Though it’s hard to believe, NHSN’s How to be a Young North East Naturalist project is almost over. As we draw closer to a special end-of-project celebration, Nature Ranger, Julie Ross, shares an update on the project so far.
After eight weeks of working with children and teachers across the North East, How to be Young North East Naturalist is almost at an end. Coordinating a busy few weeks of activities to inspire local children to understand and protect the natural world, Nature Rangers, Julie and Jack, have been as busy as ever squeezing in more opportunities to connect with local nature.
At its heart, How to be a Young North East Naturalist is about encouraging children to protect the environment. An important part of this comes from speaking out on important issues such as climate change. Last week, we were delighted when children from Eastlea Primary and Grange First School decided that they wanted to do something special to inspire children, just like them, to project nature. Deciding on a protest, children created placards highlighting issues that mattered to them and marched together to make themselves heard. Everyone had a great time!
While protecting nature is vital, connection with nature is important too. Elsewhere this week, children from Mountfield Primary decided on something a little quieter as they held a celebration event by singing nature songs around a campfire. Music, just like art and writing, is a way in which many people choose to connect with nature and this was a fitting event to say thank you to some of the children at the heart of How to be Young North East Naturalist.
Finally this week, children have also been filming with local filmmaker and NHSN Trustee, Cain Scrimgeour, as part of a video set to premiere at a special celebration event on 13 July. TV presenters in the making, Children talked about nature journals, and their experience making notes on the wildlife they had spotted close to home – a great skill for any young naturalist.
As ever, we would like to extend a huge thank you to the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Without them, How to Be a Young North East Naturalist would not have been possible. Thank you for helping inspire so many children about North East nature.
Huge thank you to all involved. Kaesey-Mae has loved having Jack and Julie around. We as a family have explored more new places and all learnt more too. We will definitely keep exploring!
Parent
Oliver has really enjoyed this project and has been very enthusiastic at home to tell us what has been learning. He enjoyed taking his learning further on weekends, telling his family and friends facts while out and about. Thank you Jack and Julie for all your work with the children.
Parent
