Our flagship nature mentoring programme for children and young people, Monthly Nature Club, takes place every second Sunday of the month throughout the year. We take nature education to a whole new level as young people develop a range of skills, from whittling to wildlife tracking. Our experienced leaders also encourage a sense of belonging and confidence in the great outdoors that can last a lifetime.
About Monthly Nature Club
Spending time outdoors in nature is a way for children and young people to connect with themselves and others, build confidence, and develop skills. Above all, it’s a chance to be themselves and have fun! We call it ‘mentoring’ because our approach is based on a model of teaching that allows children to follow their individual passions and interests in the outdoors. It promotes self motivation, genuine curiosity and empowerment. With a strong theoretical framework this programme brings learning through exploration, play and hands-on experience, taking nature education to a new level.
Our mentors inspire young people to want to find out more and experiment for themselves whilst providing careful supervision and support. Each session builds on the last to give young people the chance to really develop their skills and deepen their sense of self-esteem and confidence as well as build friendships within the group.
Getting to know a particular place throughout the seasons brings its own magic as we learn to notice and engage with the changes and cycles at play. Land tending and land stewardship are integral to this programme.
Practical Information
Nature Club is for children and young people aged 5-15, and takes place at our beautiful Knott Wood site near Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, every second Sunday of the month between 10.30am and 3.30pm
On the day we split into three groups based on age, group dynamics, and individual interests.
- ‘Squirrels’ group age 5-8
- ‘Badgers’ age 9-11
- ‘Wolves’ age 12-15
Sessions involve seasonally inspired and age-appropriate activities in small groups that invite curiosity, learning and fun.
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AUTUMN BLOCK AT NT HARDCASTLE CRAGS
SUNDAY 8TH SEPTEMBER – SUNDAY 13TH OCTOBER – SUNDAY 10TH NOVEMBER
Activities at Monthly Nature Club include…
Fire making, foraging for edible & medicinal plants, and campfire cooking
Wild crafts, whittling & creative play
Tracking, nature knowledge & ecology
Group games, Exploring, Story, Song & Chill Out Time
The model we use has been developed using our learning and experience with ‘the art of mentoring’. A number of groups using this model exist around the country thanks to ‘Cultivating Curiosity’ in Sussex who supported us to set up our Nature Mentoring programme in 2017.