Who are we
The French federation
Les Amis de la Nature France is a member of Naturefriends International. With more than 350,000 members in 45 member organizations and partners, Naturefriends, founded in 1895, is one of the largest non-governmental organizations (NGOs) worldwide.
A philosophy of life
The Naturefriends International Union is an international association promoting social tourism and popular leisure activities, founded in 1895 in Vienna, Austria.
Beyond cultural and outdoor activities, there is a whole movement promoting a philosophy of life based on humanist ideas shared by its members.
This is a self-managed association offering:
– A variety of activities for families and multiple generations, as well as vacation homes and campsites accessible to all, operated on a volunteer basis with the aim of providing affordable leisure activities
– Meetings and exchanges to combat the growing individualism of today’s society
– The sharing of knowledge and experiences.
– Actions in favor of the protection of nature, people, and their environment.
– Networking with other associations pursuing similar goals, nationally or locally.
The Friends of Nature are eco-citizens who make commitments in line with the times. The fact that their members share these values and this demand for quality of life has enabled them to endure and reach their centenary in 2012.
The objectives of the association
The objectives of our international association
– The activities of the Friends of Nature are based on the idea that protecting nature is inseparable from preserving everyone’s opportunity to thrive.
Since their founding, the Friends of Nature have worked for the preservation of the environment and habitats, for peace and reconciliation among peoples, for the social and democratic rights of all, and for physically and culturally enriching leisure activities.
– They are now committed to implementing sustainable development and, above all, to cross-border approaches to environmental protection, as well as to socially responsible tourism that respects the living environment of local communities.
The French Federation pursues the same goals
– The Association is independent of any political or religious group whatsoever.
– It participates in cross-border initiatives launched at the international level, particularly in the area of environmental protection. It also carries out its own activities.
The functioning of the association
Internationally, the movement consists of 45 member or partner associations, with a total of more than 350,000 supporters worldwide who are convinced of the values promoted by this active and cooperative network with its dynamic internal structure.
In France, Les Amis de la Nature comprises 80 local associations governed by the 1901 law and nearly 7,000 members, brought together under the French Federation of the Tourist Union “Amis de la Nature France.”
More than half (52) of these associations voluntarily manage facilities in the countryside, mountains, or seaside, including vacation centers, houses, shelters, campsites, or simply the possibility of camping in an enclosed, green, and well-maintained area.
All of their activities are focused on nature, offering a different kind of leisure experience that EVERYONE can participate in.
The local associations are grouped into twelve Friends of Nature regions around Regional or Departmental Committees.
The federation has been recognized as being of public interest since December 2001.