Resilience By Nature – A Nature Connection Program
In this workshop, environmental educator Emily from the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, will share her experience of facilitating nature connection programs in an urban environment.
Resilience by Nature is a one-day excursion program designed for 10–12-year-olds on the cusp of transitioning into high school and teenage hood. Most of the participants who attend this program have limited opportunities to experience and access nature. The program empowers students to find and access nature places wherever they are, and aims to equip students with tools and strategies to make nature an ally in their mental health and wellbeing.
This experiential workshop will explore evaluations, learnings, successes and challenges. The workshop will also have a strong focus on sharing student voices, their responses and reflections of the program including those who were reluctant to connect with the experiences offered.
This workshop will include a short presentation on the program, followed by an outdoor session where participants can take part in and experience practical and tangible activities to use in their own settings. We will discuss the research behind these experiences in relation to supporting physical and mental health, and explore techniques to promote safe practice, inclusion and adaptability.
Outcomes of the workshop
• Introduce Resilience by Nature program and its core principles
• Share wellbeing benefits of nature connection for children’s mental health
• Amplify student voices by sharing their insights of their experiences connecting with nature in an urban environment.
• Present case studies showcasing the program’s impact on students
• Provide participants with an embodied experience through practical, nature-based activities
• Discuss challenges, feedback, and learnings from program implementation
• Share strategies and ideas to support children who may be reluctant or find it difficult to engage with nature.
This workshop is intended for anyone working or wanting to work with children and adolescents in outdoor spaces. Including (but not limited to) teachers, educators, social workers, therapists and counsellors.
Emily Barrow
she/her
Environmental Educator
Emily Barrow works with the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, where she and her team develop and facilitate nature-based learning programs that support children and young people to learn in, from, and about the natural world. She also runs a nature and gardening program at a local primary school.
Emily is passionate about extending the rich pedagogies and practices of bush kinders and early childhood nature programs into primary school settings. She is a volunteer board member with the Kids in Nature Network, an organisation that empowers and connects people and organisations working to strengthen children’s relationships with the natural world.
Having grown up in Tasmania and Far North Queensland, Emily experienced a deep personal connection to nature from an early age. She believes that nurturing this connection in children lays a strong foundation for care, respect, and stewardship of the Earth.