My name is Autumn, and I am an early years expert and outdoor educator specialising in Beach and Forest School programmes. Last year I had the privilege of speaking at GESS on a panel. I lead a discussion on the importance of outdoor play in education. I have been living and teaching in the UAE for 8 years now. Like many, I did not realise how much I missed nature until I moved here. I grew up in Cornwall, UK, with coastal walks, rolling hills, and national parks on my doorstep. My childhood shaped me into the educator I am today. I worked at an eco-school in Dubai for three years as a Forest School leader and Ecoliteracy specialist. Now, I have started my own movement/buisness to do what I love full-time and dive headfirst into the world of outdoor education in the UAE. Children are growing up in a nature-deficient world despite our knowledge of the benefits of nature on children's development. I have met many families and educators in the UAE who struggle to get their nature fix, and I am here to change that (inshallah). The UAE is not just a sandpit. We don't have to jump on a plane to reconnect with nature; it is right here. Nature can be found in the mangroves, on your balcony, within wadis, across sandy desert dunes, and in your local park. Nature is everywhere; we need to open our eyes to see it. My mission is to reunite people with nature so that the children of the future can reap the benefits.