If you enjoy seeing kids and families having fun exploring their local nature, you’re in for a treat. We had a great time sifting through all the images that were sent to us throughout the year by parents and volunteers from across BC. Each image really tells its own story of fun times exploring and learning, all while being part of an amazing community of kids, families and volunteers who share a love of the outdoors.
With the help of our extended community of volunteers, members, donors and partners, NatureKids BC had a remarkable impact. This past year more than 3,000 children, parents and grandparents took part in 220 Explorer Days, citizen science initiatives, stewardship projects and other NatureKids BC activities; 187 volunteers gave more than 8,000 hours of their time, skills and experience; 60 volunteer nature club leaders organized and led monthly Explorer Days throughout BC; and around 100 nature mentors provided expertise in delivering Explorer Days.
Click here to read our 2017 annual report.
This year is proving no less busy and exciting, with new family clubs opening up, the recent launch of our new pollinator citizen science project and making NatureWILD magazine available to all elementary schools in BC as a complimentary contribution to help bring nature into the classroom.
The need for an organization like NatureKids BC has never been greater than it is today. Internationally a panic is spreading. Kids are spending too much time indoors and it has now become so extreme that this crisis has a name: nature deficit disorder. Young children are suffering from skyrocketing rates of obesity, attention deficit disorder, depression, short-sightedness and diabetes. Replacing screen time with outdoor time has been proven to help. NatureKids BC is the purveyor of off-line time, of time to connect with nature, with family and community where lasting memories are created.
We want to have an even greater impact by expanding our reach so we can do more – we want to reach more kids and families in communities all across BC and help connect them to a world of natural wonders and exploration.
We can’t do this without you. One of the best ways that you can support us in helping more families to get active outdoors and connected to the natural world where they live, is by becoming a monthly donor.
Monthly giving is the easiest and most efficient way to support NatureKids BC. Monthly payments let you have a larger impact by spreading out your donation across the entire year. You can start, change or stop your gift at any time. Your gift provides us with critical, predictable revenue that helps us plan and deliver programs that get more children playing, discovering and learning outside.
For as little as $10 per month, you can support NatureKids BC in getting more kids outdoors and connected with nature through our network of family nature clubs. As a monthly donor, you will receive a copy of NatureWILD magazine each quarter, regular e-news updates and a tax receipt once a year. If you prefer to make a one-time donation, this would help tremendously too.