Nature inclusive education


Summary

Information, examples and courses for educators

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Table of Contents

 

Nature Inclusive Education addresses the need for more regular, direct nature experience in the daily life of (younger) generations to facilitate development towards responsible changemakers for science and society.

It supports the development of skills and attitudes, fosters well-being, enriches learning with experiential approaches and facilitates reflection on fundamental human-nature relationships underlying sustainability issues.

The trainings and other activities have been developed in collaboration between TLC, NatureCollege Foundation, the eNaBlS Living Lab and Collectief Natuurinclusief.

Two teachers explaining what Nature inclusive education is for them

Click on the picture to open the video in a new window.

Teacher trainings

Onboarding in nature inclusive education

Emotions in the classroom: introducing a pedagogy of hope

Community of Practice for educators

Throughout the year we organise actvities to help teachers and programme directors to implement nature inclusive teaching. These are moments of exchange, practice, intervision and reflection. Via de link below you will find the schedule for the activities.

Scheduled activities

  • Learning Design Studio (series of 4 meetings)
  • Outdoor learning: 7 April 2026

Online community of practice (Viva Engage)

Nature inclusive education exercises

  1. Nature connectedness: the inseparable bond
  2. Nature inclusive reflection
  3. Reflect on perspectives
  4. The Biotech Dilemma Game
  5. Reflection on human-nature relations - in a law course

Courses where students experience Nature inclusive education

There are several courses at WUR that put special focus on nature-inclusive education methods.

  • Empowerment for Sustainability (ELS21806) – period 3
  • Cultural and Spiritual Significance of Nature in Conservation and Sustainability (FNP40306) – period 5
  • Relational Ethnoecology: The skills that connect (FNP40812) – period 6)
  • Environmental Education and Learning for Sustainability (ELS31806) / period 6a
  • Exploring Regenerative Cultures for Sustainability (ELS58303 – period 6b)
  • Farm Experience Internship (RSO51303) - summer course organised by Boerengroep foundation https://farmexperienceinternship.wordpress.com/.

Conversation aid (Praatplaat in Dutch)

source: Startnotitie Natuurinclusief 2023

 

Background information

Nature- inclusive education is a relatively new term in education that builds on a long history of other nature-related educational visions, such as environmental, outdoor or green education, relational and experiential learning, wild pedagogies and pedagogy of care. NIE aims to bring together many of these efforts to give nature a ‘care-full’ place in human cultures and foster reciprocal human-nature relationships in the face of major sustainability transitions. Nature-inclusive education invites reflection on and communication about worldviews. It is not only learning about nature in a scientific way, but also engaging emotionally, physically, existentially and in an action-oriented way. For more information see (in Dutch):