Canada's Child and Nature Movement

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Comment by Suz Lipman on May 3, 2013 at 8:47am

Great story from the Globe and Mail featuring the Child & Nature Alliance of Canada and the work they and others are doing to help stem nature-deficit disorder. They are seeing results!

http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/finding_new_ways_for_o...

Comment by Suz Lipman on April 12, 2013 at 8:22am

The David Suzuki Foundation is Heading a Plan to Turn Toronto’s Ward 19 into Canada’s Largest "Homegrown National Park". The idea sprang from Richard Louv's book, "Last Child in the Woods".

http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/david_suzuki_foundatio...

Comment by Kari on October 19, 2012 at 11:27am

Yes you are lucky to live in Alberta (-: ,I thought it is strange to hear this about Calgary I do know quite a few family outdoors bloggers in Calgary they also do outdoor playgroups, they are both women and are into wilderness too.

 I love wilderness escape, but I also enjoy urban nature as well and thinks small adventures lead to big adventures.

 

Comment by Ken Schmaltz on October 19, 2012 at 10:32am

We're lucky in Calgary. In an hour you can be in Banff National Park, Kananaskis Provincial Park and a number of parks and recreational areas  on the prairies. Within an hour and half and you're in Kootenay and Yoho National Parks, Midland Provincial Park (badlands with dinosaur bones everywhere!)...three hours and you're in Jasper and Waterton National Parks, Dinosaur Provincial Park (more dinosaur bones and a UNESCO World Heritage Site)...Although picnics in both urban and rural parks are definitely a way of experiencing nature, my interests lie in wilderness experiences. There's something about arriving at a remote trailhead, stepping out of the car and back into the food chain that the caveman deep in my genetic memory needs. Having been hiking in the backcountry for three years now, that part of boys' (12 and 8) DNA has been activated as well. In general, I find that most people in Calgary want to go into the moutains, but the people born here don't make it a priority or have had overhyped dangers like bears and avalanches pounded into them to the point that they think death is lurking in the mountains around every corner of the trail. Immigrants--whether Pakistan or Paris, China or the Czech Republic--seem to better appreciate what their new home has to offer and make the effort to explore the mountains. Some do it in extended family or cultural groups at nearby picnic areas such as Elbow Falls, and others do it on backcountry trails. However they do it, the important thing is that they're doing it.

Comment by Kari on October 19, 2012 at 10:04am

Interesting comment Ken. I'm also an immigrant to Canada.

However I feel that many of the National Parks in Canada is not so accessible for people, and is more for special outdoor  interested people. As from a similar country as Canada when it comes to nature. I'm not used to all the driving involved to visit a park and have to pay for the visit. We just drove 14 hours one way to Puksawa National Park for a camping and hiking trip.

I feel  camping is a strong tradition for Canadians. But for me you do not need to do camping to be connected to nature.I did not grew up with car camping, but grew up with Friluftsliv and back country cabins.

I do not like documentaries like this as I feel many immigrants (I think we talk more about visible immigrants then European immigrants here)do use the outdoors but maybe do not do camping.But they use the close by nature for picnics in the parks, know about foraging and do a lot of gardening. That is outdoors too.

Comment by Suz Lipman on October 19, 2012 at 9:16am

Hi Ken, Thanks for the information about the film. It's also great to hear your take about local nature and culture in Canada. I wonder if that matches most places, in that locals either take their surroundings for granted or are overly fearful of them. (I suspect it does.) Either way, they're not getting out in them!

Comment by Ken Schmaltz on October 19, 2012 at 9:08am

Suz, the production company's website says it's going to be on Omni in Alberta in November, but there's no date. Nature's Invitation

On many of the hikes, scrambles and snowshoes I lead for the Calgary Outdoor Recreation Association I'm the only person who was born in Canada. On my last foray up Mt. Murray, there was a couple who immigrated from Poland, a Ph.D. student from Russia, an Iraqi and only two other people born in Canada. In my experience, people born here either take the Rockies for granted and/or harbor more fear of them (mountain lions and ticks and bears, oh my!) than those who come from elsewhere and choose to make Canada home.

Comment by Suz Lipman on October 19, 2012 at 8:40am

Thought this might be of interest -

A new documentary, "Nature 's Invitation", explores wilderness through Canadian immigrants' eyes and features Parks Canada, Richard Louv, Robert Bateman and others.  It just aired on Ontario TV. I'm wondering if anyone has info about future screenings.

http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/natures_invitation_wil...

Comment by Mark Yearwood on September 25, 2012 at 7:42am

Hello Everyone!

I am excited to introduce to you Kids In the Woods Initiative--K.I.W.I. As Founder & Executive Director of K.I.W.I., I hope that we can count on your support!  Please visit our Fundraising Campaign here: http://www.indiegogo.com/KIWI-fund?a=1209704

Kids In the Woods Initiative is a nonprofit organization dedicated to reconnecting children and youth to nature through adventure-play and mentoring in natural and wild outdoor spaces. Through year-round programming in Toronto's Rouge Valley Park, K.I.W.I. will take participants on a journey of "discovery from the outside in."

Why support K.I.W.I. ? 

There is a growing body of scholarly research that has linked a lack of play in natural outdoor spaces within child and youth populations to increases in diabetes, depression, obesity, poor academic performance, attention difficulties, as well as aggression and stress.  Collectively, these negative outcomes have been referred to by the best-selling author Richard Louv, in his book Last Child in the Woods, as "Nature-Deficit Disorder".  The research calls for one prescription: regular time spent playing in nature! 

In addition to the physical benefits of exercise, nature play can help increase self-esteem, self-discipline, and provide benefits for psychological, emotional and spiritual well-being.

With your support, together we can make the Kids In the Woods Initiative a resounding success for children & youth in Toronto & the GTA as they go on a journey fulfilling our motto of  "Discovery From the Outside In"!  

How Can You Help?

K.I.W.I. has launched a fundraising campaign with Indiegogo.com to help fund our innovative programming.  In recognition of your financial support, your name will be listed on our website in our "Tree of Discovery" at one of three levels.  Your kind donation of $25 will make you one of our "Budding" donors, while a donation of $100 will make you a "Spring Leaf" donor, and a donation of $1000 will make you a "Founding Branch" donor. http://www.indiegogo.com/KIWI-fund?a=1209704

If financial support is not something you can offer right now, please help us spread the word about K.I.W.I. by telling everyone you know about this project.  Don't forget to share this campaign using your social networks. 

Thank you for your time, consideration and support!

Mark Yearwood

Founder & Executive Director

Kids In the Woods Initiative

~discovery from the outside in~ ™

Comment by Suz Lipman on July 18, 2012 at 5:30pm

Hi Everyone,

Richard Louv is going to be on CTVs Canada AM show tomorrow morning at 8:05 AM ET discussing nature-deficit disorder!‬

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