The popular Kids’ Nature Camps delivered by Wild Lives Education as part of Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust’s learning and engagement work made a welcome return over the spring school holidays. 

Fun, creative and educational nature-based activities for children aged between five and 10 years old were enjoyed by more than 30 youngsters over four dates in April, with further sessions lined up for May, July, August, October and November this year. 

Those taking part enjoyed the opportunity to learn and play in both indoor and outdoor spaces, finding out more about everything from tracking skills and animal habitats to mini beasts and signs of spring. 

Other topics the children looked at were trees, birds, and survival skills. 

And thanks to The Gannochy Trust, all the spaces on these sessions were free as part of PKCT’s ongoing work to encourage more people to be able to access the countryside and learn about conservation and how to preserve it for future generations. 

Catherine Leatherland is PKCT’s Discovery, Learning and Engagement. She said: 

We’re delighted to be able to welcome back Kids’ Nature Camps this year and are very grateful to The Gannochy Trust for supporting our work and allowing us to offer free places at the spring sessions. The Kids’ Nature Camps delivered by Wild Lives Education proved to be a hugely popular element of PKCT's discovery, learning and engagement work last year, and some of the feedback we have had from youngsters on this year’s sessions has been just as positive. We know that spending time outdoors and appreciating nature can have a positive impact on both our physical and mental health and wellbeing and these sessions are a great way to encourage young people to get and about during school holidays.

Jo Foo of Wild Lives Education added: 

It was great to see the Kids’ Nature Camp spring back into action this month with events in Bridge of Earn and Gannochy on the outskirts of Perth. We had more than 90 spaces at these sessions, which were free to attend thanks to support from The Gannochy Trust, and it was great to see how much the children enjoyed being outside and learning about nature and how we can protect it. From tree identification to bug hunts; nest building to survival skills; searching for signs of spring to learning about camouflage – the kids had great fun taking part in a variety of hands-on, conservation-themed outdoor games and activities.

Some of the young people commented: 

I wish we could do nature camp all the time. (Magnus, 8)

I love Nature Camp! I love learning about the birds and how to tell them apart! (Emily, 8)           

For further information and updates on the Kids’ Nature Camps, including dates of future sessions, email [email protected] or follow Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust or Wild Lives Education on social media.