Best Practices

• Author(s): Anna Bowden, Lucy Band, Brad Gray

• Organization: Planet Ark (http://planetark.org/)

• Date Published: January 1, 2011

In March 2011, Planet Ark commissioned an independent study to investigate childhood interaction with nature and how this interaction is changing. The research was conducted by Pollinate, a specialist communications research company, and was sponsored by Toyota Australia. This report presents the results of this research but also draws on the work and key findings from the 2004 study, An Investigation of the Status of Outdoor Play, conducted by Rhonda Clements of Hofstra University, New York, which looked at the extent to which children in the USA participate in active outdoor play compared with the previous generation. The Planet Ark commissioned research sought to replicate this American study in an Australian context, focusing on the levels of current childhood outside activity compared with the previous generation, as well as the perceptions of the benefits of outdoor activity, the barriers to outside play and people’s understanding of National Tree Day. This report also discusses the benefits for children that come from active outdoor play, drawn from the growing body of research around this field of study. Additionally, this report seeks to provide a range of practical solutions that parents and caregivers can integrate into a regular routine to help reunite children with nature.

http://treeday.planetark.org/documents/doc-534-climbing-trees-research-report-2011-07-13-final.pdf

• Author(s): Richard Louv

• Organization: Chldren and Nature Network

• Date Published: June 10, 2015

Libraries exist in every kind of neighborhood; they already serve as community hubs; they’re often supported by Friends groups; they have existing resources (nature books); they’e often more flexible than schools; they’re known for being safe and they’re the perfect, if unexpected, institution to connect people to nature. As a parent, teacher, community or, of course, librarian, you can build community support for turning a local and regional library into a Natural Library (or Naturebrary or Nature-Smart Library, as some folks call them).

This article provides some suggestions for what parents, conservation groups, librarians and others can do to create a nature-smart library, drawn from St. Paul and other cities in the USA.

http://www.childrenandnature.org/2015/06/09/welcome-to-the-natural-library-the-essential-role-of-libraries-in-creating-nature-rich-communities/?utm_source=Children+%26+Nature+Network+Subscriptions&utm_campaign=c9b1101b4f-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=emai

• Organization: Footprints Conservation Society http://footprintseducation.org/
• Date Published: January 2, 2014

Footprints Conservation Society is continuously putting together educational programs for children to further the awareness of environmental issues. The programs are designed as fun, interactive lessons that provide children with information and support to make educated choices about how they affect their environment and provide them with the tools to create a healthier lifestyle for themselves and future generations. Environmental Education Programs are currently based in Vancouver, BC.

http://footprintseducation.org/kidz-zone/

• Author(s): Children and Nature Alliance of Canada (http://childnature.ca/ )

• Organization: Children and Nature Alliance of Canada (http://childnature.ca/ )

• Date Published: January 1, 2012

Forest School Canada is a national initiative to promote nature-based education in the early years and beyond. We offer a nationally certified Forest School training program, consulting, policy development, and research. Additionally, we identify and support lab schools as centres of best practice to further support educators in re-orienting their practice towards outdoor, sustainable, and nature-based learning.

The Natural Leaders Alliance is a youth-led initiative of the Child and Nature Alliance that empowers young Canadians who recognize the importance of spending time outdoors, and who want to help engage their communities in nature.

http://childnature.ca/natural-leaders-alliance

• Author(s): Alberta Parks and Recreation Association (http://arpaonline.ca/)

• Organization: Alberta Parks and Recreation Association (http://arpaonline.ca/)

• Date Published: January 1, 2012

At Gateway to Nature, we believe time spent in nature results in healthier and happier people! The Gateway To Nature app, includes Videos from various Alberta Parks. There is also an album Songs for the Willmore that includes eleven tracks that you can enjoy. Some of the videos and music tracks are free. All profits from the sale of this album go to support children and nature programming.

https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/gatewaytonature/id511061370?mt=8

• Author(s): Geocaching (http://www.geocaching.com/)

• Organization: Geocaching (http://www.geocaching.com/)

“Geocaching is a worldwide outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices. Participants navigate to a specific set of GPS coordinates and then attempt to find the geocache (container) hidden at that location. This activity has grown in popularity over the past decade, and is supported by Parks Canada who have published a guide to geocaching at: http://www.pc.gc.ca/docs/pc/guide/geocache/geocache1.aspx.”

http://www.geocaching.com/guide/

• Organization: HCTF Education
• Date Published: January 6, 2014

This new educator’s guide supports teachers in getting their students outside and engaged in experiencing the outdoor classroom. Activities include hands-on mapping, cultural explorations of special places, values exploration and secondary level projects.

https://hctfeducation.ca/product/get-outdoors/

• Organization: Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society http://cpaws.org/
• Date Published: January 2, 2014

“Get Outside BC is a collaborative youth leadership project that aims to strengthen youth attachment to British Columbia’s wilderness by empowering young leaders across the province. The project is a collaborative effort between CPAWS-BC, BC Parks, Mountain Equipment Co-op and Child and Nature Alliance of Canada.Rather than providing a one-time experience, Get Outside BC aims to provide youth with the tools and resources to develop an enduring connection to the outdoors and a lifelong identity as a natural leader. “

http://www.getoutsidebc.ca/