1106 slov / 7 min.

Roderik sedel na svojej posteli a smutne hladkal svojho psa Rexa. Zajtra mala jeho trieda odísť na päť dní do Školy v prírode, ale on sa vôbec netešil. Predstava, že nebude vidieť mamu, otca a Rexa celých päť dní, mu zvierala srdce.

„Nechcem ísť,“ povedal potichu, keď do izby vošli jeho rodičia. „Bude sa mi za vami príliš cnieť.“

Mama si k nemu prisadla a nežne ho pohladila po vlasoch. „Vieš, Roderik, aj ja som bola kedysi malé dievča a tiež som sa bála ísť do Školy v prírode.“

Roderik zdvihol prekvapene hlavu. „Naozaj? Ty si sa tiež bála?“

„Áno,“ usmiala sa mama. „Ale vieš čo? Dodnes si pamätám, ako sme s kamarátkami sedeli večer pri táboráku a spievali pesničky. Ako sme objavovali tajné chodníčky v lese a učili sa rozpoznávať stopy zvierat.“

Otec prikývol a pridal sa: „A ja som na Škole v prírode našiel svojho najlepšieho kamaráta Petra. Predstav si, že sme sa spolu báli prvú noc, ale potom sme si rozprávali vtipy a smiali sa, až kým sme nezaspali. Odvtedy sme najlepší priatelia.“

„A čo keď mi bude smutno?“ spýtal sa Roderik stále trochu ustarostene.

„To je normálne, že ti bude chýbať domov,“ povedala mama. „Ale vieš čo? Ten pocit, keď sa potom vrátiš a uvidíš nás všetkých, bude úžasný. Rex ťa privíta tak nadšene, ako nikdy predtým.“

„A my ti sľubujeme, že ti každý večer pošleme správu o tom, čo robil Rex cez deň,“ dodal otec s úsmevom.

Roderik sa zamyslel. „A budeme aj my stavať bunker v lese, ako si mi rozprával?“

„Určite! A možno nájdete aj poklad, ako sme našli my,“ žmurkol otec.

„A večer budete mať diskotéku,“ dodala mama. „Pamätám si, ako sme sa všetci zabávali a tancovali. Bolo to super!“

Roderikovi sa pomaly začali rozžiarovať oči. „A naozaj sa naučím rozpoznávať stopy zvierat?“

„Samozrejme! A možno uvidíš aj srnky alebo zajace,“ povedala mama. „Budeš mať toľko zážitkov, že nám o nich budeš rozprávať celý týždeň po návrate.“

Tej noci Roderik zaspal pokojnejšie. Predstavoval si všetky dobrodružstvá, ktoré ho čakajú.

Prvý deň. Cesta za dobrodružstvom

Pred školou to v to ráno vyzeralo ako v úli. Niektoré deti sa túlili k mamám a potichu si utierali slzičky, iné nadšene skákali a ukazovali si svoje nové turistické batohy. Roderik pozoroval svojich spolužiakov a uvedomil si, že nie je jediný, kto má zmiešané pocity.

„Neboj sa,“ zašepkala mu Lucka, jeho spolužiačka, keď videla jeho neistý pohľad. „Ja som tu už bola s rodičmi, je to tam super!“ Jej úsmev bol taký úprimný, že sa Roderik musel tiež usmiať.

Pani učiteľka Kvetková všetkých spočítala a pomohla im nastúpiť do pohodlného autobusu. Roderik si sadol k oknu, vedľa neho si prisadol jeho kamarát Maťo. Keď sa autobus pohol, všetci zamávali rodičom.

Cesta bola ako dobrodružná výprava. Najprv prechádzali mestom – míňali známe budovy, obchody a parky. Roderik si všimol, ako sa pomaly menia vysoké paneláky na menšie domčeky s farebnými záhradkami. Potom sa pred nimi začal otvárať úplne iný svet.

„Pozrite, kravy!“ vykríkol niekto a všetci sa nahrnuli k oknám. Na zelených lúkach sa skutočne pásli hnedo-biele kravy, a medzi nimi poskakovali malé teliatka.

Krajina sa menila každou minútou. Široké polia sa zužovali, až ich vystriedali husté lesy. Cesta začala stúpať do kopca a točiť sa ako had. V diaľke sa črtali vysoké končiare hôr.

„Jéj, pozri tam!“ šťuchol do Roderika Maťo. Na lúke pri lese stála skupinka sŕn. Keď autobus prešiel okolo, rýchlo zmizli medzi stromami.

Po troch hodinách cesty autobus zabočil na lesnú cestu a pomaly stúpal až k drevenému penzirónu, ktorý sa týčil na malom kopci. Vyzeral presne ako z rozprávky – s drevenou terasou a červenou strechou.

Keď deti vystúpili z autobusu, Roderik sa zhlboka nadýchol. Vzduch bol úplne iný ako v meste – svieži a voňavý. Vo vzduchu sa miešala vôňa ihličia a dreva. Všade bolo počuť len šum stromov a spev vtákov.

