Stepping Stones to Nature
Stepping Stones to Nature supports children to grow up well through a connection with nature and their local National Park.
Through a proven programme of sensory, nature-based and curriculum-enriching activities, the programme is tailored to support children’s health, development and learning.
Stepping Stones deepens children’s connection with nature and their local National Park, while building core knowledge and skills, sparking creativity and curiosity, supporting confidence, communication and concentration, and inspiring a lasting appreciation of nature and a desire to protect it.
The programme is delivered both in primary schools and on weekends in natural settings.
The programme is based on the understanding that nature plays a central role in helping children grow up well. From mental health and wellbeing to confidence, development and learning, regular connection with nature provides a wide range of benefits for children.
Many children today have fewer opportunities to spend time outdoors, explore independently and develop a connection with nature. More sedentary lifestyles, increased time spent indoors and on screens, and inequalities in access to safe, quality green spaces can all reduce opportunities for outdoor play, discovery and learning. At the same time, schools and families are increasingly navigating challenges around children's wellbeing, confidence, communication and school readiness. Stepping Stones to Nature has been developed to help address these challenges by making regular, meaningful experiences in nature a consistent part of children's lives.
Activities are sensory, practical and curriculum-enriching, mutually reinforcing the the benefits which support creativity, curiosity, communication and concentration. Children are given opportunities to interact with natural materials, develop outdoor skills and build confidence through hands-on experiences.
Throughout the programme, the focus is on building a sense of belonging and agency, helping children to feel confident accessing and engaging with nature, from their local area through to the National Park and wider landscapes.
Too many children, particularly in communities surrounding the National Park where there are deep pocket of deprivation, are growing up with fewer opportunities to connect with nature and where social and economic challenges are more pronounced.
Stepping Stones address that through regular, sustained nature experiences. As a result, we want children to be healthier, more confident, more connected, and to grow into adults who see nature as a valued and enriching part of their lives.
The programme follows a structured "stepping stones" approach, building familiarity, confidence and skills . Children first engage with nature through our work with local primary schools, culminating in visits to the National Park to develop their skills and knowledge further in a more sustained manner. Many continue their journey through regular weekend sessions in the North York Moors National Park through our weekend work.
Together, these two strands provide opportunities for children to explore, create, play and learn in nature over a sustained period of time, supporting their health, development and learning while helping them develop a lifelong connection with the nature.
Stepping Stones to Nature works with schools serving communities where access to nature is often limited. This includes areas across Redcar and Cleveland and Middlesbrough, some of which are among the most deprived in England. Many of the children we engage face social, economic and physical barriers to accessing quality green space, and the programme aims to reduce these barriers and provide equitable access to nature.
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