Peer-reviewed research2017–2026 update
Using nature sanctuaries to consider sustainable futures
Interviews with children and young people who visited Zealandia led to three place-based approaches for using nature sanctuaries to enrich sustainability education.
What's new
Little is known about the connections children and young people make to sustainability issues on education visits to green spaces, or how they think about sustainable futures. This article draws on interviews with children and young people who visited Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne, a predator-free conservation area in Wellington. It suggests three place-based approaches to using nature sanctuaries and other learning environments for sustainability education outside the classroom.
Why it matters in Aotearoa
Visits to sanctuaries, zoos and reserves are common EOTC in Aotearoa. The article helps teachers and providers make these visits work harder for sustainability learning.
Putting it into practice
Before a sanctuary visit, plan with the site's educators how students will connect what they see to sustainability issues and to their own ideas about the future.
How strong is the evidence
This article is based on interviews. The abstract does not give the number of participants or details of the analysis.
What to read
The three place-based approaches.