„Pozrite sa na ten výhľad!“ zavolala pani učiteľka. Všetci sa otočili a zostali v nemom úžase. Z terasy penziónu videli do údolia, kde sa ako na dlani rozprestierali zelené kopce, jeden za druhým, až kam oko dovidelo.

Ubytovanie prebehlo rýchlo. Roderik sa dostal na izbu s Maťom a Petrom, svojimi dobrými kamarátmi. Izba bola útulná, s drevenými poschodovými posteľami a malým stolíkom pri okne, z ktorého videli priamo do lesa.

„Ja si beriem hornú posteľ!“ zahlásil nadšene Peter, a všetci sa rozosmiali. Začali si vybaľovať veci a zdobiť izbu plagátmi, ktoré si priniesli z domu. Roderik si na poličku postavil fotku s Rexom.

Z chodby sa ozýval smiech a džavot ostatných detí. Niekto začal hrať na gitare a spievať. Postupne sa k nemu pridávali ďalšie hlasy. Atmosféra sa uvoľňovala a aj tie najplachšie deti sa začali osmieľovať.

„Čo keby sme šli preskúmať okolie?“ navrhol Maťo. „Videl som vzadu ihrisko a vyzerá to, že tam majú aj ohnisko na opekanie!“

Roderik sa pozrel von oknom na tajomný les a usmieval sa. Zrazu mu domov nepripadal až tak ďaleko. Mal pri sebe svojich kamarátov a vedel, že spolu zažijú kopec dobrodružstiev. A možno, pomyslel si, nájdu aj ten poklad, o ktorom hovoril ocko.

„Poďme!“ prikývol nadšene a už sa hrnuli von z izby objavovať ich nový, dočasný domov.

„Počkajte, chlapci!“ zavolala pani učiteľka Kvetková, keď videla Roderika s kamarátmi mieriť von. „Najprv sa všetci stretneme v spoločenskej miestnosti. Musíme si povedať dôležité veci!“

V priestrannej spoločenskej miestnosti sa postupne zhromaždili všetky deti. Sedeli na farebných vankúšoch a počúvali, ako pani učiteľka vysvetľuje pravidlá: vstávanie o siedmej, raňajky o ôsmej, potom dopoludňajší program – väčšinou turistika alebo poznávanie prírody. Po obede oddych a učenie, ale také hravejšie ako v škole. Popoludní hry a aktivity, večer program v spoločenskej miestnosti.

„A pamätajte,“ zdôraznila pani učiteľka, „do lesa nikdy nechodíme sami, vždy len so sprievodom. A mobily používame len večer na komunikáciu s rodičmi.“

Z jedálne sa šírila lákavá vôňa. Na večeru bola výborná horská pochúťka – bryndzové halušky so slaninkou. Roderikovi tak chutili, že si aj pridal, hoci doma bryndzu nikdy veľmi nemusel.

Večer si všetci posadali pred veľkú obrazovku a pozerali rozprávku o lesných zvieratkách. Roderik sa snažil sústrediť na príbeh, ale myšlienkami často zablúdil domov. Aký mal Rex deň? Či mu dali rodičia jeho obľúbené granule?

Keď ležal vo svojej novej posteli, počúval nezvyčajné zvuky – šuchot listov za oknom, vzdialené húkanie sovy, tiché dýchanie jeho spolubývajúcich. Bolo to také iné ako doma. Zrazu mu zapípal mobil – správa od otca! Na fotke sa usmievali mama s otcom a Rex medzi nimi vyplazoval jazyk. Pod fotkou bolo napísané: „Rex dnes našiel v parku novú loptičku a celé popoludnie sa s ňou hrá. Myslíme na teba a máme ťa radi!“ Roderik si pritisol mobil k srdcu a spokojne zaspal.

Roderik and the Outdoor School – Fears and the first day

895 words / 6 min.

Roderik was sitting on his bed, sadly petting his dog Rex. Tomorrow his class was going to leave for five days at a School in Nature, but he wasn’t excited at all. The idea that he wouldn’t see his mom, dad, and Rex for the whole five days made his heart heavy.

„I don’t want to go,“ he said quietly when his parents entered the room. „I will miss you too much.“

His mom sat next to him and gently stroked his hair. „You know, Roderik, I was a little girl once, and I was also scared to go to the School in Nature.“

Roderik looked up in surprise. „Really? You were scared too?“

„Yes,“ his mom smiled. „But you know what? I still remember how we sat around the campfire with my friends in the evening and sang songs. How we discovered secret paths in the forest and learned to recognize animal tracks.“

His dad nodded and added: „And I found my best friend Peter at the School in Nature. Imagine, we were scared together the first night, but then we told each other jokes and laughed until we fell asleep. Since then, we have been best friends.“

„What if I feel sad?“ Roderik asked, still a bit worried.

„It’s normal to miss home,“ his mom said. „But you know what? The feeling when you come back and see all of us will be amazing. Rex will welcome you as excitedly as never before.“

„And we promise to send you a message every evening about what Rex did during the day,“ his dad added with a smile.

