In a very basic way, play, exploration, work and contemplation in nature provides children the opportunities whereby a personal relationship with nature can form. When children are given the opportunity to form an intimate connection with the earth through consistent self-directed experiences a certain strengthening occurs within them – in their confidence, motor abilities and knowing about the greater cycles of birth and death, of sowing and reaping, of caring for and feasting off of the land and, over time, of creating a relationship with life and all that it offers. As we grow older, the pure joy and wonder is supplemented with our natural curiosity to know more through intellectual understanding.
We’ve all seen children flap their arms when a bird passes, twirl around when leaves fall, dance like dervishes when the winds pick up and embody a myriad of different animals. When we observe young children, we can see that they not only want to be in nature, but it is as if they are a part of it or better said, they experience nature as if they are it. For young children this connection is easily fostered through their own pure joy and wonder in the ever-changing, dynamic, beautiful living earth. Daily guided tours are available as well–a great way to learn about tree identification, sustainable eco-tourism, the area’s unique ecosystems, and the Indigenous cultural use of plants.The connection young children feel with nature is innate whether it is with the fluttering butterflies, the delicate yellow blossoms of spring, the mighty oaks, a mud puddle, scampering squirrels or the first snow fall. For a bird’s eye view of the forest floor, head to the Greenheart Tree Walk in UBC, where suspended walkways and treetop platforms provide a new perspective of the trees.
Take an Indigenous-led Talking Trees tour through the area and learn about the people and the land that existed long before the area became what we now know as Stanley Park. Trek through the treesĪs one of North America’s largest urban green spaces, Stanley Park wows with endless wildlife and woodland to explore.
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Download a “Blossom Map” and stroll through the streets, taking in the natural beauty of the over 43,000 cherry trees found along the way. And Spring in Vancouver wouldn’t be complete without basking in the city’s blush-coloured trees during the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival. Head to the Chilliwack Tulip Festival, the largest tulip festival in Western Canada, where you can tiptoe through more than 20 acres of colourful tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths.
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This month, flower festivals are in full bloom around Metro Vancouver. Photo by Ethan Cairns/Vancouver Is Awesome Frolic in the flowers Swing by the incredible flower fields during the Chilliwack Tulip Festival. They provide hands-on experiences for kids, such as the “Let’s Plant for the Bees” workshop that focuses on what pollinators need to survive, and how we can help by planting bee-friendly plants. Campbell’s Gold, located in Abbotsford, is a family-owned honey farm and meadery that also offers great tours, workshops, and events. Befriend the beesīC is buzzing with beekeepers and apiaries, and many are open to providing private tours so you can see how it all works and learn why pollinators are so important for our planet. At this time of year, beautiful birds such as Fox Sparrows, Brown-headed Cowbirds, and Green-winged Teals can be spotted frolicking and flying in the area. Take a self-guided birdwatching tour along the South Fraser Bird Trail (part of the larger BC Bird Trail), and wander along the marshlands and waterways of Delta, Richmond, and Surrey while spotting the diverse range of bird species of Sea Island. Browse for birds Take a stroll along the South Fraser Bird Trail, part of the BC Bird Trail. Sure, the famed 1960s tune by Jewel Akens may be about love, but the lyrics can also act as inspiration for outdoor exploration–a checklist of sorts for curious kids who want to learn more about nature and how it impacts the world around us.įrom B.C.’s abundance of bird species to the importance of bees to the flowers that flourish in our own backyard, to the trees that are speckled throughout our region’s landscape, these nature-immersive activities will keep kids engaged as they learn about the finest flora and fauna found throughout Metro Vancouver. “Let me tell ya ‘bout the bird and the bees and the flowers and the trees…”