ABOUT US
You don’t have to go far away, Nature is NEAR !
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Nature’s NEAR is a new Halton District School Board Outdoor and Environmental Education Initiative that launched in January 2020. The Initiative is led by Naturalist and Outdoor Educator, Grishnavie Sivasundaram, alongside a small team of High School Co-op students who design and run unique environmental education programs for Grades 4 - 6. The programs are delivered in elementary schoolyards across Halton - It’s a field trip that comes to you! Nature’s NEAR aims to connect students and teachers to the natural wonders right at their doorstep and help them see their schoolyard in a whole new light!
OUR MISSION
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to provide positive outdoor experiential experiences that deepen students' connection and understanding of their local environment in the hopes they grow up wanting to protect it.
Students, both elementary and secondary, are feeling the burden and pressure of climate change. They are bombarded with constant doom and gloom news about how humans are harming the environment. For awhile, people have thought that scaring and guilting people with dreadful news and visuals is the most effective way to motivate them to engage in climate action, when in reality, research shows that fear and anxiety causes humans to freeze, give up, and withdraw from taking action. Instead, we must change the narrative to one of hope, empowerment, and positive action. And that is what Nature’s NEAR aims to do by fostering connection, community, and communication.
OUR JOURNEY
OUR JOURNEY
Ben
"11 grade, Hayden High School"
My story started pretty confusing. I am a high school student who was not really into nature. I liked going on hikes, enjoying the outdoors, but I never figured that I would like a specific “Nature” program, until I saw a Nature’s NEAR presentation that shifted my whole perspective on the topic.
This story stuck to me, I didn’t feel like I needed to be an expert, rather I would gain these skills over the course of the semester. Nothing was thrown at me all at once, just a learning experience along the way.
I never felt out of place, rather in a calm space where I feel like I can belong. Sometimes at the start I was questioning myself, is it really for me? But now I feel like this is my second home, of course it is for me!
It wasn’t about becoming a “nature person” it was more about realizing I could try something different, and actually growing into it. This journey has been full of growth.
It started with a moment of curiosity, and grew into hundreds of learning opportunities and memories that will last a lifetime!
From one presentation, the ability to stick to me, ended up changing the course of my semester. This has been similar to the journey at Nature’s NEAR, there have been difficult moments, times where no one could keep up, times where everyone was putting in all their energy. Our team has stuck together and supported each other throughout the whole journey. Nothing has to be one person’s problem, we stick together as a team and accomplish things together as a team.
Each and every one of us enjoys seeing other people succeed with whatever they are working for, we are very supportive of each other, and the amount students we inspire is what keeps us going.
The way that we are able to complete tasks is amazing. We are all able to put full effort into a task, and with all different types of skills we each have, we can contribute in many different ways and perspectives that would be impossible for just one person to do.
Nature’s NEAR has been full of growing and learning, for everyone. We hope you consider joining our team as we continue to reach new goals each and every day!
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