In an era characterised by significant climate change, human rights violations, armed conflicts and educational inequalities, we need to work towards a paradigm shift. The direction we must follow is that indicated by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, signed in September 2015 by the governments of the 193 UN member countries. The main objective of this document is to end poverty, promote prosperity and well-being for all, protect the environment and combat climate change by 2030. It is vital to educate children to respect the world we live in and all living beings. Schools are therefore called upon to give a human meaning to ecology by promoting full awareness of the link between the human environment and the natural environment through experiential courses to be carried out in collaboration with local communities. This pedagogical-educational task is crucial, as the survival of humanity depends on it. This contribution aims to promote reflection on the educational activities proposed by the forestry department in collaboration with primary schools in Italy, in an experimental arboretum located within a bioenergetic nature reserve. The arboretum in question is the most important Italian collection of plants created for scientific and experimental purposes, boasting a collection of approximately 5,000 specimens divided into over 700 tree and shrub species from all over the world. Following discussions between the heads of the forestry department and teachers, educational activities are developed to be carried out within the arboretum, aimed at promoting knowledge of nature, developing empathy towards the planet and promoting care for the environment. Through play, children are encouraged to discover biodiversity, with a strong focus on using all their senses. Children are encouraged to pay attention not only to what they see, but also to what they hear, smell and touch. Inside the arboretum, there are child-sized baskets where students can collect berries and pine cones of many varieties, but before leaving the arboretum, they must put them back in the baskets. This simple activity is a significant learning opportunity because it teaches children about the environment while preserving it, without changing it. After the visit to the arboretum, teachers in the classroom have the opportunity to guide students in reflecting on what they have experienced and to deepen their knowledge of the richness of biodiversity and the importance of preserving it. The arboretum is therefore an exceptional educational environment for children, transforming learning into a sensory and interactive experience. Far from traditional classrooms, children can explore, discover and connect with nature in unique ways. The educational activities on offer stimulate curiosity and promote environmental awareness. It is important to explore and implement initiatives such as those promoted in Italy by the Forestry Department in collaboration with primary schools. These initiatives help to create fertile ground for a new humanism based on respect for the world we live in.

Keywords: Children, education, nature.