Posted Mon, 06/14/2010 - 09:15 by Katharine
Wow - what a week!!! For a start Sylvie and I got to spend it together having lived at opposite sides of the country for the past year. We headed off to Kelowna for the Get to Know International Unconference. This was a gathering to connect leaders in education, governance, research, business and grassroots activism who care about youth environmental education. We got to celebrate World Oceans Day (June 8th) with Wyland, Robert Bateman's 80th Birthday, and the 10th anniversary of the Get to Know Program.
Posted Mon, 05/31/2010 - 12:52 by Katharine
I was fortunate to sit down with Raffi last week and find out a little more about his Child Honouring Centre here on Salt Spring Island. It was wonderful to hear a little more about his Child Honouring vision and to understand more about the rationale and history behind the project.
Child Honoring is 'a children-first approach to healing communities and restoring ecosystems. It views how we regard and treat our young as the key to building a humane and sustainable world.'
Posted Wed, 04/21/2010 - 10:08 by Katharine
"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,
Nothing is going to get better. It's not."
Dr. Seuss -The Lorax
Take time to watch this celebration of planet earth, reflect and then consider your impact ... what more could you do
Posted Mon, 04/05/2010 - 15:52 by Katharine
It is wonderful when you hear such remarks from children who are engrossed in getting their hands dirty and up close and personal with nature - literally! This was my experience today as my sons and I started planting the first of our vegetables in our kitchen garden. When the chatter wasn't about the size and number of worms we were coming across it was about the menus they were going to create from all the harvest! Leek and potato soup seemed rather popular as well as who could grow the largest zucchini in time for the zucchini race at the Fall Fair later in the year!
Posted Sun, 03/21/2010 - 13:04 by Katharine
I have a wonderful friend whose facebook postings often include a list of the creatures he has seen that day..
'Oystercatchers in the fields and a marsh harrier over the house, two drake mandarins ...glaucous gull...two cranes...female marsh harrier and a ringtail hen harrier...daisies in flower on the lawn.'
Posted Mon, 03/08/2010 - 09:38 by Katharine
Yesterday my eldest son was on a mission - to return to a beach we had explored a few days earlier, this time clutching his fossil hunting kit put together by his geologist grandpa. In his wonderfully convincing 9 year old opinion, he had discovered an ichthyosaur vertebra and was determined to dig it out of the surrounding rock. My younger son got involved in the expedition as chief 'brusher' dusting away the chipped rock to keep the area clear for the task in hand. The banter between the two of them was wonderful - such enthusiasm and anticipation. Where was the rest of the sea monster?
Posted Tue, 02/09/2010 - 21:48 by Katharine
I love this very entertaining TED Talk by Sir Ken Robinson, author of 'The Element: How Finding your Passion Changes Everything'. He talks quite generally about the place of creativity in the public education system; how children are being educated away from creativity. As you listen you will quickly identify the role that getting children outside into nature can play in addressing the balance. Great stuff....
Posted Tue, 01/26/2010 - 13:54 by Katharine
How about making your own Valentine Cards and gifts this year from recycled seed paper. As well as caring for the environment you are sending a message that keeps on giving and growing! It is also loads of fun and a great family activity.
I met up with David Suzuki's Queen of Green and the resulting video below will show you how!
Posted Tue, 01/12/2010 - 12:26 by Katharine
Having recently moved to a new community, that of Salt Spring island BC, I was thrilled to discover and consequently join, a newly formed group dedicated to initiating a Transition Network on the Island.
Posted Sat, 12/05/2009 - 17:55 by Katharine
The Child and Nature Alliance is launched!
Sitting on the ferry to Victoria this week I was excited to be heading for the first AGM of the recently formed Child and Nature Alliance.
Heralding from the Get Outside Conference at Royal Roads University last March and inspired by the Child and Nature Network in the States,
