LocationsImagine your child exploring a lush forest, encountering wildlife, and learning how to stay safe—all without leaving the classroom. Digital technology is transforming the way children learn about safe and secure behavior in nature. It provides valuable lessons on respecting wildlife and protecting nature while helping shape the future of environmental stewardship.
Safe Steps in the Wild: Technology Helps Educate Children on Nature’s Rules
August 9, 2024
Digital technology, specifically virtual reality (VR), is revolutionizing the way children learn about safe and secure behavior in nature.
Photo: UNDP in Belarus
A New Frontier in Environmental Education
Digital education helps children learn about potential hazards in their environments and emphasizes the importance of respecting these spaces.
Worldwide, 68% of students believe that digital technology improves their learning experience and 60% of colleges have invested in virtual and augmented reality technologies for digital transformation.
UNDP is committed to harnessing technology's potential to enhance children's education and development. To maximize the impact of technology, UNDP collaborates with international and national partners to equip young people with essential digital skills, provide equal access to technology, and support innovative learning solutions, including environmental knowledge and skills.
Pioneering Interactive Green Learning in Belarus
Digital education helps children learn about potential hazards in their environments and emphasizes the importance of respecting these spaces.
In Belarus, schoolchildren are getting a head start on environmental safety and education thanks to a joint initiative by UNDP and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of Belarus. This partnership has led to the opening of interactive classrooms in two local nature reserves—Ozyiory in the Grodno region and Krasny Bor in the Vitebsk region. These classrooms are equipped with virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) software and hardware designed to enhance young learners' understanding of nature and the importance of environmental stewardship.
Now, local kids can learn basic survival skills and emergency preparedness in nature by immersing themselves in realistic and diverse virtual natural settings. The specially designed games feature 3D scenes with animated animal and insect characters, enriched with visual effects (VFX) and 3D sounds.
Real-Life Skills in a Virtual World
The content is delivered through VR glasses. By putting them on, kids embark on journeys across forests, peatlands, and wild meadows to explore potential dangers without any real-life risks. By simulating scenarios such as encountering wild animals or getting lost in the wilderness, children learn how to stay safe and make informed decisions in challenging situations.
According to the Ministry of Emergency Situations, between 350 and 500 people become lost in Belarusian forests each year during the summer and autumn. Children and the elderly are most at risk. From 2018 to 2023, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and search and rescue organizations located over 2,500 people lost in natural environments, including 185 children.
This technology not only educates but also helps kids build confidence and critical thinking skills through realistic simulations and interactive activities.
"In an engaging and innovative way, VR technology teaches young people the basics of environmental safety," says Alexander Svidersky, the UNDP Project Manager for the "Development of Ecotourism to Promote a Green Transition to Inclusive and Sustainable Growth" project. "We considered various options for equipping these rooms but concluded that digital technologies are the most effective tools for increasing environmental awareness and fostering environmental stewardship and personal safety skills."
A group of kids from the local green volunteering camp is working on a digital advocacy project in Rossony district, Vitebsk region of Belarus.
Photo: UNDP in Belarus
Enhancing Practical Knowledge
In addition to high-tech offerings, the classrooms feature other equipment to support the work of young environmentalist clubs. Microscopes, binoculars, and digital cameras empower children to observe and investigate nature’s surroundings.
Youth learn about the importance of leaving no trace and practicing responsible outdoor ethics, such as packing out trash and respecting wildlife.
Photo: UNDP in Belarus
Educational materials with engaging facts about local flora and fauna captivate young learners’ interests, sparking conversations about ecology, biodiversity, and the critical role both animals and plants play in ecosystems.
Fostering a Love for the Environment
As technology continues to advance, the potential for using it to teach children about nature will only grow. By blending traditional education with digital technology, these classrooms prepare children to navigate their natural surroundings safely and inspire them to advocate for the environment. As the UNDP-Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of Belarus initiative gains momentum, it serves as a model for other regions in Belarus, emphasizing the crucial intersection of technology and nature education in shaping the future of environmental stewardship.
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