After recently graduating from Bangor University in Wales with a Master’s in Conservation and Land Management, I became fortunate enough to get involved with a new initiative called the Two Dragons project. The project’s overall aim is to ‘improve capacity for teaching, research, and knowledge exchange in the botanical sciences and environmental education across Wales, Scotland and China.’
For the last two months, I have been living and working at the magical gardens of XTBG as an Environmental Education practical intern. I have spent my time alongside an incredible education team who all work diligently to connect the youth back to nature and to inspire a sense of wonder for the environment. This comes at a time when the modern child is spending more and more time indoors in front of screens; entertaining themselves with video games, smart phones, television.
My learning experiences so far have been filled with valuable lessons and insights. I have given lectures about my journey into science to audiences of teenagers visiting from Beijing who participated in the Winter Camp program. Following this, I led a science activity that was also part of the Winter Camp for one group of students looking at the comparison of plant diversity in the rainforest and a rubber plantation. I have assisted child educator, Geng Yanhong, playing outdoor games with the little ones from the Kindergarten Nature Club in the garden. I have spent a week working with China’s oldest NGO, Friends of Nature, as they welcomed parents and their children from big cities and led environmental activities in the garden. And lastly, I have visited a nearby town, Manyangguang, where we worked with 4th grade students showing them the joys of nature journaling.
My heart has been touched by the efforts and kindness of the people here. I have felt so welcomed and inspired. The children have shed love over me and have even sparked a greater appreciation and wonder for the natural world as I experience it through their eyes.
I have two months left here at XTBG and am looking forward to the continued journey into Environmental Education here in China.
Lead winter campers looking at the comparison of plant diversity
Lead environmental activities in the garden
Lead parents and their children from big cities to have environmental activities
Playing outdoor games with kid from the Kindergarten
Lead environmental activities in the tropical rainforest
