Let's get every child outdoors!

I don’t know about you, but so many of my childhood memories involve welly-booted, muddy fun outdoors, searching for creepy crawlies, collecting leaves, shells and other bits and bobs from nature that took my fancy. Then, I took nothing for granted – every creature, nest, bug or strange shaped rock I discovered was a little miracle, something to be cherished.

 

At the RSPB we think that these experiences in nature are so important for young people. Not only are they enjoyable, health giving and soul feeding, but we hope that they also plant a seed in a child’s heart and mind that will grow into the strong oak of environmental consciousness that is crucial if we are to succeed in protecting our special environment for future generations.

 

And I, for one, wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t believe that every child should be learning outdoors. Whether this is formal or informal education is not important – the experiences a child gets from being outside leave a far stronger legacy than those inside. Having come from a background in classroom teaching, with no easy access even to the school grounds, it is such a joy to watch children learning at RSPB reserves around the county, all of whom go away wanting more.

 

Just last week I was teaching at Strumpshaw Fen and as her class was leaving, one little girl said about the reserve, “I wish the whole world was like this”. Just think what little seed of an idea has been sown there and what she could do in the future to join us in protecting our wildlife.

 

Learning outside the classroom not only offers an environment to deliver all areas of the National Curriculum but it also gives children who may find it difficult to engage in a more formal environment to shine. Teachers are quite often amazed that pupils, who are usually disinterested in their education, suddenly become entranced by pond creatures resembling aliens and start asking questions to find out more.

 

It amazes me the number of teachers and parents who come with school groups who are unaware of the reserves that are right on their doorstep.  We have 26 reserves right across the East that are home to a vast array of fascinating wildlife species, many of which just can’t be seen in day to day life (unless you are lucky enough to work on one of our reserves of course!). 

 

Many of our reserves offer field teaching sessions to school groups throughout the year; host an array of family activities that will enthral even the biggest of kids (including Mum and Dad!); and host Wildlife Explorer groups which offer young people aged x – x the chance to  get their hands dirty learning about nature at monthly meetings.

 

Today we are raising awareness of the special experiences that the RSPB offers to young people right across the region in an initiative we call ‘Every Child Outdoors’.  We have a number of school visits planned across reserves in the East, and MP Therese Coffey is coming to join the children of Reydon Primary School as they pond dip, mini-beast and bird watch at Minsmere.

 

We hope that they all have a great day, and if you’d like to share in the fun today, or at any time of year, why not find out more: