Project: Holiday tours (VakantieToers)
Organisation: NatuurWijs foundation (Stichting NatuurWijs)
Mission
The NatuurWijs foundation focuses on encouraging children (ages 4 - 12) to experience nature, with the conviction that a strong connection to nature contributes to the development of children as responsible global citizens. Their ambition is for all children to connect with nature.
They know from research that fewer and fewer children spend time in nature, especially urban children. This is despite the fact that playing outside in nature has a positive impact on the physical, social, and mental health of children. They primarily target children from urban areas because research shows that NatuurWijs has a significantly greater effect on city children.
Project
Since 2019, NatuurWijs has run 5 to 9 holiday tours each year, primarily in Amsterdam, The Hague, Leiden and Utrecht. Children aged 8 - 10 from disadvantaged urban areas spend three consecutive days with NatuurWijs in a natural area, immersing themselves in nature — an experience they will cherish for a lifetime. During the tour, the children visit a different nature reserve each day, engaging in self-discovery while learning practical skills for playing in and caring for nature. Each holiday tour consists of a three-day programme, with groups of 20 children guided by experienced NatuurWijs leaders. The tours take place during the spring, summer and autumn school holidays.
Impact
With our support, NatuurWijs will be able to increase the number of holiday tours they run each year to 10, providing 200 children with this three-day holiday tour immersed in nature every year.