Let’s Go Outside and Learn

Reducing isolation and reconnecting with nature  

During the COVID-19 pandemic, when many schools and clubs were closed, young people faced months of isolation away from their friends. To combat this, Let’s Go Outside and Learn launched a series of outdoor activities and nature-based social action projects helping young people to reconnect with nature and their peers. 

The Young Nature Leader project, funded by OneRichmond, brought together 23 young people from across Richmond to take part in group activities that fostered teamwork, friendship, and a deeper connection to the environment. 

The group chose to focus on an issue that was important to them and worked together to develop campaign materials and ideas for action to raise awareness among the local community.  

88% of the young people who took part said that spending time outdoors improved their mental wellbeing, and 65% felt more connected to nature after the project. Almost all participants said they enjoyed working as a team, something they had missed during the isolation of the pandemic.