I’ll admit to feeling a lot of despair over the past year – from deadly conflicts in various parts of the world, to the continued political divisiveness closer to home, to what could be the hottest year on record for the planet in the past 125,000 years. It’s sometimes difficult to find a sense of hope in this barrage of daily news.
Years ago, when I was just starting this work with Take Me Outside, I came across this Calvin and Hobbes cartoon. Perhaps it’s overly simplistic at some level, yet it contains a message that has consistently resonated with me and the work we’re trying to do. My interpretation of Calvin’s words is that if we spent a little more time outside, the world would be a better place. I understand the shortcomings of this sentiment; and while it’s not a singular answer to the issues we face, it does have an ounce of truth to it based on the research. It’s this growing evidence that gives me hope as we work to strengthen students’ and teachers’ relationships with the outdoors.
On behalf of our small team and our board of directors, we wish you a hopeful holiday season, and one that can include time outside with family and friends!
— Colin and the TMO team
“If a child never sees the stars, never has meaningful encounters with other species, never experiences the richness of nature, what happens to that child? Every child needs nature. Not just the ones with parents who appreciate nature. Not only those of a certain economic class or culture or gender or sexual identity or set of abilities. Every child.” — Richard Louv, author of ‘Last Child in the Woods’
Photo: Elder Christopher Stock and his daughter Keana opening Take Me Outside’s Ontario Educator Wellness Retreat in a good way Tomorrow, on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day, we invite non-Indigenous members of our Take Me Outside community to join in quiet reflection, self-education, and a re-commitment towards justice, as […]
Happy Pride Month! We have put together a Read, Watch, Listen guide featuring books, films, podcasts, resources, and accounts to explore. Plus some amazing outdoor opportunities to explore and celebrate Queer Ecology and creating safe spaces in the outdoors! Read For Educators Nature Needs a New Pronoun by Robin Wall Kimmer Evoluntion’s Rainbow by Joan […]
June is National Indigenous History Month, and June 21st is Indigenous Peoples’ Day! Below you will find a collection of favourite resources for integrating Indigenous Knowledge, perspectives, and history into your classroom. In addition, our friends over at the Outdoor Learning School and Store have put together a list of 30 recommended resources and learning […]