This is not a good idea for…

This is not a good idea for the following reason.

Over 485 000 Ontario students, from more than 4000 schools visit Ontario’s Conservation Authorities for education programming each year. An immense number. But, it fails to account for the numerous other organizations that participate in programming, and the community members served at events hosted by education teams at these organizations. When considered together, Conservation Authorities are the number one provider of outdoor and environmental education across North America.

Education teams at Conservation Authorities provide experiences to the next generation of environmental stewards. Fostering appreciation and curiosity about the world around us. Where will these youth have the opportunity to gain active, hands-on experiences in nature if these programs are not available?

But it isn’t just the experiences of our next conservation and environmental scientists that are of concern and important to note.

The physical, emotional, social, and mental health benefits of being outdoors has long been documented. Education programs at Conservation Authorities provide youth with safe ways to engage with nature, learn about their local environment, and- given the nature of today’s world, gain experiences they may not have otherwise. A mere decade or two a go, youth often spent countless hours active outdoors, be it in their own backyards or in community spaces. Today, the time youth spend doing physical activity, or not contained with 4 walls is miniscule.

Moreover, the interconnectedness today’s youth experience as a result of technology and social media can be overwhelming. Outdoor experiences help alleviate the fear of failure and anxiety of ridicule that youth face day-to-day. Disconnected, nature becomes a safe space to ask questions and not have answers. Youth become unafraid to make educated guesses, use deductive reasoning, and take a shot at answering: what kind of tree is this; what animal left these tracks behind; do you know who made that nest; what kind of bug will we find under this log; how can we better care for our environment and one another. Little questions beget big curiosity.

The child who never speaks, talks. The child who never settles, calms. The child that leads, follows. The child that trails, rises.

Nature has the power to transform.

If Education teams are reallocated, or their roles reduced, where will these youth gain these experiences? Where will they transform?

Do not discount the vital importance of these outdoor experiences, hands-on adventures, and lifelong memories. They are a foundation for not only our next environmental leaders, but a curious, compassionate society. They are the parents, the teachers, the members of parliament. They are the birders, the hikers, the paddlers, the gardeners, and the explorers. They are the thinkers, the creators, and the caretakers. They are people from all walks of life. For in nature, we are connected as a community, where all living beings are seen, recognized, and valued.