Recently, the 2026 APEC Ministerial Meeting on Forestry was held in Shenzhen. During the same period, the Fairy Lake Botanical Garden launched its summer nature education camp themed "Wonderful Nature, All in Fairy Lake," attracting many young participants. Shenzhen is leveraging its advantage as a "City of a Thousand Parks" to extend nature education from classrooms to urban public spaces, and is taking the lead in exploring the industrialization of nature education. However, behind the lively outdoor classrooms, event organizers, schools, and parents need to pay attention to the legal risks involved. From a lawyer's perspective, this article sorts out legal issues related to safety assurance, protection of minors, and intellectual property rights in nature education activities, providing compliance guidance for relevant parties.

I. Event Organizer's Safety and Security Obligations and Legal Liability

Nature education activities are mostly held outdoors and involve plant observation, specimen making, and other steps, which carry potential risks such as falls, allergies, and insect bites. According to Article 1198 of the Civil Code, managers of public venues or organizers of mass activities who fail to fulfill their safety guarantee obligations and cause harm to others shall bear tort liability. As a mass activity, summer camps require organizers to fulfill duties such as risk warnings, on-site inspections, and deploying first aid personnel. If a child is injured due to the organizer's negligence, the parents may claim compensation.

In judicial practice, courts typically consider whether an activity involves professional qualifications, whether a safety plan has been developed, and whether accident insurance has been purchased. For example, in one case, a nature education institution in a certain locality was held primarily responsible by the court because it failed to warn students to stay away from toxic plants, resulting in a child ingesting them and being hospitalized. As a demonstration zone for nature education, Shenzhen has seen a surge in activities, and organizers should establish standardized safety procedures, including pre-activity risk assessments, dedicated supervision during activities, and post-activity health follow-ups.

In addition, if the activity is organized by the school, the school must also comply with the relevant provisions of the "Measures for Handling Student Injury Accidents," promptly notify parents, and properly handle the accident. Lawyers suggest that organizers should sign detailed agreements with parents, clarify safety clauses, and purchase sufficient public liability insurance to spread risks.

II. Guardianship Responsibility and Legal Boundaries for Minors' Participation in Activities

Nature education summer camps are primarily aimed at minors, and the transfer of custodial responsibility is a legal focal point. According to Article 27 of the Civil Code, parents are the guardians of minor children. When a child participates in a summer camp, custodial duties are not automatically transferred, but the activity organizer assumes a temporary duty of care within a specific time and place. If the organizer fails to fulfill this duty of care—for example, by allowing a child to leave the activity area alone, resulting in an accident—they shall bear corresponding liability.

In practice, parents often mistakenly believe that signing a "waiver agreement" is enough to exempt organizers from liability. In fact, according to Article 506 of the Civil Code, exemption clauses that cause personal injury to the other party are invalid. Therefore, parents should carefully review the agreement when registering and pay attention to whether there are unreasonable exemption clauses. At the same time, organizers should clearly define the boundaries of activities, such as prohibiting children from picking unknown plants or touching wild animals, and conducting safety education before the event.

The Shenzhen Nature Education Alliance has nearly 200 members, with institutions of varying quality. When choosing, parents should verify the institution's qualifications, understand the instructors' professional backgrounds, and review past activity records. In the event of a dispute, parents may file complaints with education authorities or consumer associations, and if necessary, seek legal recourse through litigation. Lawyers remind that retaining evidence such as activity notices, on-site photos, and medical records is key to protecting one's rights.

III. Compliance with Intellectual Property and Biodiversity Protection in Nature Education

Nature education courses involve the compilation of teaching materials, specimen preparation, and video documentation, which may raise intellectual property issues. According to the Copyright Law, course designs and teaching material contents are protected by law. When developing courses, institutions should ensure originality or obtain authorization to avoid plagiarizing others' works. Additionally, if third-party images or videos are used in the courses, legal permission must be obtained; otherwise, it may constitute infringement.

Additionally, nature education activities often involve plant collection and specimen making, which must comply with regulations such as the Regulations on the Protection of Wild Plants. Shenzhen Xianhu Botanical Garden, as a conservation base, conducts its activities under professional guidance, but if social organizations privately organize the collection of nationally protected plants, they may face administrative penalties or even criminal liability. Lawyers remind that nature education should focus on ecological protection, guiding children to observe rather than collect. When collection is truly necessary, permission from relevant departments should be obtained.

Biodiversity conservation is also an international consensus. As the host of the Asia-Pacific Forestry Conference, Shenzhen should set an example in compliant practices. Organizations can establish internal review mechanisms to ensure that activities align with the spirit of the Convention on Biological Diversity, thereby avoiding legal disputes arising from improper conduct.

IV. Contracts and Consumer Rights Protection in the Industrialization of Nature Education

Shenzhen is promoting the transformation of nature education from "government-led" to "social enterprise-led," with a clear trend of industrialization. Enterprises participating in this field need to pay attention to contract management, including agreements with venue providers, instructors, and parents. According to the Contract Law section of the Civil Code, contracts should clearly specify service content, fees, refund and change rules, liability for breach of contract, and other terms, so as to avoid disputes arising from verbal agreements.

In terms of consumer rights protection, parents, as consumers, are entitled to the right to know and the right to choose. If an institution engages in false advertising, such as exaggerating course effectiveness or concealing risks, parents may demand a refund or compensation in accordance with the Consumer Rights Protection Law. In 2025, a nature education institution in a certain region was penalized by the market regulatory authorities for advertising "classes taught by renowned teachers" that did not match the actual situation, serving as a warning.

In the Shenzhen Nature Education Alliance, enterprises account for over 60% of members, making industry self-discipline particularly important. Enterprises should establish complaint handling mechanisms to resolve conflicts in a timely manner. Lawyers suggest that institutions may hire legal advisors to regularly review contracts and promotional materials, ensure compliant operations, and promote the healthy development of the industry.

V. Legal Implications and Professional Advice

Nature education is a highlight of Shenzhen's urban ecological civilization development, but its healthy growth cannot be separated from legal safeguards. Activity organizers should strengthen safety awareness and improve systems; parents need to enhance legal literacy and make rational choices; enterprises should focus on compliance management and risk prevention. Guangdong Zhiming Law Firm, with deep expertise in legal services for the education sector, can provide professional support to nature education institutions in contract review, safety system design, and dispute resolution, helping Shenzhen's nature education achieve steady and lasting development.