had a designated user for a period. One of the children had broken their leg and couldn’t walk far with crutches.
– He was happy to avoid sitting in a baby stroller, I can tell you that. By the way, we’ve stopped using our old double strollers. They’ve become too heavy and inflexible. Now it’s all about Nordic Cab, she concludes. The carts give us freedom and flexibility. We always manage to bring everything we need, and tired kids can sit and get a rest.
– With these carts, we avoid a lot of physical strain on the staff. When the practical aspects work smoothly, the staff have more time and energy to focus on the children and enjoy the outing themselves.
With the forest as their closest neighbor and Lake Mjøsa nearby, “outing” is a daily keyword at Utsikten Preschool. Everything they need to bring along is easily transported in Nordic Cab carts.
Both the little ones and the big ones enjoy being out on trips. The fact that the equipment cart can be pulled with a harness allows adults to keep both hands free to assist the children.
Utsikten Preschool
Our preschool is located in Åkersvika Nature Reserve in Ottestad, just outside Hamar. We have approximately 80 children and 32 staff members spread across four departments.
We use:
- 2 carts for children
- 2 cargo carts
We use the carts when we are:
- On hiking in the forest
- On trips to the city
- Visiting Lake Mjøsa
- Shopping
We use the carts for:
- Transporting bottles, snacks, clothes, and equipment
- Resting tired children
- Strolling with the youngest
Why we love the Nordic Cab carts:
- Easy to handle
- Carries a lot
- Keeps items and children dry
- Ergonomic solutions
- Large wheels
- High-quality materials
- Sturdy and secure
Interested in carts for your preschool? Contact us at info@ncsolutions.no or +47 4000 6191. You can learn more about Nordic Cab and our carts at nordiccab.com
