The initiative, dubbed Wild Scholars, was officially unveiled at the Nairobi Safari Walk on Sunday, June 14, with 400 students from Alliance Girls High School becoming the first beneficiaries.
“Academic terms are demanding, and the daily pressures on young minds can be heavy. Our students need constructive outlets; safe, peaceful sanctuaries where they can step away from the books, clear their minds, and reset,” the wildlife agency said in a statement.
While the causes of school unrest vary, stakeholders have pointed to academic pressure, mental health challenges and limited recreational opportunities as some of the factors affecting learners.
As part of the initiative, KWS is encouraging schools from nursery to tertiary institutions to organise educational visits to protected areas across the country.
The programme is also backed by a series of incentives aimed at making such visits more affordable for schools and parents.
Students visiting premium parks such as Amboseli and Lake Nakuru National Parks will pay Ksh500, while those touring Nairobi National Park and Tsavo East and West National Parks will pay Ksh400. Schools will also benefit from discounted bus entry fees, free entry for up to three teachers and bonus entries for large student groups.
However, the discounted rates are not entirely new. In May, KWS announced a similar package of incentives under its “Ji-achilie in Kenya Parks” campaign, offering reduced entry fees, transport discounts and free access for teachers accompanying school trips.
What is new under the Wild Scholars programme is the agency’s deliberate focus on student wellness and mental health, with KWS positioning parks as spaces where learners can find relief from academic stress while gaining practical conservation knowledge.