Summary of article in Billed Bladet #37, 2019.
Written by Dorte Quist.
This is Frederik in his preferred and right element. Outside, being active, together with children on a personal level.
The occasion was the annual Nature Day. A week actually where some 200.000 schoolchildren and pre-schoolers go out into the nature to see and learn what is out there.
Frederik met with a class of fifth graders from a village school who under the guidance of a representative from Danish Nature Preservation Association (*), who told and taught about what they saw and experienced.
Present was also the new Minister for the Environment.
But what is interesting to us is what Frederik had to say.
He was asked whether he had become "the crown prince of the children" (I very much believe he has):
"You (formal) must ask the children. I become happy by being outside regardless of the weather. And it's always fun to be with children. They are much more receptable for all sorts of things and if you can talk a little of their language, you will find it much easier to start a dialogue with them. That's also what children prefer.
They can of course be a little restrained/reserved. But nevertheless they are very spirited and ask about everything from A to Z. And here the nature is one big playground, where you are presented with so much.
You can go for a walk and look for almost everything or simply toss stones into the water.
My own children are no problem luring out into the nature. Also if both cinema, computer sometimes pull the other way. But we very much get out in the nature with the children and also enjoy tenting or walking."
(*) Danish Nature Preservation Association is the preservation organization in DK. Working very closely with other organizations that work in or with or is simply associated with the nature, like the Agricultural Association, The Hunting Association, The Association of Ornithologists and so on, they have tremendous influence. It is because the co-operate with the various interest groups that they have the public appeal, respect and influence they have, and because they are able to understand conflicting interests and thus overlap each other.
It's not a question of animal protection against hunters, or farmers against preservationists. They work together. Farmers keep an eye on the environment, because they are out there on a day to day basis and help out in that way. Hunters keep an eye on the wildlife and birds too, because they are out there. 70.000 hunters cover a lot more ground than 1.000 ornithologists.
That co-operation also means there is less polarization. Because a someone fishing for salmon, might be a farmer on a day to day basis, but also an active member involved in preserving the habitat for birds.
And that IMO is no doubt the reason why organizations like PETA have next to no influence in DK. And even less public appeal and respect.