It's hard to find words to…

It's hard to find words to explain the importance of being able to access outdoor climbing. One of the first times I took my children climbing outside was at Devil's Glen. It was in the fall and the leaves were all changing. The children had an amazing day outside, climbing a little and spending the entire day in nature. My daughter said "I love being outside. I love nature". My husband and I shared a love for climbing for many years before having children. Across Canada, in the US, in Europe. We are fortunate to have had that experience and to be able to share it with our children.

We are trying to instil in our children a love for the outdoors, an appreciation for the environment and an understanding that it is our job to be stewards of the land we are on. Respecting nature, being active in it, observing the delicate balance is so important if we want nature in our future. The only way to do this is to continue to provide access to places like Devil's Glen so we can teach our children to love nature.

Being able to take children to the outdoors to special places encourages an understanding of sustainability and environmental protection which is sorely needed right now.

Climbing encourages all of these things, as well as physical and mental health. Spending time in nature is a natural antidepressant and climbing releases endorphins.

Restricting access to natural areas will only discourage this love of nature and the natural world. To preserve its beauty, it must be seen and experienced to be understood.