The Wales Coast Path and National Voluntary Youth Organisation, Urdd Gobaith Cymru, have revealed a brand-new resource pack — encouraging children and young people to get outdoors for both wellness and education purposes.
Led by Welsh naturalist, Iolo Williams, and in the company of pupils from local school, Ysgol Hamadryad, the new resources were officially launched this week at the Urdd’s Residential Centre in Cardiff — followed by a guided walk along Cardiff Bay Barrage which forms part of the Wales Coast Path.
The education pack aims to provide a unique outdoor learning experience through nature, wildlife, culture and local history — and can be enjoyed in two locations: Cardiff Bay and Llangrannog, Ceredigion.
Based around the locations of the Urdd’s coastal Residential Centres, the packs provide a series of bespoke walking routes — themed according to what can be seen and heard along featured stretches of the Wales Coast Path.
What’s more, users can delve deeper into their adventure with a series of activities, including: quizzes, cave explorations, poetry writing and species identification.
Iolo Williams said: “It’s so important that children are educated from an early age about the importance of being connected to nature and wildlife.
“Exploring the great outdoors has endless wellness benefits, and in an ever-growing digital age, it’s more important than ever before to have the support of organisations like the Wales Coast Path and the Urdd in inspiring the younger generation.”
Sian Lewis, Chief Executive of the Urdd, said: “As an organisation dedicated to providing young people with opportunities and experiences, immersing them in all that Wales has to offer — both environmentally and culturally — is vital in enabling them to make positive contributions to their communities.
“All three of our youth centres are located on or nearby the Welsh coast, and we take every given opportunity to utilise those coastal settings when children and young people come to visit.”
Sioned Humphreys, Marketing Officer at Wales Coast Path, said: “As we mark our tenth anniversary year, there has never been a more important moment to promote the benefits of the outdoors to the younger generation.
“And by engaging with our new resource pack, we hope to see young people become ambassadors of the great outdoors — in turn, ensuring the enjoyment and preservation of the Path for years to come.”
