Onconferentie ’Kinderen, natuur en steden’ 2024

Description

On October 26, we held a unique event – the First Unconference "Children, Nature, and Cities", organized by children, for children, as part of "Mapping for Recreation (Map4Rec)" project. It was far from a traditional conference — instead of presentations and formal talks, there was an atmosphere of discovery, fun, and hands-on learning, all set against the beautiful backdrop of the hashtag Beeklustpark in Almelo.

Why was this Unconference special?

- Youth Leadership: Workshops were designed and facilitated by the children, showcasing their role as true experts in their work.
- Interactive Engagement: Activities mirrored tasks from our Mapping for Recreation (hashtag#Map4Rec) project – from collecting environmental data with sensors and identifying flora and fauna with the hashtag ObsIdentify app to collecting children’s perceptions of urban nature places with the hashtag#Epicollect app. Guests learned that participation in scientific projects is not difficult and can be fun!
- International and Inclusive: We welcomed guests from the International School Twente (IST) (with children from India, Italy, and Poland), families from the neighborhood, and hashtag Scouts Llanos, promoting intercultural friendships and connections.
- Community Spirit: Support from local businesses and community groups, support from the Beeklust park activity group and the Stadsboerderij Beeklust reflected the warm network being created around the project.
- Making Memories: After the Unconference, Rangers Twente paid a return visit to Scouts Llanos, who taught us knots and took us for a walk with compasses. The visit finished with mingling by the campfire and roasting marshmallows – much better than those conventional conference dinners! ;)

This event was a wonderful reminder of how citizen science can empower youth, build connections, and encourage cross-cultural exchange. We aim to make it a regular event and also work on upscaling the Map4Rec project to engage more children from diverse backgrounds. Such projects can become an important pillar in the UNICEF Child-Friendly Cities Initiative, ensuring children's voices contribute to urban planning.

A huge thank you to everyone who supported this event, and a separate warm thank you to IMPETUS for citizen science! for funding the “Mapping for Recreation” project over the last two years.

🌱 Let’s keep working towards a future where children’s perspectives are heard and shape the cities they live in!

Period	26 Oct 2024
Event type	Other
Location	Almelo, NetherlandsShow on map
Degree of Recognition	Regional