Little hands, big impact: a family nurdle hunt for our youngest nature heroes Tiny plastic pellets called nurdles are washing up on UAE shores, and our youngest nature heroes can help clear them! Join Connect with Nature this Early Childhood Week for a morning of stories, discovery and hands-on beach action at Saadiyat Island. Nurdles are tiny plastic pellets, about the size of a lentil. They’re the raw material used to make almost every plastic product: around 600–1,200 nurdles are melted down to make a single plastic water bottle. They may look harmless, but nurdles are the second-biggest source of plastic litter on beaches worldwide (by weight), and sea turtles, fish and birds often mistake them for food. Every nurdle we pick up is one less that ends up inside a marine animal. Agenda 8:00 am – Arrival & welcome 8:30 am – Story time: Nora the Nurdle & Tiko the Turtle 8:45 am – How to spot a nurdle 9:00 am – The Great Nurdle Hunt 10:00 am – Count, weigh, & log 10:15 am – Saadiyat Rotana activity 10:45 am – Wrap-up & family group photo Who can join Children aged 4+. Every child must arrive with, and stay with, their parent or guardian throughout the event. To give as many families as possible a chance to take part, participation is limited to one child per family. Each registration must include the child’s name and details.   Before the event (required) The accompanying parent or guardian must complete and sign the liability form, with their own name and details, before the event: https://form.jotform.com/251672330564051 Children whose guardian hasn’t signed the form won’t be able to take part. Children without a signed form won’t be able to take part. What to bring A reusable water bottle for each family member Sunscreen What to wear Comfortable sports or casual clothes Sun hat Shoes suitable for walking on sand Good to know: we collect nurdles mainly, little ones should not pick up glass, sharp objects or other hazardous litter. Date: Friday, 20 November 2026 Time: 8:00 – 11:00 am Location: Saadiyat Rotana Resort & Villas, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi

📍 Jubail Mangrove Park, Abu Dhabi 📅 November 20th 2026 ⏰ 2:30 to 5:00 pm Spend an afternoon in the mangroves with Emirates Nature–WWF. You’ll start by solving a conservation mystery, then take to the water to help scientists track the waste entering our marine environment. 2:30 to 3:30 pm | Mangrove Mayhem A lost kayaker has found an audio recorder used to study rare birds and bats, and sent out an SOS. Your job is to track the device, follow the clues and rescue the kayaker in time. As a citizen scientist, you’ll discover how technology supports wildlife research, what makes mangroves so valuable, and how you can take action for nature. 4:00 to 5:00 pm | Kayaking the Mangroves Paddle through Abu Dhabi’s mangrove forest and learn about its cultural and ecological importance, the threats it faces, and how we can work together to keep it resilient. Along the way, you’ll record the amount and type of single-use plastics and other waste you find. This data goes directly to the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) and into a global database, giving researchers and policymakers the evidence they need to shape new regulations and recommendations. What you’ll gain A deeper understanding of the ecological and cultural value of mangroves, and the threats they face A hands-on role in real research that informs policy on single-use plastics in the UAE Your impact This activity supports the goal of cutting plastic leakage into nature by 50% by 2030. Your data feeds into the analysis of 2,000 kg of litter, helping build a policy on single-use plastics and a thriving circular economy in the UAE. Who can join? Anyone who’s curious, adventurous and keen to make a difference for nature. Students, professionals, and nature lovers are all welcome. No experience needed, just curiosity and a team spirit.  What to bring Comfortable clothes that can get wet, a hat, sunscreen, reusable water bottle, change of clothes - note: swimming is not allowed.  Before the event (required) Every participant must complete and sign the liability form before the event: https://form.jotform.com/251672330564051 18 and over: fill in and sign the form yourself. Under 18: you must be accompanied by a parent or guardian, who completes and signs the form with their own name and details. Anyone without a signed form, including under-18s whose guardian hasn’t signed, won’t be able to take part.