contact with nature is associated with both deteriorating health and also reduced
emotional affinity with the “more-than-human world” of plants, animals, different
landscape types and ecosystems. Some identified barriers to nature contact are
reduced access to green-blue environments, growing possibilities of virtual media,
overscheduling of leisure activities, and parental and school concerns for children’s
safety in public spaces (Soga and Gaston 2016).
Our combined interest in maintaining biodiversity and in stimulating children’s
interest in natural science is addressed by the approach that we call “ecological
restoration education” (ERE). This is a promising, yet under-explored, educational
approach building on the fields of “outdoor education” and “ecological restoration”.
Outdoor education aims to foster learning through the interactions between emotions, actions and thoughts, based on practical observation in different types of
outdoor environment and is often based on interdisciplinary curriculum matter
(Gustafsson et al. 2011). Ecological restoration can be defined as: “. . .the process
of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged, or
destroyed” (Primer; SER 2002 cited in Martin 2017).
The aim of this chapter is therefore to provide a glimpse of educational hope in
troublesome socio-ecological times.
4 Introducing the Skolbäcken Project
The Swedish Angler Association, which is responsible for Skolbäcken, is a
non-governmental organisation (NGO) in Sweden with over 60,000 members interested in leisure fishing. Threatened fish populations reduces the opportunities for
leisure fishing, something that in turn gives incentive to protect the water ecosystems
for the benefits of the fish and therefore also the members of the association.
Consequently, the two main goals of the association are: (a) to stimulate interest in
leisure fishing among children and youth and, (b) to support conservation and
restoration of fish habitats. A distinct feature of Skolbäcken is that it integrates
these two interest areas, which traditionally have been developed separately. The
project was first launched in 2016 and since then, numbers of participating schools
have increased following positive feedback from both children and teachers
(Sandberg and Hansen 2018). Skolbäcken is primarily offered to children in grades
1–6 (7–12 years old) and is made free of charge for schools by a mix of public and
private external funding.
The project is run by the educators of the association who often have a background within biology or ecology, but with a pedagogic education as well.
According to the educators, the overarching objectives of the Skolbäcken project
are to:
• Spur an interest in fishing and nature.
• Contribute to greater knowledge about fish and their habitats.
• Increase an understanding and will to protect and care for fish and their habitats.
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M. Sandberg and A. S. Hansen
emotional affinity with the “more-than-human world” of plants, animals, different
landscape types and ecosystems. Some identified barriers to nature contact are
reduced access to green-blue environments, growing possibilities of virtual media,
overscheduling of leisure activities, and parental and school concerns for children’s
safety in public spaces (Soga and Gaston 2016).
Our combined interest in maintaining biodiversity and in stimulating children’s
interest in natural science is addressed by the approach that we call “ecological
restoration education” (ERE). This is a promising, yet under-explored, educational
approach building on the fields of “outdoor education” and “ecological restoration”.
Outdoor education aims to foster learning through the interactions between emotions, actions and thoughts, based on practical observation in different types of
outdoor environment and is often based on interdisciplinary curriculum matter
(Gustafsson et al. 2011). Ecological restoration can be defined as: “. . .the process
of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged, or
destroyed” (Primer; SER 2002 cited in Martin 2017).
The aim of this chapter is therefore to provide a glimpse of educational hope in
troublesome socio-ecological times.
4 Introducing the Skolbäcken Project
The Swedish Angler Association, which is responsible for Skolbäcken, is a
non-governmental organisation (NGO) in Sweden with over 60,000 members interested in leisure fishing. Threatened fish populations reduces the opportunities for
leisure fishing, something that in turn gives incentive to protect the water ecosystems
for the benefits of the fish and therefore also the members of the association.
Consequently, the two main goals of the association are: (a) to stimulate interest in
leisure fishing among children and youth and, (b) to support conservation and
restoration of fish habitats. A distinct feature of Skolbäcken is that it integrates
these two interest areas, which traditionally have been developed separately. The
project was first launched in 2016 and since then, numbers of participating schools
have increased following positive feedback from both children and teachers
(Sandberg and Hansen 2018). Skolbäcken is primarily offered to children in grades
1–6 (7–12 years old) and is made free of charge for schools by a mix of public and
private external funding.
The project is run by the educators of the association who often have a background within biology or ecology, but with a pedagogic education as well.
According to the educators, the overarching objectives of the Skolbäcken project
are to:
• Spur an interest in fishing and nature.
• Contribute to greater knowledge about fish and their habitats.
• Increase an understanding and will to protect and care for fish and their habitats.
222
M. Sandberg and A. S. Hansen