Naturebag strikes GOLD!

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. And we didn't waste anytime 'getting to know' our fellow delegates. Immediately after registration we were given the choice of a wine tour, a birding expedition or a bike along the Kettle Valley railway. Sylvie and I opted for the biking and enjoyed 22km of stunning views over the Okanagon Lake and surrounding countryside.

Throughout the following two days we were given opportunities to find out what other initiatives exist across Canada that connect kids with nature, discuss how to move forward with a national strategy and how to work with the technology that exists that can actually encourage children outside. We met fantastic people representing Parks Canada, Scouts Canada, the US Forestry Service, the Nature Trust, The Canadian Wildlife Federation and many Get to Know partners.

And once all the talking and connecting, sharing of ideas was done we came away with confidence that Naturebag continues to play an important role in connecting families with nature.

This was then reaffirmed in the form of the GOLD medal award from Parent's Choice. Established in 1978, Parents’ Choice is the North America's oldest nonprofit guide to quality children's media and toys. Its purpose is to search out and recommend products that help kids grow - imaginatively, physically,morally, and mentally - fairly priced products that are fun, safe and socially sound. We are very proud that Naturebag received no less than a gold medal in its first foray into the world of recognition!

So with this week to reflect upon you can rest assured that we are as committed as ever to encouraging children outside to connect with nature. And now we have an even bigger network of like minded individuals and organisations to work with .... onwards and upwards and let's get outside!!!