The Problem
We would like to help connect people to natural areas near their city and their local forest. We would like to help people develop a relationship with nature/interest in conservation.
Our Plan
We would like to provide youth exploration kits for the students we serve. The kits would include sunblock, lip balm, a basic first aid kit, bug spray, hand wipes, and a small notebook. Due to the pandemic we have been unable to take students on hikes and we would like to encourage them to go on their own with their families. A list of popular trails near their city and a laminated safety sheet will also be included. Information about wildlife is other educational material we plan to include. We have introduced students to reflecting and recording their experiences in nature in order to help them develop a relationship with nature/interest in conservation. The kit would include the notebook for this purpose. The students that would be receiving these packages have been participating in our online weekly meetings since they went virtual in September 2020. We will also request free Adventure passes from the local forest to include in the kits.
Themes Addressed
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Community
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Inclusion
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Mindfulness
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Sustainability
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The Benefit
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People
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Environment
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Here is how the project went:
The youth loved the exploration kits. We were unable to get free Adventure passes from the local forest, but were able to get fliers on popular local hikes and safety from the main office.
Through this project I/we learned:
I learned that I could have done a better job at tracking the time and estimating the cost of items. But, I believe the passion for this project outweighed the hang-ups.
What I/we might change:
We could have made a better estimate of how much the kits would cost. Canvas bags were hard to come by and a bit pricey. We intentionally avoided plastic and ordering online to be more environmentally conscious.
My/our favorite part of this project was:
My favorite part was hearing back from the youth once they received the kit in the mail.
Some tips, tricks or fun facts about the project:
We used more natural items in the kit. We purchased them from Whole Foods - they had travel sizes, which worked great.