The case for climbing trees

Scotland’s new outdoor learning law offers the kind of real‑world connection young people need

“Being outdoors and doing activities does wonders for wellbeing,” says opinion writer James Blake. “It increases confidence, connection and sense of belonging. That’s vital given researchers say the strain on children’s mental health is ‘unprecedented.’” Last year, Scotland passed legislation that guarantees every child gets a “residential outdoor education experience” during their school years. If properly funded, all students would spend at least four nights and five days learning outside. In this piece, Blake argues England should follow suit. Outdoor education, he writes, should be a right for every child — not a privilege. Hear, hear! Politics.

Entomologist shares love of bugs and nature

As a university student in Colombia, Caro Muñoz Agudelo dreaded entomology class: She was terrified of the creepy crawlies. But one day her professor set a cockroach on her hand, and she found herself more fascinated than afraid. It was a turning point: She joined the entomology club, earned a Ph.D. in organismal and evolutionary biology — and now has built a career studying the insects she once feared. In this inspiring profile, Agudelo shares her belief that time in nature helps us understand who we are: “You are just like one more element in this gorgeous environment, gorgeous planet.” Her advice to parents? Don’t let your fears shape your children’s relationship with the outdoors. Support their curiosity instead. New England Public Media.

Michigan High Schoolers Find Belonging on the Ski Slopes

Sometimes, it takes a village to get kids onto the ski slopes. In Hamtramck, Michigan, where many families are newer immigrants from places like Bangladesh, Yemen and Syria, barriers to skiing can be steep: cost, gear, distance, language, cultural unfamiliarity and parents understandably cautious about a trip hours from home. But for the past five winters, a busload of local teens has found a joyful workaround. In this uplifting story, community partners join forces to make an annual ski trip possible, providing lodging, gear, transportation, mentors — and even a school fundraiser for food. After a day on the slopes, students, teachers and volunteers gather around chicken biryani, pierogi, basmati rice, Yemeni tea and baklava — flavors of home shared with new friends. Sierra Club.

Eight ways to get your child excited by nature — and off their screen

Nadeem Perera spent his childhood in east London following the nighttime hijinks of foxes, watching rabbits hop in desolate airport fields and rescuing hedgehogs from errant yogurt containers. In this lively piece, the naturalist reminds us that kids don’t need a trip to the countryside to discover wildlife — nature is threaded through city life. He shares practical ways to help urban children notice the wild world around them. Among his actionable tips: Teach your child one neighborhood bird really well, turn the walk to school into a nature trail, and don’t rush to shut down fascination with gross, smelly and potentially scary stuff, like animal poo and wasp nests. The Times.

After harsh winter, Ukrainians find joy in releasing bats rescued from war

At a nature park in Kyiv, families crowded around volunteers releasing rescued bats into the spring twilight — cheering with each flight. Many of the bats had been saved from war-damaged areas, where shelling can destroy habitat and interrupt hibernation. Children in bat-themed hats watched volunteers feed the bats mealworms with tweezers, and some even got to put on gloves and gently hold the animals. In Ukraine, all bat species are protected, and rescuers say they have saved more than 30,000 so far. As one father at the event put it: “The war is the main thing right now, but there has to be something else as well.” Associated Press.