Raleigh, N.C. — Hundreds of families headed to Williamson Nature Preserve on Sunday to learn and connect with nature.
South Wake Conservationists, a local chapter the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, organized the inaugural Kids in Nature event at the park.
The event was intended for elementary and middle school students to gain hands-on experiences with the outside world. The organizers stated that the event was designed to inspire and excite children.
Monty Moree, President of South Wake Conservationists, said that it felt like older adults were doing this. It’s almost like waiting a minute. What about the next generation? We must get them involved.”
The event, originally scheduled for Saturday, was moved to Sunday by Moree because of the possibility of rain. It featured 14 exhibits from “first–class organizations in conservation,” Moree said. This included the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Wake Audubon, and the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.
The children had the opportunity to touch the fur of both natural and naturalized North Carolina animals, play an interactive game that explained bird migration, and go on a nature hunt.
Moree stated, “The natural world is so essential, and so, it’s important to reconnect the next generation to understand its importance and how fun it can be out there and to do stuff in the nature and learn about all of the interesting plants, animals, and also to protect our species.”
Moree stated that it was important to teach the youngest generation of the world about nature because it is “the only planet we know.”
“We are decreasing the diversity of wildlife. In the last 100 years, we have reduced the number by half of all species in the insect world. It’s a significant reduction in animal and plant diversity.
This reduction also has a domino impact on society.
Moree said, “Without diversity, a species can’t recover from other types of events that may occur naturally.” “Like certain plants that are lost, certain insects can’t survive.” There are certain birds that cannot survive if you lose these insects. It just goes up the chain to the apex predators.
“It is really important that everyone understands how important it is to respect nature and coexist with it, as opposed to paving over it and building digital worlds,” he said.
Moree stated that there was so much interest in Saturday’s event that the organization had to submit an application to sign up. However, organizers hope to make it an annual event.
Families are encouraged and encouraged to join the program in the interim. South Wake Conservationists’ Eco Kids program.The program was launched in 2021 and includes day hikes, scavenger huntings and classes for students.
