Best Contribution Towards Transforming Nature Connection

Generation Wild – a project which fosters meaningful connections with nature through immersive experiences and storytelling.

This creative partnership approach, evidenced by Cardiff University, gives measured positive change in nature connection and mental wellbeing for children, families and school communities. At the heart is the delivery of supported immersive experiences using the five pathways to nature connection: senses, emotion, compassion, meaning and beauty. The reach of the programme has been extensive with impact in harder to reach communities, demonstrating nature is for everyone. The formative research of this programme and resulting measured change is exemplary.

Challenge(s):

Evidence shows that connecting with nature makes children feel happier, increases their self-esteem and improves their behaviour as well as their physical and mental health. It also develops their creativity, imagination, teamwork, communication and observational skills. All of this leads to improved learning. Children from disadvantaged backgrounds have fewer opportunities to connect with nature and can feel that nature is not for them. They worry that they won’t fit in, that they don’t have all of the right equipment and clothing, that they don’t know the names of all of the animals. We believe that nature should be for everyone and aim to break down these barriers.

Solution:

All of the activities in Generation Wild are designed to connect people with nature through the five pathways identified by the University of Derby: senses, emotion, compassion, meaning and beauty.  The project demonstrates to teachers, parents and children that nature connection is for everyone, no matter what their background or where they live. All of the activities are incredibly simple and can be completed in almost any outdoor space without any equipment or specialist knowledge.

WWT offer to schools:

• Free visit to their local wetland centre for a Generation Wild trip free of charge, full of storytelling, imagination, and nature connection activities.
• Transport costs covered as this was identified as a major barrier to schools.
• A free family visit voucher for every child that comes on a Generation Wild trip, for children to return.
• Unlimited access to online nature activities for all seasons.
• Access to curriculum-linked resources for teachers to help them to tie Generation Wild into wider curriculum work.

Outcomes and Benefits:

The Generation Wild has reached 33,208 students and collectively they have completed 90,000 nature connection activities. Two years into the programme, it has reached communities typically underrepresented with less access to, and fewer opportunities to connect with, nature. 44% of students participating in the program are Black or Minority Ethnic compared to 35.7% nationally. 41% of students are eligible for free school meals compared to 23.8% nationally and 21% have Special Educational Needs and Disabilities compared to 13% nationally.

Generation Wild has been very well received with 100% of teachers agreeing that Generation Wild was effective at connecting their children with nature. 89% strongly agreed it increased their student’s care and concern for nature and 75% of teachers agreed that the project improved their students’ mental wellbeing. The project has also influenced teachers with 80% of teachers doing more nature activities with their class and teaching outside more since GW.

The impact on children has been independently researched by Cardiff University. Their results show that children’s connection to nature (as measured by the Inclusion of Nature in Self and Connection to Nature Index) improved post-participation as did their mental wellbeing (as measured by the PANAS scale). The amount of time they spent outdoors also increased.