Nature Knights

Tool/methodology name:

Nature Knights

• This tool is a very unique environmental education tool of the Royal Society for Conservation of nature (RSCN) in Jordan known as "Nature Knight" (NK).
• It is considered to be a way of communication with and raising awareness of students and young people in order to have a greater influence in terms of natural reserves management challenges.

• Students
• Youth and young people
• Local communities around Protected Areas (PAs)

“Children of the local communities around PAs will become crucial vanguards in the changing of community perceptions of the PAs and commitment to conservation”.

• The tool could be applied through engaging the children in the program's five learning cycles to prepare them to be a specialist Nature Knight in one of the reserve's theme duties.
• Activities: The participant could select an area of interest, such as being a researcher (flora, fauna, bird watcher), a ranger, eco-tourism officer, or an education officer. 
• Objectives: The tool aims at changing students' attitudes about natural heritage conservation and the protection of the environment as a whole, and influence their behaviour in favor of nature.

• The tool is expected to influence students' attitudes about nature and the environment as a whole, and change their behaviour in favor of nature.
• Participants in the program are considered ambassadors for the RSCN's environmental preservation and conservation mission.

The Nature Knight Program is an innovative Environmental Education Program in the way it established an effective communication channel with students in order to build their skills of reserves management challenges.

The RSCN has developed several approaches to advance Environmental Education (EE) among students outside of formal education environments through its flagship program, Nature Knights.

The Nature Knight Program is an innovative environmental education program that works with students to enable them to have a greater influence on natural reserve management challenges. The Nature Knight Program, which is also a Jordanian Junior Ranger program, has won various international awards. The program is divided into five cycles, with the vision statement “Children of the local communities around protected areas  will become crucial vanguards in the changing of community perceptions of the protected areas and commitment to conservation.” The program’s five learning cycles prepare the learner to be a specialist Nature Knight in one of the reserve’s primary duties. Program participants select an area of interest, such as being a researcher, ranger, eco-tourism officer, or education officer. This comprehensive program includes a unique curriculum as well as all of the tools/equipment required for field researchers to accomplish their ecological studies. The program aims to influence students' attitudes about nature and the environment as a whole, with the objective of changing their behavior in favor of nature. Participants in the program are considered ambassadors for the RSCN's environmental preservation and conservation mission.

https://www.rscn.org.jo/natureKnightProgram