Young Naturalists
Helping young people grow into compassionate, confident adults who care deeply for nature, others, and their communities.
Help Us Grow a Generation That Cares: The Young Naturalists Impact
Young Naturalists is a visionary group of four interconnected initiatives working together to ignite a love for nature, uplift communities, and guide young people toward becoming compassionate, capable adults. Each program is rooted in education, conservation, and empowerment. Addressing urgent challenges like biodiversity loss, poverty, and disconnection from the natural world.
Our Four Pillars of Change
- Happy Acres For over 80 years, Happy Acres has offered immersive children’s camps that foster environmental awareness, conservation values, and joyful learning. Through direct interaction with nature and animals—especially insects and small mammals—children build confidence, empathy, and a lifelong connection to the natural world.
- Woodland Prep A Department of Education–registered primary school, Woodland Preparatory, has been delivering nature-integrated learning that nurtures academic excellence, emotional intelligence, and ethical leadership for 26 years. It prepares youth to thrive in both the classroom and the natural world.
- ABERI The African Biodiversity and Ecosystem Restoration Initiative empowers the public to restore biodiversity through data-driven plant selection. A Biodiversity Support Score has been assigned to all regional plants, guiding the choice of species that support herbivores—such as pollinators, caterpillars, and large animals. These, in turn, support higher trophic levels, helping reestablish functional ecosystems. The system can be expanded to support agriculture through supporting crop-specific biological control agents by planting appropriate host plants. ABERI’s core focus is conservation—with special attention to insects and small mammals—and it makes ecological science accessible and actionable for youth, families, and communities.
- Resilient Roots This farming training initiative equips impoverished periurban families with agroecological skills, financial literacy, and ongoing mentorship. It promotes sustainable agriculture, supports poverty alleviation, and strengthens food security—while reinforcing family values and building close-knit, resilient communities.
Why Your Support Matters
Your partnership helps us reach more children, train more families, and restore more ecosystems. It enables us to provide scholarships, expand outreach, and build resilient communities where nature is not only protected, but celebrated.
Every dollar donated goes further with us than in most places—we’re able to stretch each contribution to achieve truly remarkable impact. A meal for you could be a life-changing experience for someone else.
Together, we can grow a generation that cares deeply for the Earth, for one another, and for the future we all share.
Fundraisers
Official fundraiser
Every child deserves a connection with nature
Happy Acres: Eight Decades of Nature, Nurture, and Leadership For over 80 years, Happy Acres has been a trusted catalyst for environmental education and personal transformation in South Africa. More than a children’s field centre, it has shaped generations of conservation leaders, ethical citizens, and environmentally conscious adults who continue to make meaningful contributions to society. A Legacy Worth Investing In Happy Acres has built a remarkable legacy—its alumni include scientists, educators, great parents, and changemakers who trace their values and life direction to formative experiences at the centre. Many have gone on to lead restoration efforts, influence policy, and inspire others across Africa and beyond. Your support will directly uplift children who need a boost—providing access to transformative experiences in nature. It will also help the centre weather current economic challenges, ensuring this legacy not only endures but expands as South Africa moves toward greater stability. Proven Methodology: Joyful Immersion in Nature Children learn best when they’re having fun. Through play, exploration, strategic games, and storytelling, Happy Acres introduces young minds to the wonders and complexity of the natural world. Whether tracking butterflies, searching for scorpions, or splashing in pristine rivers, every moment is designed to spark curiosity, build confidence, and foster a lasting connection with nature—something increasingly rare and urgently needed. Growing Hearts and Minds Happy Acres doesn’t just cultivate ecological awareness—it nurtures emotional intelligence and social cohesion. Children deepen their understanding of themselves and others, learning to collaborate, reflect, and lead with empathy. These interpersonal skills are foundational to the kind of leadership our planet needs. Dispelling Fear Through Knowledge Fear of nature is gently replaced with understanding. Guided discovery and hands-on learning help children see the wild not as something to fear, but as something to respect and protect. Knowledge becomes the bridge between apprehension and awe. You Can Only Conserve That Which You Know and Love This principle is the heartbeat of Happy Acres. By nurturing familiarity with nature—and with themselves—children grow into adults who care deeply, act wisely, and lead boldly. With your partnership, we can continue planting seeds of care and responsibility that flourish across generations.
- Raised
- $0
- Goal
- $10,000
Official fundraiser
Help Woodlands Preparatory Grow Bright Futures
Support Woodlands Preparatory School: Nurturing Hearts, Minds & Nature Our Vision Woodlands Preparatory School, set against the beautiful backdrop of Happy Acres environmental field centre in Magaliesburg, is more than a school—it’s a nurturing community where small class sizes create meaningful teacher-student bonds and tailored learning journeys. Here, education is about building confidence, a love for learning, and respect for the natural world. The only school in the region where children are all numerate and literate before grade 1, and able to read for meaning by Grade 2, irrespective of their home situation. Why We Need Your Help As an independent school, in a town with an unemployment rate of over 80%, the fees several families can afford are below the schools costs. We believe every child deserves holistic, hands-on education, in a loving environment, even those whose parents were not priviledged enough to have a top class education.
We are in desperate need for a relatively small amount monthly , about $1000, to keep the school going. Anything above that will enable us to give the children so much more! Why Woodland Children Achieve More Than Those in Local State Schools Small classes ensuring personalized attention and extension lessons that help each child reach their full potential (15 per teacher, compared to >40 in state schools) A rich cultural programme including music, dance, drama, and art—taught by talented artists and culminating in annual performances that make education come alive A diverse extra-mural offering —from cricket, netball and soccer to Eco Club, arts & crafts, drama, chess and more—designed not just for recreation but self-discovery and resilience Outings and field-based learning , where students explore habitats along the Magalies River and deepen their connection with nature, turning outdoor space into an extension of the classroom Thorough feedback and engagement , with detailed term reports and parent–teacher meetings that keep communication clear and continuous Be a Part of Our Story Join us today and become a source of inspiration and support for our deserving students. Your generosity: Uplifts young learners , enabling them to grow into confident, independent thinkers. Preserves the special ethos of our school—a family community rooted in love, respect, and hands-on learning. Fosters environmental awareness , ensuring children stay connected to nature and learn to protect it. Together, we can enrich lives and build brighter futures—one monthly contribution at a time.
- Raised
- $0
- Goal
- $12,000
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