Successful Applicant:
Sierra Club Canada Foundation (PEI Wild Child)
Award:
$4,125
Project Title:
Wild Child PEI Nature Immersion Program
Project Gallery:
Project Summary:
Wild Child is a free nature immersion program offered to children and caretakers in childcare centers across PEI and aims to inspire children's imagination and enthusiasm about being in nature which will in turn foster a sense of respect and responsibility for local wildlife and the environment. With the funding from the PEI Wildlife Conservation Fund, Sierra Club Canada Foundation - Atlantic Chapter was able to deliver Wild Child Nature Immersion programs to 12 centers across all three counties in PEI from November to March, reaching 287 kids with 4 visits to most centers (total of about 1,148 cumulative hours of getting kids into nature). Visits took place in Summerside, Hunter River, Scotchfort, Montague, and Charlottetown, with special training in Tignish to help the town start their own nature-based program for kids.
During these visits, we learned bird calls (chick-a-dee-dee, cheeeeseburgerrr), built bird nests, and followed bird, fox and rabbit tracks in the snow. We climbed trees, played Eagle Eye, picked up garbage, learnt what lichen is, built forts, learnt to tie knots, and made close-up observations of snowflakes and grass blades under magnifying lenses. We used all of our senses to identify trees, got wet, and created nature art!