"Awesome." While that word had become cringe-worthily overused, we can still, nevertheless, fairly apply it to the power of volcanoes. Volcanoes hold a place of reverence in the human psyche. Most of us have grown up reading about Pompeii or Krakatoa, or remember Mt Pinatubo or that unpronounceable Icelandic Eyjafjallajokull, which threw European airways into chaos a few years ago. Our kids are soon aware of the awesome power of volcanoes.
In the Hawaiian tradition Pele is the Goddess of volcanoes, who could cause volcanic eruptions by digging with her Pa'oa, or magic stick. Many of the stories associated with her explain some of the odd but beautiful structures formed by volcanic eruptions on the islands, such as the long strands of volcanic glass in Hawaii called Pele’s Hair. At this time of year it's not hard to imagine that Christmas is all about shopping and adding value to the economy, but of course it's far more than that. It's about adding joy to our lives and to the lives of those around us. 
The first week of Advent focuses on the earth and minerals, and we have a range of toys, games and activities to help your children explore and learn more about the fundamentals of the world around them. With our easy, safe and fun Volcano Kit you can recreate the spectacular sight of an eruption of a mini-Vesuvius in your own home or classroom. The volcano kits are from Pathfinders, an environmentally friendly company that uses recyclable materials, natural untreated wood and local resources and production as much as possible. So you can rest assured that your kids will discover fascinating facts about volcanoes and not be exposed to magma, pumice or flowing lave, as well as unsafe glues or toxic chemicals. They will learn more about volcanoes in four exciting volcano-related activities, including making a lava lamp and replicating a bubbling mud pool. If Advent is a time to inspire others, the immense power of volcanoes is a particularly awesome place to start.
