Nature beckons with butterflies and birds

Climbing trees, lying on the grass to watch a butterfly emerge from its chrysalis, jumping along the ridges of farmland - these are some of the childhood experiences Wu Jinhai is trying to give his son.

To get closer to nature, Wu moved from an apartment in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, to run a guesthouse in Liangzhu New Town, a scenic spot in the countryside 16 kilometers from the city.

"I have always wanted to give my son a childhood full of the freedom and excitement of outdoor activities - up in the hills, forests and along the streams," says Wu, an insect enthusiast and freelance photographer.

Every weekend since his son Qiqi turned 3 years old, the pair have headed into the wilderness to chase the butterflies hovering above wildflowers.

Wu has collected hundreds of specimens, which are all displayed at his home. As a result of his upbringing, Qiqi has left behind his shy disposition to become an outgoing and lively 9-year-old.

"Those trips have helped my son become more observant about nature, learn about the different lifeforms around us and express his unique understanding of them," says Wu, who now also works as a part-time teacher of natural science at a primary school.

Education experts say that children who grow up close to nature tend to be more creative and are more proactive in self-learning.

Wang Qingshi, an 11-year-old student at Beijing Shijingshan Yinhe Primary School, flew from the Chinese capital to Shanghai to attend the finals of the Global Natural History Day Competition 2016. He showcased his unique method of categorizing insects, winning first prize for his efforts.

As a child, Wang's hobby was catching insects. He started researching the different shapes of insect feet after a cicada's foot was caught between the threads of his T-shirt about a year ago.

Together with a friend, Wang spent most of his leisure time catching hundreds of insects in Beijing, taking photos and documenting the differences between them. He has now classified insect feet into four categories based on their shapes - double-hook, single-hook, stick-shaped and sucker hook.

Wang has made paintings of insect feet, written journals and created interactive activities to show people how they can identify insects from their feet.

"I've learned an aspect of insects that cannot be found in the textbooks and started thinking and conducting research independently to explore the natural world with creativity and curiosity," says Wang, who dreams of becoming an entomologist.

Chen Hongcheng, Wang's tutor and a teacher at Beijing Yucai School, says that it is important that kids today pay more attention to the world around them.

"Chinese parents are now making more efforts to expose their children to nature, where they can exercise their curiosity and imagination, instead of being only concerned with examination results," Chen says.

Two other participants in the Shanghai competition, Zhang Yi and Yan Jiyao, shared the results of their research on birds. The fourth-grade students attend the primary school attached to Southwest University in Chongqing.

"Birds are friends of us human beings. I want to explore how we can help them live and proliferate in nature with the least disturbance possible," says Yan, whose interest developed after a trip to a bird park one year ago.

Since that trip, Yan and his classmate Zhang have been keenly observing birds and their relationship with the daily lives of humans. The pair realized it was necessary to create a balanced ecosystem for birds by controlling their population and planting more trees for them to live in. The two friends are planning to participate in the event again next year.

"I've widened my knowledge of birds, learned how to better express my thoughts and how to work as a team with those who have the same interest," says Zhang of his experience.

Huang Yifeng, an ecological designer from Taiwan, is another advocate of getting kids out of their classrooms and residential blocks and into parks, botanical gardens and zoos to see, touch and feel nature. To champion the cause, he founded Nature Fun in 2013. The company helps to organize outdoor activities within Shanghai for children aged 6 to 11 and their parents.

He says that as more Chinese children are growing up in cities far away from the natural world, few of them are able to name insects and flowers, or to explain the differences between vegetables.

Nature Fun's day trips take place once or twice monthly. About 20 families, comprising a child and a parent, participate in each trip, guided by Huang and his team, picking up leaves, listening to birds and touching insects.

Every trip features a different theme, ranging from insects and birds to other animals.

During the summer holidays, the length of the explorative camps is extended to a week and the location is changed from the city to the countryside.

"I am just acting as a catalyst for these lovely children to turn on their talents and explore the beauty in daily life," Huang says.

yuran@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily Africa Weekly 10/28/2016 page21)