Project Rewild
Rewilding children, families & communities
Project Rewild is a non profit Community Interest Company (CIC) which aims to re connect and rewild children, families, adults and communities.
The project is made up of a range of passionate and skilled staff and volunteers who are commented to the aims and objectives of Project Rewild.
Wild Child is led by Luke Funnell. He has worked as an outdoor instructor and facilitator for many years leading transformative woodland projects for children, teenagers and adults. He is qualified as a forest school leader, advanced level bush craft and survival instructor, health and social worker and teacher. Luke has spent the last 6 years training in deep ecology, nature connection and nature philosophy based on native teaching from around the world. .
Luke has over 22 years of experience working with children and teenagers as a youth worker, teacher, playworker, behaviour adviser and residential social worker.
“I have been working with at risk and vulnerable young people in society for most of my career; without doubt the most important and profound changes I have witnessed in these individuals is when I work with them in nature. I passionately believe in the therapeutic and transformative effects of working with people in this way. I enjoy engaging and inspiring people to be outdoors more and I feel it is my purpose to help reconnect people with nature.”
“As a dad it saddens me to think of my children growing up in a world where they will not play outside with friends without adult supervision. They won’t spend hours exploring wild spaces. I know the world has changed a lot since I was a child but I passionately believe that children need to grow up around nature, they need to play outside, and they need to have the space to roam freely with other children. I have set up Project Rewild in an attempt to re-introduce children to playing outside in nature, to show a new generation that it really is amazing out there! To do this I want to offer accessible opportunities for children and families to spend time outside in nature”.
“Project Rewild is not another Forest School group, I don’t want nature to be experienced as another club or school subject. Time in nature and free play is absolutely essential to our children’s development, and to our ongoing health and happiness. I want to inspire children, to engage them, and entrust them to play in, and enjoy nature. I want to see children playing in woodlands and outdoor spaces again, to get muddy and learn about nature by touching, smelling and tasting it. I want to rewild our children (and everyone else!)
