Well we may have a way to go, but dreams cost nothing! This week our plans to develop youth and education work as part of the Wallasea Island Wild Coast Project took a small, baby step forward. Two shiny new Wallasea volunteers with teaching experience will soon join staff from the South Essex Marshes Education team in introducing pupils from local schools to the joys of the great outdoors.
Many of us involved with the RSPB, began our love affair with nature as nippers, running around in what are remembered as halcyon days, exploring the great outdoors near our childhood homes, often with knowledge of what we found out there added to by parents,grandparents or inspiring teachers who enjoyed sharing their passion for nature.
Unfortunately, the majority of the population now lives in an urban setting and many people are detached from nature and the natural environment. Many cultures even regard the countryside with distaste and mistrust - it is seen as a dirty and dangerous place! Scientific studies are now pointing to the links between this divorce from the natural world and mental health issues and children's behavioural problems.
So the Youth and Education department of the RSPB is not only a cornerstone of the organisation, but an increasingly vital instrument to reconnect humanity with the wonders of the natural world that you and I love so much. Years of experience in field teaching and outreach to schools should support the fledgling team at Wallasea as we plan our first Wild Schools days in May, our youth team shoreline scavenge later in the summer and arts projects still in the pipeline.
The Wild Coast project has potential connections for many disciplines and year groups. We have already had visits from a year 6 group studying rivers and a GCSE Geography group carrying out field research. We are keen to develop new links with local schools and develop those connections already made, through science, maths,engineering and geography as expected but also through art, history or english. So if you are involved in education, what are you waiting for? Give us a call!
“Every child... born into this world has an innatepleasure…, delight…, interest and curiosity in thenatural world.”Sir David Attenborough
I've gone wild on Wallasea!