Roderik thought for a moment. „Will we also build a bunker in the forest, like you told me?“

„Of course! And maybe you’ll find a treasure, like we did,“ his dad winked.

„And in the evening, you’ll have a disco,“ his mom added. „I remember how we all had fun and danced. It was great!“

Roderik’s eyes slowly began to shine. „And will I really learn to recognize animal tracks?“

„Of course! And maybe you’ll see deer or rabbits,“ his mom said. „You’ll have so many adventures that you’ll be telling us about them for a whole week after you come back.“

That night, Roderik fell asleep more peacefully. He imagined all the adventures that awaited him.

First Day: The Adventure Begins

In front of the school, it looked like a beehive that morning. Some kids were clinging to their moms, quietly wiping away their tears, while others were jumping with excitement, showing off their new hiking backpacks. Roderik watched his classmates and realized he wasn’t the only one with mixed feelings.

„Don’t worry,“ whispered Lucka, his classmate, when she saw his uncertain look. „I’ve been there before with my parents, it’s amazing!“ Her smile was so genuine that Roderik couldn’t help but smile back.

Teacher Ms. Kvetková counted everyone and helped them board the comfortable bus. Roderik took a seat by the window, with his friend Maťo sitting next to him. When the bus started moving, they all waved to their parents.

The journey felt like an adventure itself. First, they went through the city—passing familiar buildings, shops, and parks. Roderik noticed how the tall apartment blocks slowly changed into smaller houses with colorful gardens. Then, a completely different world began to open up before them.

„Look, cows!“ someone shouted, and everyone rushed to the windows. On the green meadows, there really were brown-and-white cows, and among them were small calves hopping around.

The landscape changed every minute. Wide fields narrowed, giving way to dense forests. The road started winding uphill, twisting like a snake. In the distance, tall mountain peaks began to appear.

„Wow, look over there!“ Maťo nudged Roderik. On a meadow near the forest stood a group of deer. When the bus passed by, they quickly disappeared among the trees.

After three hours, the bus turned onto a forest road and slowly climbed up to a wooden lodge perched on a small hill. It looked like something out of a fairy tale—with a wooden terrace and a red roof.

When the children got off the bus, Roderik took a deep breath. The air was completely different from the city—fresh and fragrant. The scent of pine and wood mixed in the air. All around, there was only the sound of rustling trees and birds singing.

„Look at that view!“ called Ms. Kvetková. Everyone turned and was left speechless. From the lodge’s terrace, they could see the valley below, with green hills stretching out one after another as far as the eye could see.

Settling in went quickly. Roderik was put in a room with Maťo and Peter, his good friends. The room was cozy, with wooden bunk beds and a small table by the window, which offered a direct view of the forest.

„I’m taking the top bunk!“ Peter announced enthusiastically, and they all laughed. They began unpacking their things and decorating the room with posters they had brought from home. Roderik put a picture of himself with Rex on the shelf.

Laughter and chatter echoed from the hallway. Someone started playing the guitar and singing. Gradually, more voices joined in. The atmosphere relaxed, and even the shyest children began to loosen up.

„How about we explore the surroundings?“ Maťo suggested. „I saw a playground in the back, and it looks like there’s also a fire pit for roasting!“

Roderik looked out the window at the mysterious forest and smiled. Suddenly, home didn’t seem so far away. He had his friends with him, and he knew they would have lots of adventures together. And maybe, he thought, they would even find the treasure Dad had talked about.

„Let’s go!“ he nodded excitedly, and they were already rushing out of the room to explore their new temporary home.

„Wait, boys!“ Ms. Kvetková called when she saw Roderik and his friends heading outside. „First, everyone needs to meet in the common room. We have some important things to discuss!“

In the spacious common room, all the children gradually gathered. They sat on colorful cushions and listened as Ms. Kvetková explained the rules: waking up at seven, breakfast at eight, then morning programs—mostly hiking or learning about nature. After lunch, there would be rest and some learning, but more fun than at school. In the afternoon, games and activities, and in the evening, a program in the common room.

„And remember,“ emphasized Ms. Kvetková, „we never go into the forest alone, always with a guide. And phones are only for evenings, to communicate with parents.“

A tempting smell wafted from the dining room. Dinner was a delicious mountain specialty—bryndzové halušky with bacon. Roderik liked them so much that he even asked for seconds, even though he never really liked bryndza at home.

In the evening, everyone sat down in front of a big screen and watched a cartoon about forest animals. Roderik tried to focus on the story, but his thoughts often wandered home. How was Rex doing? Did his parents give him his favorite treats?

As he lay in his new bed, he listened to unfamiliar sounds—the rustling of leaves outside the window, the distant hooting of an owl, the quiet breathing of his roommates. It was so different from home. Suddenly, his phone beeped—a message from Dad! In the picture, his mom and dad were smiling, with Rex sticking out his tongue between them. Below the picture, it said: „Rex found a new ball in the park today and played with it all afternoon. We are thinking of you and love you!“ Roderik pressed the phone to his heart and fell asleep peacefully.