The River Dee Trust is seeking new funding to help school pupils learn more about science, fishing and the natural environment.
The organisation’s previous educational programme, which ceased in 2016, helped hundreds of primary school children and their teachers learn about the River Dee, the people who rely on it, and the wildlife that call it home.
Since then, the trust has continued its work in a smaller capacity to help youngsters understand the importance of the waterway to the north-east’s economy and natural environment.
But now, it has launched a new £34,000 appeal to fund another year of wide-ranging education projects, seeking to bring more inquisitive young minds out of the classroom and into Deeside to discover what the river has to offer.
If the campaign is successful, the trust aims to initially enable 30 school groups and five youth organisations to visit the river and take part in outdoor learning annually.
Particular focus will be spent on highlighting how science, technology engineering and maths subjects learned at school can be applied in the real world.
River director Lorraine Hawkins said she hopes the cash will be in place by the end of the year, so the first round of pupils will be able to take part by next spring.
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She said: “We really want to connect children to the river.
“So many of us live within just a short walk of the River Dee, but so many people haven’t travelled that short distance to actually get to the water’s edge for themselves, because it’s seen as inaccessible.
“We want to encourage all people to find out for themselves that this simply isn’t the case, which is why we want to start with young people and help them discover why the river is so important to Deeside.
“Ideally, we’re aiming to do even more and have the project accessible to schools throughout the year, with a really big programme going on to cover as many schools as possible.
“We’re covering Aberdeen city and shire, but we’ll be putting particular emphasis on children in Aberdeen who may have not have had the same opportunities to learn outdoors.”
The trust is seeking backing from grants, businesses and individuals keen to support its work.
To find out more visit www.riverdee.org.uk