08/15/2024

The healing virtues of nature

A group of children are playing in a meadow. A blindfolded girl stands in the centre and tries to catch the others. In the front right of the picture is a woman.
A group of children play blind cow at an environmental camp in Hutsulshchyna National Nature Park in Ukraine.

In times of war, environmental education can play a far greater role than usual. Experiencing the healing virtues of nature can be of great benefit to those who have been directly and indirectly affected by the war.

All young people in Ukraine are affected by the war. Youth living in the Ukrainian Carpathians, where the Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS) runs a major programme to support protected areas, are no exception. There are also large numbers of young people who have experienced war in the east and south of the country and have fled to the west in search of a safe haven. Many fathers of local children are now serving in the army.

In such conditions, the work of protected areas in the field of environmental education takes on new meaning: helping youth to heal emotionally and build resilience through the experience of nature. The Frankfurt Zoological Society, with the funding of the International Climate Initiative (IKI), is supporting 13 parks in the Ukrainian Carpathians to give war-affected youth a first-hand experience of nature and all its associated benefits.

From classrooms to outdoor learning

Such a new challenge reinforces the need to shift Ukrainian parks’ eco-educational programmes from the classrooms to outdoor experiential learning. Since 2023, with funding of the IKI, FZS has been working in this direction, conducting training programmes for educators from protected areas, showing them how to plan and run outdoor programmes, demonstrating methods and holding a workshop on nature interpretation.

To enable such programmes, eco-educators have been provided with uniforms, backpacks, stable shoes, water bottles and first aid kits to ensure safe outdoor excursions.  Basic equipment to help deliver engaging lessons has also been donated to the parks, including binoculars, magnifying glasses, identification books and storage boxes, with more on the way.

Daycamp in Hutsulshchyna National Nature Park

A good example of putting these learnings into practice was in the Hutsulshchyna National Nature Park, which ran an outdoor day camp called ‘Friends of Nature’. Supported by the project, the camp involved 17 children in a variety of outdoor activities over three days. With the support of the IKI the FZS were also able to provide fresh local food and transport and T-shirts for each participant.

Other protected areas are also becoming more open to the idea and bold in their approach. In July, the FZS hosted three one-day outdoor lessons focusing on the ‘mini-beasts’ of the Carpathian wilderness, inviting eco-educators from all the participating parks to join and gather inspiration for activities that they could implement in their own areas.

The protracted war in Ukraine and post-war recovery will require new approaches to harness the therapeutic and regenerative power of nature. Protected areas have a leading role to play in this process. The FZS, together with partners, will continue to support parks in this direction. 

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Contact

IKI Office
Zukunft – Umwelt – Gesellschaft (ZUG) gGmbH
Stresemannstraße 69-71

10963 Berlin

iki-office@z-u-g.org

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