The holiday camp that reconnects children with nature

The initiative in Kent has launched a campaign aims to become a creative hub for the local community

Every parent is well versed in the tyranny of screens. When trying to lure little ones away it’s easy to become increasingly desperate; forbidding the use of iPads before 11am or even imposing whole screen-free days. But rather than telling children what they can’t do, the answer might lie in encouraging them to find new things they can.

First Hand Experiences is a tech-free children’s camp that takes kids outside to celebrate and learn about the natural world through arts, crafts, music, theatre and food. The carefully curated selection of experiences all share the same aim: to connect children with nature.

Founded by husband and wife team Justin and Louisa Baker First Hand Experiences four years ago, the initiative began life in south west London, taking inner city children for day-camps or sleepovers in Kent the countryside.

Louisa says: ”Our experienced and passionate educators, artists, dramatists, musicians, gardeners and chefs all help reconnect children with their environment, enabling them to relate to it, learn from it, respect it and celebrate it.”

Children learn how to make fresh, seasonal food at First Hand Experiences

Nature has long been prescribed as a key component in maintaining or boosting wellbeing. Scientists, philosophers and landscape architects warn about the effects of undiluted city life and advise looking for ways to integrate nature into modern life.

There’s much research supporting the mental heath benefits of being in the great outdoors, also known as eco-therapy. The Japanese practice of ‘forest bathing’ (or shinrin-yoku, which simply means hanging out in the woods) became part of their national health programme in 1982 after studies showed it lowers heart rate and blood pressure, reduces stress hormone production and boosts the immune system.

But for many children, especially those from less privileged backgrounds in built up areas, escaping to nature simply isn’t an option. To try to reach those most in need First Hand Experiences recently became a Community Interest Company, and they will soon move to a wildflower meadow near Selling, Kent.

Named ‘Gather Green', this space will be a new permanent base for their sleepover camps and a creative hub for the local community.

“We want to do much more – both socially and environmentally,” says Justin. “Becoming a Community Interest Company and securing amazing facilities for Gather Green is a fantastic first step”.

To realise their ambitions they have set up a crowdfunding campaign to raise £45,000. That amount will enable them to establish the sustainable infrastructure they need - such as giant tipis, compost toilets and solar showers - to host more children for sleepover camps and to support the local creative community.

From July First Hand Experiences will work with various schools and community leaders to identify and offer supported places on camps to children from less privileged backgrounds.

Many of us live surrounded by screens, skyscrapers and concrete, yet nature is essential to our lives - from the food on our plates to the clothes we wear, from medicines to mental health benefits. In a time of rapid global urbanisation, only by educating and inspiring the next the generation can we be certain that nature will be respected and cared for as it must be.

To donate to the crowdfunding campaign visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk/first-hand-experiences

What really matters to children? Watch the First Hand Experiences video here

For more information visit www.firsthandexperiences.co.uk, call 01843 652 833 or follow @firsthandexperiences