Strabrechtse Heide

The challenge

Children living in poverty can be happy and enjoy their childhood. They can forget their circumstances and have new experiences. In addition, the visit to Strabrechtse Heide teaches them about nature and the special flora and fauna on the heide.

The objective was to provide a day out for children who normally cannot have a day out due to financial circumstances. The purpose was to provide a happy day for these children such that they can forget their own problems for a moment.

The project

A day out was organized in collaboration with the ANBI foundation ‘Laat Ze Maar Lachen’ (also see the short report at https://laatzemaarlachen.com/natuursprong-op-de-strabrechtse-heide/). During this day, 25 children from Eindhoven area between 4 and 12 years old visited the Strabrechtse Heide, Heeze on the 9th of June 2018.

The bright moment

The Brighties and children and gathered at the train station in Eindhoven, where a touring car was waiting to bring them to a pancake restaurant in Mierlo. After enjoying the pancakes, they continued to Heeze where foresters from Staatbosbeheer joined them on an expedition across the Strabrechtse Heide.

They received a map that the children used to guide us to the different activities. Next to physical activities like climbing, a lot of attention was paid to the large variety of insects and animals. Insects were studied using magnifying glasses and several water animals were captured, studied and released using nets and buckets.

After a fun and sunny afternoon they returned back to Eindhoven where the parents were already waiting to see the happy faces of their kids. The children indicated that catching bugs was the favourite activity for most of them and said it was ‘a real adventure’. Therefore was a successful event.

Get involved

If you like to organize such inspiring sessions, we would love to hear from you. Contact us at projects@bright-foundation.com.