Island Parent Magazine Winter 2023

More documents

Recommendations

Info

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 mobility 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
If transportation issues are what is holding you back from enjoying nature, there are solutions. Local parks and recreation centres are often on bus routes and can be accessed by the public. Busses often run close to or directly to parks and trails to make them more accessible and can be a fun mode of transport for young children with their caregivers. Look at your local transit area and see where busses run to see what you can access. For some of the harder to reach parks and trails, see if your recreation and parks department is offering transportation during their programs, or join a local group or school (many can be found via a quick google or social media search). Local groups sometimes offer rideshares or programs that include transportation. In addition to your local parks and recreation departments, there are many other resources within your communities that you can go to for help in accessing more natural areas. Child development centres and other local medical supply can have equipment that is available for rent and may have other resources. And always remember that even a little bit of nature works wonders: look out those windows, sit in the grass, feel the chill of the snow or splash in those puddles. Chrissie Finnie is a Recreation Coordinator, doing outdoor and parks programming in the Regional District of Nanaimo. In her spare time she loves getting out on the trails and into the mountains, skiing, running, hiking and exploring. rdn.bc.ca/parks and @RDNanaimo. Brighter Futures start at CATHEDRAL SCHOOL junior kindergarten kindergarten to grade 5 middle school grade 6-8 before & after school care renowned chorister program new strings program Christmas, spring & summer day camps Contact us for a personal consultation cathedralschool.ca 250.383.5125 affordable tuition & financial assistance available extracurricular programs building community leaders an intimate and supportive learning environment an inclusive welcoming community IslandParent.ca Winter 2023 23
Page 1 and 2: WINTER 2023 Vancouver Island’s Pa
Page 3 and 4: IslandParent.ca Winter 2023 3
Page 5 and 6: FASTFORWARD 7½ Spring Things to Do
Page 7 and 8: INSPIRING A NEW GENERATION ACADEMIC
Page 9 and 10: I ❤ ISLAND Check out these unique
Page 11 and 12: Ample Resources Private schools off
Page 13 and 14: the previous one. Once individual s
Page 15 and 16: LOCATION GRADES PHONE WEBSITE John
Page 17 and 18: her response was “it will be fun
Page 19 and 20: flying high above the ordinary litt
Page 21: 23. Locate Keeha Beach on a map. 24
Page 25 and 26: From preschool to grade 8, Selkirk
Page 27 and 28: Carrot Almond Soup When you’re ju
Page 29 and 30: and anything that prevents extra mo
Page 31 and 32: PRESCHOOL&CHILDCAREDIRECTORY v Comp
Page 33 and 34: & TWEENS TEENS Vol V, Ed I Job Sear
Page 35 and 36: would be choosing a mutually-agreea
Page 37 and 38: 5 Ways to Get Involved in Volunteer
Page 39 and 40: GORGE SOCCER Spring, Summer & Fall

Island Parent Magazine Winter 2023

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?