February may be the shortest month of the year and at times can feel like the longest when winter hits hard. This year most of Canada has felt the effects of the Polar Vortex with cold weather and lots of snow. But the cold weather doesn’t mean you have to stay indoors, and Family Day is a great way to break out of hibernation and embrace nature in winter.

With kids spending more time on screens, making time for nature is more important than ever. Time spent in nature and being active outdoors is beneficial to children’s health and overall well-being. Spending time in nature is a great way to connect with family and friends, get moving and reap the health benefits.

Here are a few ideas to get you out exploring nature on Family Day:

Explore nearby nature

You don’t need to go far to explore nature. It can be as simple as going for a walk in your neighbourhood and observing how many birds you can see and hear. Bundle up and visit a local nature trail and look for signs of wildlife – watch for tracks in the snow and listen for woodpeckers knocking on trees.

Visit a provincial park

For those who want to venture out farther, many provincial parks have outdoor activities planned and equipment like snowshoes and cross-country skis available for rent. A number of provincial parks have Family Day nature events planned all weekend long.

Join the Great Backyard Bird Count (Feb 15-18, 2019)

Become a citizen scientist for a day and for at least 15 minutes tally the total number and different species of birds you see. You can count from anywhere for as long as you wish. Submit your findings using the easy-to-use app ebird and contribute to bird conservation. No matter what you decide, taking time to get into nature year-round is a great way to unplug and connect with friends and family.

For more tips on how to get into nature, download our TIP SHEET!