This study investigates the impact of a nature experience-based environmental education module program on preschool children’s environmental awareness. A mixed-methods design was employed, incorporating a case study as the qualitative component and a one-group pretest–posttest experimental design as the quantitative component. The study group consisted of ten children (four girls and six boys) aged 60–72 months, enrolled in a kindergarten and previously not received any formal environmental education. The program was implemented over nine weeks, with weekly one-day sessions conducted in a designated forest area. Data were collected through a semi-structured interview form developed by the researcher and the Children’s Environmental Scale developed by Koçak Tümer and Temel (2021). Qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis, while quantitative data were examined using a paired-samples t-test to compare pretest and posttest results. The findings revealed that, following participation in the program, children demonstrated increased knowledge and awareness regarding concepts such as the environment, environmental pollution, environmental protection, living beings, and recycling. Moreover, the posttest mean scores were found to be significantly higher than the pretest mean scores. These results indicate that the nature experience-based environmental education program positively influenced preschool children’s environmental awareness, suggesting that nature-based learning activities can effectively foster environmental consciousness in early childhood education.

In an era where children are increasingly disconnected from nature and tend to perceive the environment as an abstract concept, there is a pressing need for experiential learning environments that enable direct interaction with nature and nurture both environmental affection and awareness. Therefore, environmental education should extend beyond classroom walls, providing children with opportunities to explore, experience, and appreciate their surroundings. The nature-loving child of today will become the environmentally responsible adult of tomorrow, thereby laying the foundation for a sustainable future.