Nature Canada is pleased to support Take Me Outside Day, an initiative that encourages educators and schools across Canada to extend its classroom outdoors and provide opportunities for students to explore and learn in an outdoor setting. It is a day to highlight the importance of spending time outside, being physically active and connecting with nature.

On October 24^th, teachers are encouraged to commit to taking students outside for at least an hour to engage in fun and creative activities. It can be as simple as extending recess, to spending the morning playing games and exploring in the schoolyard. Take Me Outside has developed a list of ideas and activities teachers can do with their students on their website.

This initiative is a great way to incorporate nature-based learning into the school day. One idea is to run a NatureBlitz in the schoolyard to engage students in hands-on learning about local biodiversity.

Nature Canada has developed a do-it-yourself Toolkit for educators to deliver NatureBlitz events and encourage students to explore nature in their schoolyard. The NatureBlitz Toolkit includes resources and activities grounded in the natural sciences that can be incorporated in a variety of curriculum objectives.

Take Me Outside Day aligns perfectly with our NatureHood program, which is all about connecting urban children and youth to nature right where they live – we call this nearby nature.  In your backyard, local park or schoolyard, you can find nature almost anywhere!

To learn more about Take Me Outside Day or to sign up, visit their website.