BECOME was a key partner in the Erasmus+ project NatuReal, an initiative aimed at reconnecting adults with the natural world through innovative, inclusive approaches to education and wellbeing. Rooted in the belief that nature is a vital source of personal and collective growth, the NatuReal project brought together a multidisciplinary consortium across Europe to design tools and practices that make nature connection accessible, even in our increasingly digital and urban lives.

At the heart of this project there is the NatuReal App, a mobile companion developed to support adults in rediscovering their relationship with nature, cultivating awareness, and nurturing inner balance through everyday experiences.

The Context

In a world increasingly dominated by technology and urban life, many adults have grown distant from the natural environments that once grounded them. This disconnection doesn't only affect personal wellbeing, it diminishes environmental awareness and makes it harder to lead sustainable lives.

NatuReal was born from a collective urgency to restore this vital bond. The project recognizes nature as a powerful source of wellness, wisdom and self-discovery. Its mission is clear: help adults, especially those who cannot participate in in-person learning and reclaim their connection with nature through a tool that is inclusive, accessible, and meaningful.

Inspired by the Nature Intelligence framework, the project brings together science, education and technology to empower individuals to reflect, grow and reconnect mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

The Project

Coordinated by Anatta Foundation (NL) and enriched by the diverse expertise of partners like Experience Lab – UCSC, Kamaleonte ASD, ONAGEB.Spain, Nature for People and BECOME, the NatuReal project embraced a truly collaborative and interdisciplinary development process.

Focus groups across Italy, Spain and the Netherlands involved adults aged 30 to 60—our primary users — whose needs, preferences and habits deeply influenced the app’s design. These insights were combined with academic research in positive psychology, human-computer interaction and mobile wellbeing technologies.

BECOME played a pivotal role in translating the Nature Intelligence theory into a digital experience. We brought together psychologists, UX designers, developers and storytellers to co-design a mobile app that fosters deep reflection and meaningful engagement, not only with nature—but with oneself.

The Natureal App

The NatuReal App is a nature-based digital companion. It guides users through a personal journey of self-discovery and nature reconnection using interactive storytelling, sensory exercises and practical tools for mindfulness and reflection.

It all begins with the Natural Intelligence Test, which helps users identify their personal strengths and suggests the best thematic world to explore first. Accompanied by a gentle animal guide, users are invited to engage in simple yet profound activities such as:

• Taking mindful photos during walks
• Recording natural sounds
• Writing reflections in a personal journal

The app’s design is inspired by nature — calming, intuitive, and multilingual (English, Italian, Spanish, Dutch) — ensuring a soft and inclusive user experience. Built on the principles of usability and emotional engagement, every interaction encourages slowing down, tuning in, and sensing more deeply.

Worlds

At the heart of the app are immersive and thematic Worlds — each inspired by a dimension of Nature Intelligence. These worlds offer structured yet flexible learning experiences that combine playfulness, presence and personal insight.

• World of Presence: Cultivate mindful attention and rediscover the here and now
• World of Connection: Deepen empathy with living beings and ecosystems
• World of Reflection: Explore symbolic meaning and inner resonance with nature

Each world is an invitation — not a goal. Users are encouraged to follow their own rhythm, exploring nature’s wonders as a mirror to their inner life.

NatuReal is not just an app, it’s a doorway. A gentle nudge toward wholeness, awareness, and balance. A reminder that the natural world is not something separate from us, but a part of who we are.