Spring 2011 Update

The Child and Nature Alliance would like to wish you a wonderful spring filled with plenty of time outside!  Below are a few recent updates from us and some of our amazing members.

Child and Nature Alliance Announcements

- Building on our collaborative leadership model, we have welcomed an amazing team of Directors to our Board - learn a bit more about them here.

- In March, the Child and Nature Alliance received Canadian charitable status! 

- Our Natural Leaders in BC and ON hosted Let's GO events as part of the Children and Nature Network's April campaign. What do you have planned?

- The Alliance's 2010 Annual Report has been released and can be found here.

- Our Facebook page is a great way to stay connected - be sure to become a fan!

- Our member map of Canada is growing, there's so much wonderful work happening across the country to connect children and families to nature - check it out and be sure to add your pin to the map and  see what's happening in your part of the country to promote outdoor play.

 Alliance Member Announcements

- CBC's The National profiled Carp Ridge Forest Preschool, founded and run by Alliance Board member, Marlene Power-Johnston.  Click here to watch this great clip about this all-day nature-based early childhood centre.  Evergreen's great work is also profiled by Alliance advisor, Cam Collyer!

- If you're an educator in Ontario, please go to ExperientialEducation.ca and participate in their survey about outdoor education in Ontario. They have big plans for their site and are looking for as much input as possible.  For more check out their video about the survey - http://vimeo.com/19683494   

- Colin Harris is running across Canada as part of his Take Me Outside project.  He's run almost 2000 km already and just crossed the Quebec border. Follow along as Colin and Sarah visit schools across the country to help kids and students connect with the outdoors! 

 Upcoming Events of Interest

- Our Honourary Chair and renowned author Richard Louv is speaking at  EPIC Vancouver on May 13-15, 2011. He'll be launching his new book, The Nature Principle: Human Restoration and The End of Nature-Deficit Disorder! We'll be there too, so be sure to stop by!

- 2nd Annual Places of Natural Discovery Conference, May 25th & 26th, 2011 - Humber College, Toronto. Keynote by Alliance Board Member Adam Bienenstock.

- Save the date for the Healthy by Nature Forum that we are co-hosting in Vancouver, BC on September 20-23, 2011 with Dr. William Bird and Gil Penalosa speaking about the human health benefits of time spent in nature.

Be sure to stay in touch and let us know about any great child/nature events coming up across Canada that we can help promote! Email us at info@childnature.ca.