Three reasons why it’s important to study winter
Me, my husband and dog bundled up during the polar vortex (Photo courtesy of Meghan Duell)
We tend to think of winter in temperate regions as cold, maybe snowy, maybe grey and with short daylight hours. Maybe you hate winter because you dislike feeling cold, having chapped skin, driving on icy roads and...insert weather problem here...
Heard it from a Scout: Arctic action — a call for conservation
An aerial view of the Arctic landscape (Photo by NCC)
Each unique landscape in this world — whether it’s a forest, prairie, desert or the Arctic — plays a pivotal role in nature. The Arctic, in particular, supports a variety of flora and fauna while also helping to regulate global...
Learning to live with less
Living with less is more (Photo from Creative Commons CC 1.0)
Earlier this month, I started watching a reality show called Tidying Up with Marie Kondo on Netflix. In the show, Marie helps people declutter their homes in an effort to help improve their lives. To accomplish this, she teaches them how to apply...
Heard it from a Scout: Turning over a new leaf for forest conservation
Where better to start contributing to forest conservation than within the Scouting community, where youth strive to enjoy, explore and protect nature every day? (Photo by Scouts Canada)
What would a tire swing be without a branch to hang from? How about a summer picnic with no shade, or summer adventuring without camping in comforting forests? Scouts and nature lovers alike understand the feeling of calm and sense of home within...
Three ways to get closer to nature
Busenius Property, AB (Photo by Kyle Marquardt)
Canadians are more disconnected from nature than ever before. We spend more and more of our time indoors, and a large per cent of us live in an urban setting away from large natural areas. We’re losing touch with the natural world, one that...
It feels like I’m sending my kid to school ― grazing school
Dundurn property, SK (Photo by NCC)
So, back in July I was crashing through the bush trying to get back from the west boundary fence of the Dundurn property when I was hit with an analogy, along with a bunch of branches. I had an epiphany of how the Nature Conservancy of Canada...
Bringing nature to you: The power of houseplants
Office plants (Photo by J. Pilsack, Wikimedia Commons)
I’ve always loved plants. I like their colour, their smell and the feeling I get when I’m surrounded by them, both inside and outside the house. Last year, I started covering the entire windowsill of my bedroom with plants and...
Shopping local: A berry beneficial choice
Farmers' market (Photo by Erik Scheel, Pexels)
‘Tis the season You wake up on a lazy Saturday morning. The sun is shining, the grass is green and fresh produce is in season. It's time to make your way over to your nearest farmers' market to stock up on locally made and grown...
Heard it from a Scout: How we can take a LEAP for the environment
Hiking allows you to explore nature and get moving! (Photo courtesy Scouts Canada)
No matter who we are, where we live or what we do, we interact with the environment daily. For children, nature is often a playground. For some adults, it can be a place of silent refuge. Regardless of one’s relationship with the outdoors,...
Why you should send your kids to nature's summer school
People spending time in nature (Photo by Joe McFarlane/iStock)
Ahh, summer. A break from backpacks and lunches, homework and bedtime fights. But under the relief, there is a niggling thought about how Jack/Jane will spend their summer, and about how ready they will be for school in September. How about...
