If money can be found to get young people visiting the theatre, what about funds to get them learning outside?
As a huge pot of money has been found to help young people experience live theatre, the RSPB is asking: ‘what about nature?’ A £2.5million scheme to give young people under 26 years old the chance to see shows at 95 venues around the UK was announced this week by Arts Council England.
The RSPB believes the Government should make a similar commitment to learning outdoors.
Learning outside improves mental and physical well-being, develops a sense of responsibility and ownership for the environment and enables children to have fresh air and exercise.
The conservation charity has been lobbying the Government for many years to provide specific funding for vital ‘outdoor learning,’ which would enable school children in even the most underprivileged areas to experience nature first-hand.
£2.5 million could allow half a million children in the UK to experience nature for a day on an RSPB nature reserve - discovering wildlife species, getting their hands dirty and enjoying the fresh air.
The money could be used to ensure that children who don’t get other opportunities to enjoy time in the wider countryside and all the benefits it can bring – such as those from inner city areas – get to learn outdoors.
Andy Simpson, Head of RSPB Youth and Education, says: “The wonder that a child shows at a creature they have fished from a pond or a bird hanging from a feeder is priceless.
“The only way to nurture an interest in the environment and understand the vital role we all play is to get young people out there experiencing it first-hand, getting their hands dirty.
“Many of us are lucky and get to a park or go for a walk every weekend but some children do not get to do it unless they go through school.
“The Government needs to dedicate funds to ensure this happens, and seeing the Arts Council’s efforts to encourage theatre-goers makes us even more determined to see this happen for nature as well.
”How can we expect children to value the natural world if it is not part of their lives? These visits often spark an interest which lasts for a lifetime.”
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