Wildsight’s Winter Wonder A Winner!

Outdoor Education Taking Off in Kootenays 

Cranbrook, B.C. — This year, Wildsight’s ‘Winter Wonder’ educational program wasn’t only wildly successful, it was the best yet.

“The success of this year’s Winter Wonder has been overwhelming,” says Wildsight Environmental Education Program Manager Monica Nissen. “It’s always encouraging to see how kids get excited when they get outside and learn.”

This year, ‘Winter Wonder’ provided 73 field trips, up from last year’s total of 49. The program was host to 1466 kindergarten to grade 3 students, 72 teachers, and 111 parent volunteers from East and West Kootenay communities.

The program is dedicated to connecting kids with the wonders of nature through first-hand experience, having fun, and learning about sustainability and the science of nature in the process. 

“Students spend too much time indoors these days,” says Linda Lynch, kindergarten teacher at J.V. Humphries School in Kaslo. “It’s great to put our five senses to use, to bring awareness to taking care of nature and observing signs of animals in action.”

Wildsight says this year’s program was so successful thanks to enthusiastic participants and supportive sponsors; Columbia Basin Trust, School Parent Advisory Councils and Shell Environment Fund.

“The program wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible support and interest we experienced,” says Nissen. “Thanks to everybody involved, I feel like we’re really making a difference in the health, happiness and awareness of Kootenay students.“

‘Winter Wonder’ is the first part in Wildsight’s three-part regional ‘Education in the Wild’ program: ‘Classroom with Outdoors’ offers full-day springtime ecosystem awareness field trips for grade 4 to 7 students; and ‘Go Wild’ provides grade 9 and 10 students with a multi-day backpacking adventure exploring land-use issues, youth leadership and sustainability. 

In his book, Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder, author Richard Louv suggests kids able to play outside frequently are smarter, more cooperative, happier and healthier.

“Louv is right. I’ve seen the magic happen for kids right before my eyes,” says Nissen. “Who wouldn’t be happier wearing snowpants and rosy cheeks?”