The booklet “Games for Nature. Environmental education through the eyes of young people” is a final outcome of the Youth Exchange “Learning from each other – games from environmental education” which took place during seven days in September 2010 in the Polish mountains. It involved 5 organisations from various European countries, all of which work in the field of youth and environmental work, especially environmental education. The youth exchange was planned for 25 participants (4 young people and one group leader from each country: Spain, Portugal, Bulgaria, Czech Republic and Poland). We used the principle of “learning from each other” to exchange ideas, experience and best practices from environmental education through workshops prepared by each of the organisations taking part in the youth exchange. Each day one participating organisation gave a presentation and ran practical workshops using the method “learning by doing” – we consider this the best way to present environmental education games and activities. During these activities each organisation presented its best practices, the most effective methods they use in their work with youth (for example: environmental and educative games, various outdoor activities). The aim was to transmit the most successful and inventive practices to other organisations and to improve and vary the everyday work of the youth NGOs. So as to share with other organisations and people involved in environmental
education the results of the project, we prepared this booklet with all the games and
activities presented during the youth exchange.
“We hope that these activities described in the booklet ‘Games for Nature’ will enable children:
– to see the wholeness in nature,
– to see the role and importance of every being, big or small,
– to feel that they are a part of big web of nature,
– to gain more awareness of nature, to have more information about it and learn to respect it,
– to learn how to live in harmony with nature,
– to realize their responsibility towards nature.
We believe that through games children learn best. That being in closer contact with nature is the best method to reach our aims.
Participants of the youth exchange “Learning from each other”