Child Protection United States Project #17430

Send 110 Children to Nature Camp

by Piedmont Wildlife Center

Summary

This project will send an additional 110 children to a week-long nature camp in Durham, Orange or Wake county of North Carolina in 2017-18. These children will meet the amazing teachers that are hidden in plants, shadows, and sunlight. They'll get dirty, have fun & take part in an incredible foray into the wild. Hands-on outdoor adventures will stimulate curiosity, awaken enthusiasm for the natural world and deepen their connection to nature, to themselves, to one another, & their surroundings.

$25,590
total goal

$1,952
remaining

183
donors

1
monthly donor

1
fundraiser

7
years

Challenge

Young people are becoming disconnected from their natural world. This lack of nature is linked to some disturbing childhood trends, such as the rises in obesity, attention disorders, and depression. Public School requirements are contributing to a K-12 environmental literacy gap by reducing nature education in schools. Its testing for core subjects is causing schools to eliminate nature education. This project brings nature to an additional 70 children & an experience that will last a lifetime.

Solution

We provide hands-on activities in a natural environment within hundreds of acres of wetlands, fields & forests. Children learn new skills while getting physical activity outdoors. Through games, hands-on activities and hikes they learn not to fear the outdoors, how to identify insects, plants & animals, how to have fun in the outdoors, & how to trust & work with others. They also learn from wildlife ambassadors how to protect wildlife and local ecosystems becoming better stewards of the earth.

Long-Term Impact

This project will educate over 70 children each year in a week-long nature camp. Over 110 will benefit in 2017 & 18. This immersion into nature has proven to awaken curiosity and increase confidence in the children. Parents say this experience has resulted in their child spending more time outdoors on a regular basis & many parents enroll their child for additional weeks. Many campers have progressed to our Teen Leadership Training Program and several of them have become counselors & educators.