Stewardship for Kids

It is never too early to start learning about the environment and the importance of being a good steward to our environment.  The environment is everything around us including air, soil, water, plants, and animals.  

 

Some ideas to engage your children in the environment: 

• Recycle

• Hike (and pick up garbage along the way)

• Explore the bottom of the lake (safely/supervised: with a mask … snorkel).

• Explain the importance of aquatic plants (e.g. food for turtles; safe places for fish)

• Learn about the types of trees and plants (and how they are important)

 

A scavenger hunt is a great way to get outside and enjoy nature. Write up a list of things you’re sure to find around the cottage (for example, leaves - oak, maple, poplar, birch, etc.), acorns, pine cones, sticks, birds, clouds, etc.).  Go for a hike and have the kids search for the items on the list.  If you want more ideas, here is one example https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/440508407283435154/

Or, check these out:

Simple Scavenger hunt 

https://www.natureconservancy.ca/assets/documents/mb/Scavenger-Hunt-urban.pdf 

Plant Scavenger Hunt

https://www.natureconservancy.ca/assets/documents/mb/Plant-Scavenger-Hunt.pdf 

 

Colouring and activity books are educational and fun

Invasive Species: Clean, Drain, and Dry Activity Book: https://canadainvasives.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/CCIS-Clean-Drain-Dry-Activity-Book-English.pdf

 

Learn about turtles

https://ontarioturtle.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/OTCC-My-Turtle-Booklet.pdf

Here are some cool videos: https://www.turtleguardians.com/turtle-guardians-curricula-videos/

 

We have a wonderful variety of birds:

• Birds: how to get kids birding - https://www.audubon.org/news/easy-ways-get-kids-birding

• Do you want to hear the different sounds songbirds make?  Check out this cool interactive poster from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Simply click on a bird to hear its unique tune:  https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/mcvmagazine/bird_songs_interactive/index.html?mc_cid=81da42593a&mc_eid=756a8238e1

• And more bird sounds with some beautiful photos: https://pathwayproject.ca/2023/03/28/soundsofspring/?mc_cid=867ec314f8&mc_eid=756a8238e1

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Frogs

• Learn to recognize the different frog calls here:     https://pathwayproject.ca/2023/03/28/springfrogcalls/mc_cid=867ec314f8&mc_eid=756a8238e1

• Here is a fun video on how to draw a frog: https://youtu.be/n_kovglf_eM

 

Websites with ideas

Pathway to Stewardship & Kinship is a foundation for nurturing healthy and engaged children and youth: https://pathwayproject.ca

Nature Conservancy Canada has a Kids Corner: https://www.natureconservancy.ca/en/what-you-can-do/bring-nature-home/kids-corner/

Bumble Bee colouring page: https://www.natureconservancy.ca/assets/documents/ab/Bumble-bee_colouring-page.pdf

Watersheds 

https://watersheds.ca/our-work/nature-discovery-programming/education-resources/?fbclid=IwAR1Uv2Xug1eRwhLma_ixNnnNrcm5DxUeE6IqfaeA-hTGyPj5feNSwrtGtdU

Summer Camp ideas

https://www.kawarthawildlifecentre.ca/wildlife-hero-summer-camp

https://campkawartha.ca