Vatican Museums: Learning to care for creation through play
An original and captivating tour is now available for families with children, offering a pleasant two-hour experience in the magnificent natural setting of the Pope’s Gardens. This initiative, entitled “Capture Nature”, is a new addition to the Vatican Museums’ family activities, promoting the appreciation of nature, art and the protection of creation.
By Paolo Ondarza
Excitement is growing by the minute for children and families taking part in the Vatican Museums’ latest offering: “Capture Nature” in the Vatican Gardens.
For young and old alike, two hours pass quickly indulging in quizzes, games, questions and fascinating discoveries about the Pope’s Gardens, the protection of creation and the secrets of plants, animals and insects.
Young participants in the “Capture Nature” tour in the Vatican Gardens
Immersed in nature
This is a truly immersive tour, but without any electronic devices: just the sounds, smells and colours of nature that surround and embrace you. It is an opportunity to feel like the beloved creations of a Creator who made everything with love.
The children choose a name for their team and the adventure begins. They go hunting for pine cones, pine nuts and pebbles, while discovering turtles and other hidden wonders of the Gardens.
Capturing nature
During the tour, participants will be able to meet Vatican gardeners, ready to share the secrets of plant care. Among them is Minosse, the head gardener, whose stylized avatar face appears on a sticker.
Each time the children complete a challenge, they add a sticker to their participation card. Whoever completes their card wins, but the emphasis is on teamwork: if everyone learns to take care of creation, everyone wins.
Capture Nature – Vatican Museums
Discovering biblical plants
From treasure hunting to creating a “masterpiece” using the rubbing technique, to identifying animal species and recognizing plants mentioned in the Bible, the visit engages all the senses.
In a game called “Waste or Nature?”, children rummage through a box and, without seeing, must distinguish between natural and synthetic materials.
Capture Nature – Vatican Museums
A visit for the whole family
The Vatican Museums initiative is a true outdoor educational experience, helping families to become aware of the beauty of creation and the importance of protecting our common home, as requested by Pope Francis and his predecessors.
The tour, available in Italian and English, is designed for families with children aged 6 to 12. It is fully accessible to people with sensory, motor and intellectual disabilities and takes place every Saturday of the month.
Participants will discover the Biblical Garden, the Forest, the English Garden, the Zitella Fountain, the Casina of Pius IV, the Madonna della Guarda and the Madonna of Fatima, places where popes often walked. After the tour, families can visit the Vatican Museums on their own at no additional cost.
Capture Nature – Vatican Museums
Learning together outdoors
“It is an incredible experience. The greatest joy is to see our children so involved. Visiting the Museums and the Pope’s Gardens with them is an unforgettable occasion,” say the parents of a young participant.
This initiative, which can be booked on the Vatican Museums website, was carried out by the Office of Educational Activities.
Sister Emanuela Edwards, Head of the Office of Educational Activities of the Vatican Museums
“This visit has taken a lot of work to set up, but we are delighted to finally be able to offer it to families and their children,” explains Sister Emanuela Edwards, whom we met on a hot summer day, cooled by the shade of the tall trees in the Pope’s gardens.
“Capture Nature,” explains Sister Emanuela, “is an extraordinary adventure for families, who can discover together the beauty of the Vatican Gardens through fun activities. It is a unique opportunity to learn outdoors! We hope that at the end of the visit, the whole family will have had a truly unforgettable experience, which they will remember forever. We also hope that this wonderful memory will inspire them to take even better care of our beautiful planet!”
The Vatican Gardens
Q: Is your initiative inspired by the themes of the protection of creation of the encyclical “Laudato Sì”? Sister Emanuela Edwards, what aspects of this pontifical document do you present to children and families?
“The first thing we highlight is the beauty of creation, a wonderful gift from God. During the visit, we also show concrete examples of responsible care for creation. For example, the Vatican gardeners take care of the trees and plants in the garden using only organic treatments, avoiding harmful chemicals. In this way, the Vatican responds to Pope Francis’ call for responsible stewardship of our common home.
This visit is also in line with the call for ecological education launched by the encyclical. Families will be able to enjoy the beauty of creation and we hope that parents and children will come away with a deeper understanding of the importance of caring for and respecting their local ecosystems, rejecting the “throwaway culture” of which the Holy Father often speaks.
Capture Nature – Vatican Museums
Q: The setting is the Vatican Gardens, the “green lung” of Vatican City, where families can linger in the popes’ favorite spots during their walks. Could you name some of these places?
“Children, like popes, particularly enjoy three areas of the garden. The first is the English Garden. Here, just a few steps from the hustle and bustle of the Vatican Museums, they are immersed in nature, breathing fresh air and listening to the sounds of nature: an ideal environment for adventure! Then there is the breathtaking panoramic view from the rose garden, with the dome of St. Peter’s in the background, very inspiring for children. Finally, everyone enjoys visiting the summer house of Pope Pius IV and having the chance to observe the turtles that live there.”
Vatican Gardens
Q: During the visit, you offer different activities combining art, faith and nature. Which ones do children enjoy the most?
“The tour begins with a challenge: children must remain silent for 2 minutes to identify the different natural sounds of the garden. You can imagine the challenge! There is also a friendly competition between families. And of course, no visit to the Vatican would be complete without a “masterpiece”. During this tour, by observing and “capturing” the nature around them in the gardens, children have the opportunity to create their own masterpiece, a lasting memory of the “Capture Nature” experience.”
Capture Nature – Vatican Museums
Q: Why is it important to educate children and families about the care of creation from a Catholic perspective?
“Pope Francis calls for a new approach to the natural world, one that is in keeping with the spirit of the Gospel. He offers us the example of St. Francis of Assisi, who, by putting God first, embodied “that sublime fraternity with all creation” (221). The Holy Father hopes to inspire all of us, with the help of God’s grace, to adopt this balanced and healthy approach to creation, so that we can better care for our common home.”
