A hands-on day of adventure to improve your ability to lead and share an appreciation & understanding of nature with children & youth.


The aim of the Re-Connecting with Nature one-day workshop is to increase and strengthen the resource base in Nova Scotia of adult leaders who can help children and youth to spend more time appreciating, understanding and acting for the natural world while being physically active in the outdoors.

Increasingly, children and youth are spending more time isolated from nature while connected to the Internet, videogames, smart phones and other forms of technology. Young people are losing a connection to nature, and time in nature as a child is the strongest predictor of environmental sensitivity and willingness to protect nature as an adult. Young people are increasingly overweight and inactive, and spending time in nature on a frequent basis is one key element of a healthy, active lifestyle.

Competent, confident and safe leaders are essential to facilitate positive experiences in nature for children and youth. Leadership training is needed for a range of adults who work with young people so as to maximize the synergy and interconnections across a young person’s life. The workshop audience is diverse and includes youth group leaders, recreation and camp staff, teachers, early childhood educators, parents and concerned citizens. The aim is to increase leadership capacity in Nova Scotia in order to re-connect children and youth with nature. Most of the workshop will take place outside.

The workshop is offered through Hike Nova Scotia in partnership with the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness with support from Acadia University.

Workshop Goals

Participants in this workshop will have the opportunity to:

• understand the value and key concepts in reconnecting children and youth with nature.
• improve their skills in facilitating experiences in nature with others.
• identify valuable ideas, activities and resources for this work.
• have fun and get to know other resourceful people.
• strengthen networks of people committed to reconnecting others with nature.

The leadership team includes Dr. Alan Warner, George Taylor, Frank Gallant and Terri Peace, who have been designing and leading award-winning environmental education programs for all ages for more than 30 years.