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Description
The Bory Niemodlińskie microregion is located within a Nature Park. Unfortunately, according to the analysis featured in the ‘Local Strategy of Bory Niemodlińskie Development until 2023’ report complied for the Partnerstwo Borów Niemodlińskich local activist group, inhabitants are not familiar natural resources of Bory, with its richness and uniqueness, they do not identify with it, do not advocate for it, as a consequence of which the region is getting more deteriorated and inaccessible. The lack of interest in local nature affects inhabitants either, especially youngest ones, leading to the so-called nature deficit disorder (Richard Louv, Last Child in the Woods, 2003). We will address this problem by focusing in building a bond between young inhabitants of the region and the surrounding nature. We will organise a 12-month cycle of all-day classes in the woods. Youths will prepare and run local activities aiming at protecting the environment. We will engage over 80 pupils and teachers from 5 schools from the Opolskie and Nyski districts and from the Opole city. We assume that communing with nature together and activities for it will have positive impact on children’s and youths’ wellbeing. We will explore and publish the effects of the project and will present the process and the change in a documentary. The project will also help create a forest base – a place for promoting a bond between people and nature. We will be supported in the project by the Laboratorium Zmiany Foundation which has vast experience in projects aiming at the activation of local youth communities. Its team will design and run a training for school group guardians.
Summary of project results
The project responded to societal problems related to children and young people''s nature-deficit disorder, and the increasing amount of time spent in front of screens. The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated these problems by taking away young people''s sense of agency and responsibility for their natural surroundings. We aimed to re-establish a connection with nature by organising regular full-day activities in the forest for primary school children.
The project aimed not only to raise participants'' awareness of the nature around them, but also to build their sense of agency and responsibility for it. Research shows that a connection with nature increases the likelihood of caring for the environment, so we set out to build this from a young age.
As part of the project, we carried out a series of activities and actions that aimed to reduce the nature deficit among children and young people and increase their involvement in environmental protection. The project mainly focused on pupils from 5 primary schools aged 10-13 years.
Main project activities:
● The organisation of regular day-long activities in the forest for project participants, during which they experienced nature with all their senses, participated in micro-adventures, learned new skills and worked together to solve problems.
● Implementation by the participants of their own nature projects, such as the construction of nest boxes, bee houses or the organisation of environmental performances for kindergarten children.
● Training for teachers and supervisors of school-based Natural Engagement groups to prepare them to work with young people on conservation.
● A study of the impact of forest activities on the wellbeing of children and young people, including both quantitative and qualitative analysis.
● The production of a documentary film entitled. "A trip to the forest", which depicted the course of the forest workshops of the Natural Engagement school groups and also served as a promotional and educational tool. The film showed the various activities carried out as part of the project, inspiring viewers to do similar activities and demonstrating the benefits of spending time actively in nature.
The project was aimed at pupils from 5 primary schools, aged 10-13 years, who experienced nature with all their senses, learning new skills and working together in 7 cyclical full-day activities in the forest.
The effect of the project was to increase the participants'' awareness of the surrounding nature, which translated into greater attentiveness and curiosity related to nature. In addition, the frequency of visits to the forest increased and more than 80% of the participants managed several challenges, which increased their sense of self-efficacy.
The project also had a positive impact on the quality of relationships among the participants in the activities, especially for those with a weaker position in the peer group, who were given the opportunity to prove themselves. They were valued and experienced acceptance by the group.
Through local nature projects, project participants contributed to the construction of nest boxes, houses for bee-eaters, the organisation of pro-environmental performances for kindergarten children and litter collections in the surrounding forests. In addition, participation in the project increased knowledge of the local natural environment and involvement in conservation activities.
The effects and results of the project have been documented in a research report and a documentary film, ''A trip to the forest'', which has been published on the Forest Base Foundation''s YouTube channel. The outreach and promotional activities have increased public awareness of the benefits of contact with nature and the social involvement of young people in environmental activities.