Welcome to Kinship

developing a sense of nature connectedness

Nature connectedness explains how much one feels connected to the natural world. Research has shown that a a close nature connectedness leads to pro-environmental behaviour. This relationship is best developed before the age of eight through immersive experiences that are shaped around a child's own inquiry.

Kinship provides the opportunity for this relationship to form through carefully curated immersive experiences that consider each individual child, their state of connection and interests. We offer these experiences as an extra-curricular activity, privately and at schools. We operate four seasons a year that correspond with school term times. Our sessions are 75minutes long and most children enroll seasonally (termly), attending once a week. We work on a seasonal enrollment, but the cost breakdown is roughly R150/session. At the end of each season we offer an overnight adventure that mums and dads are welcome to join for.

Children are also welcome to join our Labours of Love sessions on a Thursday/Friday from 3-4pm. These are curated volunteering opportunities that are open to all ages. It is R50 for the session and all funds are allocated to our upliftment projects.

We also curate Project-Based Learning Projects for all ages (grade 1 - 12) that encourage meaningful and impactful learning that employs the use of 21st Century skills.

Private Session Times for Durban North:

Monday from 2pm - 3:15pm

Monday from 3:30pm - 4:45pm

Wednesday from 2pm - 3:15pm

Wednesday from 3:30pm - 4:45pm

Private Session Times for Ballito:

Thursday from 2pm - 3:15pm

Season dates for 2023:

Season One: 23 January - 16 March

overnight adventure: 18 - 19 March

Season Two: 17 April - 22 June

Season Three: 24 July - 21 September

overnight adventure: 16 - 17 Sept.

Season Four: 16 October - 6 December

I'd like a trial session

OUR PHILOSOPHY

Why are we going outside?

Urbanisation, industrialization, fears for safety and technological advancements have led to the majority of our time being spent indoors, predominantly in front of screens. There are growing concerns about a lack of physical exercise, poor mental well-being and issues of climate change and environmental degradation. Studies illustrate that green spaces and natural landscapes have a positive influence on children’s cognitive and psycho-social development, including emotional regulation, perceived self-worth, creativity, concentration, motivation and motor skills. Children that engage immersive with nature have better abilities to assess risks and confidence to confront challenges later in life.

It is believed that the split with nature is at the heart of our environmental crisis. There are several studies illustrating that childhood experiences in nature have led to the development of increased nature-connected individuals who tend to champion conservation and sustainable development. The Kinship program offers the opportunity for our children to develop the empathy and love of nature that our world requires, in a safe yet wild environment.