National partnership aims to bring more children into nature

Organisations, research institutions, foundations, associations, umbrella organisations and university colleges working with nature, health, children, learning and leisure have come together to create a national, cross-sector movement that seeks to provide more children with experiences in nature and strengthen their connection with the natural world. Nordea-fonden and Villum Foundation are supporting Children and Nature - Denmark with a total of DKK 25 million over the next five years. 

Experiences in nature and better childhoods 

Over the next five years, Children and Nature - Denmark will work to bring more children into nature. The partners aim to contribute to solutions to three societal challenges affecting children in Denmark: the nature and climate crisis that the younger generation must navigate; declining mental wellbeing among a growing number of children, where nature can play a supportive role; and groups of children who are insufficiently physically active. 
 

According to the Danish Society for Nature Conservation, which hosts Children and Nature - Denmark, the ambition is to make better use of the opportunities that nature offers: 
 

“We are seeing a generation of children who experience lower levels of wellbeing, are less physically active and spend more time alone than previous generations. At the same time, they must navigate a natural environment undergoing significant change. Nature is not a cure-all, but research increasingly shows that play and learning in nature can support children’s wellbeing, social connections, health and development. Our task now is to turn that knowledge into action across the country in collaboration with the many people and settings that shape children’s everyday lives: schools, childcare settings, associations and families,” says Mikkel Havelund, Head of Engagement at the Danish Society for Nature Conservation. 

DGI: nature adds another dimension 

DGI, one of the partners, works to strengthen voluntary associations as settings for physical activity and health and looks forward to gaining new knowledge that can help create communities in nature. 
 

“Physical activity contributes positively to the wellbeing of children and young people. Activities in nature together with other children and adults add another dimension, both for the individual and for the community. Through the Children and Nature - Denmark, we look forward to gaining further knowledge about children’s participation in nature-based activities, enabling more children to become part of communities under the open sky,” says Charlotte Bach Thomassen, Chair of DGI. 

Three flagship projects 

Children and Nature - Denmark is launching three flagship projects focused on outdoor play, learning outside the classroom and the active involvement of children and young people in shaping future landscapes. The projects will run for two years with a combined budget of DKK 10 million. They are designed to engage children where they are. 
 

One of the projects focuses on increasing opportunities for children to play outdoors. While play is important for children’s wellbeing, opportunities for active play in nature are becoming more limited and access is uneven. The initiative aims to improve opportunities for all children, regardless of background, to engage in active outdoor play. It will also support parents, educators and associations in bringing more play into natural settings. 
 

Another flagship project explores new forms of active involvement of children and young people in decisions concerning future landscapes and changes to nature, such as those currently taking place through the Green Tripartite Agreement, where agricultural land is being converted into forest and natural areas. 

Learning outside the classroom 

Ensuring that all school pupils spend more time learning outdoors is the ambition of the third flagship project. Teachers in three municipalities will work with researchers to develop and embed new approaches in which teaching regularly takes place outside the classroom, in nature and in ways that are academically meaningful. 
 

University colleges and universities play a key role in the centre’s work by providing inspiration and research-based recommendations for professionals working with children in everyday settings. Karen Seierøe Barfod of VIA University College is a research manager, professor and PhD researcher specialising in outdoor learning: 

“I am interested in understanding what nature can offer as a learning environment, how we can help more pupils spend time in nature and how we can make this easier and more inspiring for teachers and educators. Together, the partners will work to develop formats, methods and approaches that can make outdoor learning a practical reality in pupils’ everyday lives. This is a complex challenge, which is why collaboration across sectors is so important.” 

Broad collaboration is needed 

Nordea-fonden and Villum Foundation see a need to support a visible and coordinating actor that can help make nature an integral part of childhood culture and everyday life in Denmark. 
 

Christine Paludan-Müller, Director of Grants at Nordea-fonden, says: 

“Nature offers children opportunities to express themselves, be part of communities and find calm in everyday lives that are often characterised by a fast pace. We are therefore pleased to support a partnership that aims to make nature a natural part of more children’s lives.” 

“We hope the centre will become an important national driver in enabling more children to have positive experiences in nature and develop a close relationship with it. By bringing together knowledge, networks and key stakeholders, the centre can help create a national movement towards more experiences in nature and good childhoods with nature at their centre,” says Ole Laursen, Director of Grants at Villum Foundation.