Island Parent Magazine Winter 2023

NATURENOTES
Making Nature Accessible to All
We all know the benefits of
getting outdoors and experiencing
nature. Many studies
show that time in nature reduces stress
and anxiety, promotes calm, promotes
healthy movement, can improve concentration,
lowers the risk of heart disease
and high blood pressure, etc, etc. The list
goes on and on. Of course, we all should
be getting outdoors and experiencing nature
on a regular basis.
Being in nature can be especially important
for children who are experiencing
challenges. Playing outdoors allows
children freedom, exploration, friendship
and fun. All children can and should experience
time spent enjoying nature.
Unfortunately enjoying nature isn’t as
easy for some as it is for others. For people
living with health, mobility, transportation,
socio-economic and/or a variety
of other challenges, getting into nature
isn’t as easy as walking out the door or
getting into the family car and heading
to the park. Challenges can deter families
and people from using what should be
easily accessible. That is why many local
parks and recreation departments are
working to make their parks more accessible
to everyone.
Making a park more accessible can
mean many things: it can mean looking
at local transportation connections;
building more accessible play structures
and trails; offering introductory tours of
parks; offering hikes with transportation
included or partnering with other organizations
to use their expertise. Making
a park more accessible can also be as
simple as communicating better to let the
public know what is available or to show
that there are ways to access a park or
trail that may not be the typical way.
Most newer play structures are now
built with differing abilities in mind.
Some are accessible to every ability, and
many have components that allow children
to play freely regardless of mobil-
ity challenges. The same can be said for
trails. There are trails and hikes all over
Vancouver Island that are accessible: offering
a flat grade, smooth path and tapping
rails for visually impaired, among
other amenities. The Lighthouse Country
Regional Trail in the Regional District of
Nanaimo is one of these, offering a 5km
out and back fully accessible trail that
meanders through the forest over bridges
and around trees. This trail is popular
with all ages and abilities and offers
families a natural trail that can be easily
walked or rolled by anyone.
Taking a tour or park orientation session
can help to reduce any stress and
answer any questions you have about the
park or trail. Many parks and recreation
departments offer these types of activities,
sometimes with staff and other times
in partnership with others. Look into
your local activity guide or call your local
parks and recreation department to see
what they have to offer.
OUTDOOR-FOCUSED PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS IN SAANICH
Full-year preschool registration for Sept. 2023-2024 starts Saturday, Feb 4 at 6am. In-person only.
Kiddie Capers
Forest Classroom
We are proud to offer this
program in our outdoor forest
classroom, with circle time,
crafts, educational field trips, seasonal
events and much more! Children learn
through hands-on exploration, shelter
building, forest play, science, painting,
music, story time and more! Our goal is to
prepare your child for kindergarten through
structured activities in our outdoor nature
environment. Minimum two days a week,
may register up to four days a week.
3-5yrs M-Th
3-5yrs M-Th
9–11am
11:15am-1:15pm
OPEN HOUSE SATURDAY, JANUARY 28
9am–10am, Saanich Commonwealth Place
Exploring Our
World Licensed
Preschool
Come explore with us!
Themes that are inspired by
your child’s interests, with a focus on
outdoor play, stories, science, arts and
crafts, music and dance. We offer a
developmentally appropriate, play-based
program with an emphasis on the whole
child’s development. This fosters growth
in each child’s emotional, social and
physical well-being.
3-5yrs M, W, F
3-5yrs Tu, Th
9am–12pm
9am-12pm
OPEN HOUSE SATURDAY, JANUARY 28
10:30–11:30am, Gordon Head Recreation Centre
E.C.O. Educating
Children Outside
Connecting through
nature-based full-year early
childhood education will help
foster a sense of wonder, curiosity
and imagination as children experience and
engage with the natural world around them.
Emergent and play-based curriculum,
ECO is a community partnership with
Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary.
4yrs M, W, F 9am–12pm
3yrs Tu, Th 9am–12pm
Spaces still
available for
Spring 2023
OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY, JANUARY 29
10:15–11:45am, Swan Lake (at Nature Sanctuary)
Visit saanich.ca/preschool for more information
PARKS, RECREATION
& COMMUNITY SERVICES
22 Island Parent Magazine IslandParent.ca