Importance Of Nature Pushed In New Parks Initiative (Video)

News Type: 
Blog Entries

A multi-jurisdiction initiative to re-connect Canadians with nature has launched.

The Nature Playbook is a set of guidelines and principles published by the Canadian Parks Council (CPC) based on research and consultation from an intergenerational, citizen-focused, cross-Canada working group. 

The CPC is an organization which brings together federal, provincial, and territorial parks agencies to work on projects. 

Chloe Dragon-Smith, Parks Interpreter with the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, leads the Northwest Territories' (NWT) implementation of The Nature Playbook initiative.

She has led workshops with children in the NWT to provide insight into the myriad benefits being in nature provides and instilling respect for the outdoors.

Check out this video for an idea of the valuable (and fun!) activities in the workshops. (Credit: Artless Collective

The playbook arose from Connecting Canadians With Nature, a collection of CPC research on the benefits of the outdoors, and the role parks in Canada can play in leveraging them. 

At the annual International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress in Honolulu, Hawaii on September 2-3, 2016,  The Nature Playbook was showcased to international audiences.

The showcase was a huge success, with the IUCN's #NatureForAll movement adopting the playbook as a Canadian and global best practice to inspire a new generation of thinkers and doers to connect with nature and take action to support its conservation.

The Government of the Northwest Territories will continue support for the program to encourage healthy lifestyles and growth in the conservation economy.