15 Nature Discovery

Number of votes

1,181 (1,003 paper / 178 online)

1. The project in a nutshell

Organize a walk twice a month for children and their parents on a specific theme, focusing on nature, its inhabitants, and conservation. Work with a group of children and young people to create an urban garden to discuss food and reconnect with nature and its cycles.

2. The Project’s Objective

Our goals are to help children and young people better understand their environment (forests, fields, the city, waterways) with the aim of protecting it as best as possible. To reconnect with the food we eat, to understand how it is produced, where it comes from, and its natural rhythms (seasons). To foster more responsible consumption among future consumers. To create opportunities for interaction, sharing, and learning through family outings and gatherings among children and youth while tending the vegetable garden and celebrating special occasions.

3. The Project in Detail

This project is led by the association Le Terrier, which supports parenting and provides opportunities for children and families to interact, have fun, share experiences, and build friendships. Today, we are witnessing significant climate changes in our daily lives—changes that should not leave us indifferent. Children, as the future leaders and consumers of this world, are sensitive to and curious about their surroundings. To nurture this curiosity and foster this desire to protect the environment, educators will lead walks in the forest—in the newly protected Jorat Woods—to help participants learn more about this ecosystem, as well as along the lake. As a family, with educational worksheets and souvenirs to take home, these walks aim to share everyone’s knowledge and marvel at the world around us. In addition, over the course of a year, we will establish an urban garden that will be planned, maintained, tended, and harvested together with children and young people. This is to learn about and reconnect with the seasons, the rhythm of nature, and how it works. This will be complemented by discussions about food in general and making small snacks using regional products. These workshops are open to everyone ages 6 and up (younger children may participate in the walks if accompanied by a parent).

4. The amount requested to carry out the project

14,750 CHF

• Communication expenses (flyers, posters, social media ads): 750 CHF

• Operating costs (land rental, gardening supplies, snacks, educational materials): 5,100 CHF

• Maintenance of the vegetable garden outside of activity hours, travel: 250 CHF

• 2 facilitators for nature outings (2 hours per outing per month; 25 CHF per hour), 1 facilitator for urban garden workshops (3 hours per week; 25 CHF per hour): 6,300 CHF

• Room rental, light snacks, first-aid kit, first aid: 2,350 CHF

5. Neighborhood(s)

Jorat Forest

6. The Association

Le Terrier Association