Tips to Turn Your Child into a Nature-Lover

Eco-Dad Cam Collyer shares his tips for helping your kids connect with nature

Originally published July, 2009

By Shannon Phillips

Photo by Dave Biesse and Charlotte Leonard

Cam Collyer is director of Learning Grounds at Evergreen, a non-profit organization whose mandate is to help maintain and restore natural landscapes and to educate and encourage people to be environmentally friendly in their community. Here are his tips for planning a nature expedition your whole family can enjoy.

1 Prepare for the elements

Dress the kids, and yourself, in clothes you don’t mind mucking about in and bring an extra set along to change into for the drive home.

2 Hold off on “don’t”

Try to contain your own hesitations and allow kids to be open to new experiences and explore on their own terms. It will help them build good judgment with situations that involve risk.

3 Try something new

Take a barefoot walk in an area your sure won’t harm tender feet.

4 Bring a blindfold

Initiate games that introduce exploration through senses other than sight, like silently stalking the croak of a toad.

5 Try nature painting

Create art by rubbing colourful flower petals, different blades of grass, soil and decaying wood on a piece of paper. This is a great activity for little ones who don’t like getting dirty.

6 Bring a magnifying glass

Draw them into the miniature world of nature.

7 Plan a scavenger hunt

Prepare a list, designate a small area (about 20 feet) and have kids search out easy-to-find wildlife, plants, seeds and cones.

8 Connect nature with your child’s interests

If a child enjoys art, have him draw what he sees. If a child enjoys sports, encourage her to run around and make a map of the area.

9 Zone in

Stake out a square foot section of ground with popsicle sticks and connect the sticks with string; this will be your children’s miniature park or zoo. Have them get down on their bellies to scope out all the mini-beasts they find.