Ensure life-changing nature-based residentials for all, not just those who can afford it
Mark Castle OBE, Chief Executive
| Field Studies Council
After a summer hosting residentials for budding young zoologists, marine scientists and geologists, school groups are now filling up our residential centres. But for all the muddy boots and excited chatter, we know that increasing numbers are missing out.
As a member of the Access Unlimited Coalition,1 we are calling on the government for action to bring the benefits of time spent in nature to more young people.
That’s because the evidence is clear: nature-based residential experiences are not just a ‘nice to do’ but can be both life-changing and life-defining.
The independent evaluation of the Defra-funded Generation Green 2 confirms this.2 Nearly 27,000 young people took part, with more than 17,000 experiencing a fully funded overnight stay in a National Park or National Landscape. Most of these young people were from areas of deprivation, and many had never left their home area.
- Participants reported sustained increases in confidence, resilience, wellbeing, and environmental awareness
- 38 per cent had never been to the countryside before
- 57 per cent had never stayed overnight in a rural or natural setting
- 80 per cent would not have had the opportunity without funded support
Funded programmes are hugely oversubscribed, and Field Studies Council has delivered many, including Nature Friendly Schools, Adventures Away from Home, and Generation Green 1 and 2. They are a sticking plaster – a very welcome sticking plaster – but a sticking plaster nonetheless. We know that residentials have a positive impact, but at the same time, we see schools and parents increasingly struggling to meet the costs.
Crucially, young people who would benefit the most are at the highest risk of missing out. For them, such a funded experience might be their only chance for a nature-based residential, or anything remotely like it. Those living in the heart of national landscapes face barriers, too, and we aim to help overcome those barriers, whether that’s funding, transport or the provision of wellies and waterproofs.
Teachers and families have consistently reported transformations in the confidence, social skills, and emotional wellbeing of participants, particularly those facing barriers due to poverty, neurodivergence, or mental health. Those who usually struggle in a classroom can experience a complete turnaround in their engagement with learning, school, their teachers and peers.
The usual classroom culture and student hierarchies alter as children and young people share mealtimes, encourage each other through team-building challenges, and spend time around a fire together. Teachers build better relationships with their pupils and their confidence in teaching outdoors. Louder children learn to listen; quieter ones find a voice. Giving children the confidence and ability to use nature to boost their mental health puts a powerful and lifelong tool into their hands.
Equality of opportunity
Government has rightly focused on equality of opportunity. Social justice and inclusion are key themes in the ongoing curriculum review. Deep concerns remain over school absence, lack of engagement and poor mental health among young people.
Almost 1 in 5 children in the most deprived areas never spend time in any natural space. Opportunities to combat those pressing issues with proven solutions are being increasingly hollowed out from childhood.
Upskilling the next generation
Young people cannot be expected to care about a natural world they have never seen, touched, or felt. We must engage them in the outdoors and create our future environmental champions. The UK needs ecologists and those with a full range of green skills to deliver policies from housebuilding to flood prevention, nature restoration to climate change adaptation. A residential expands horizons, as they see for themselves the green skills for nature that lead to fulfilling, diverse careers.
However, young people are finding that their formal education has left them without the practical skills and knowledge for their next career or study step. This charity’s response has been to offer a range of funded courses and bursaries to help fill that gap, but this alone can’t meet the rising demand.
This pressing issue brings together education, skills, equality of opportunity, and the health and wellbeing of the next generation. Given the multiple benefits of a nature-connected residential, we cannot afford to leave those benefits to chance.
As Parliament returns from recess, Field Studies Council is calling for:
- consistent rather than piecemeal funding for high-quality, inclusive outdoor residential learning
- better policy integration across government policies and strategies – education, youth, health and access to nature – to bring this change about
- embedding outdoor learning residentials as a guaranteed part of every child’s primary and secondary education
Every young person deserves residential stays in nature, not just those who can afford it.
To find out more or help us work towards ensuring that all young people benefit, please get in touch at [email protected] or visit www.field-studies-council.org
- Access Unlimited includes Field Studies Council, the YHA, nine English National Parks, the National Landscapes Association, Outward Bound, Scouts and Girlguiding.
- Evaluation report for Generation Green 2. Assessing the impact of nature based short courses for young people, University of Derby.
