Published on March 17, 2025 by Mac Rogers, Senior Program Officer | Evergreen
In all seasons and in all spaces, there’s always a way to connect with nature.
For many, the idea of nature still centres on remote wilderness — vast forests, sparkling lakes and landscapes untouched by city life. Too often, urban nature is overlooked, underfunded or treated as less important than the landscapes found beyond city limits. This way of thinking ignores the relationships that form when people engage deeply with the land right where they live. A backyard garden, a tree-lined street, a schoolyard or a patch of wildflowers growing between sidewalk cracks — each of these holds the potential for connection.
A 2023 report by Nature Canada, Race and Nature in the City, underscores what many already know: the nature woven into our cities is not just valuable — it’s essential.
For those living in urban areas, especially racialized communities, systemic barriers often stand in the way of meaningful outdoor experiences. Parks and natural spaces aren’t evenly distributed, and financial, cultural, and historical obstacles further shape who feels welcome in these places. How do we create equitable opportunities for everyone to connect with nature, regardless of background, circumstance or location?
We believe everyone deserves regular access to nature, even if they don’t live next to a forest. It starts with slowing down, noticing and engaging with the land, water and living things around us. In doing so, we’re not just creating opportunities for play and learning — we’re nurturing the care and responsibility needed to protect the places we call home.
So how do we embrace the wild in the city? That’s exactly what we explore in the Nature Play and Learning Lab at Evergreen Brick Works. In these dynamic, two-hour sessions, our facilitators lead hands-on experiences that help you bring outdoor play and learning to life for the children in your world — in every space and every season.
Want a sneak peek? Here are some of the approaches we teach in the lab. Read on, then head to the signup page to learn more.
The first step is simply noticing. We often think of nature as something distant — something we need to travel to. But when we slow down and pay attention, we begin to realize that nature is already all around us.
Nature connection routines: Encourage daily observations. What’s changing in the sky? What birds are passing through? How does the air feel today?
Listening walks: Instead of focusing on what you see, focus on what you hear. The wind in the trees, the hum of insects, even the sound of rain on pavement can be a gateway to deeper awareness.
Micro-exploration: A single tree, a garden bed or a patch of moss can be a whole world to explore. Use magnifying glasses, sketching or storytelling to dive deeper.
When we learn to notice nature in our everyday surroundings, we start to develop a sense of place. And when we feel connected to a place, we’re more likely to care about what happens to it. As the poet Mary Oliver wrote, “Attention is the beginning of devotion.”
Nature connection isn’t just about what you can see and hear — it’s also about what you can imagine and create. When we help children engage their imaginations, even the smallest spaces can transform into places of wonder.
Storytelling: Invite children to create stories about trees, animals or even the wind. Who lives under that rock? What adventure is that squirrel on?
Loose parts play: Leaves, sticks, acorns and stones become bird nests, a bear den or ingredients in a pretend feast.
Art in nature: Create land art using found objects or try painting with mud, making leaf rubbings or weaving with grasses.
Through storytelling and creative play, children learn to see nature as an interactive and dynamic part of the world — rather than something separate from them. This sense of relationship helps build empathy for the natural world, which is essential for environmental stewardship.
There’s no substitute for direct experiences. Children learn best when they do, and nature play is no different.
Use natural materials: Whether it’s making a shelter from sticks, grinding petals into “paint,” or simply playing with mud, engaging with natural materials builds confidence and connection.
Tune into the seasons: Each season brings new opportunities for sensory experiences — feeling the crunch of fall leaves, tracing frost patterns on a window or smelling the first blossoms of spring.
Unstructured outdoor play: Sometimes, the best thing we can do is step back and let children explore freely. Given time and space, they will instinctively find ways to engage with nature.
By incorporating natural experiences into everyday routines, we help children form lasting bonds with the natural world — bonds that don’t rely on proximity to wilderness. And when children feel that connection, they begin to see themselves as part of nature — not separate from it.
Helping children notice, imagine and experience nature isn’t just about play — it’s about building a foundation for care and action. When we give children opportunities to connect with the natural world, we’re not just creating fun learning experiences; we’re nurturing future advocates for the environment.
The more children feel connected to nature, the more likely they are to care about its protection. And that care doesn’t have to wait until adulthood. Kids can be powerful voices for change, whether it’s by helping plant gardens, participating in community clean-ups or simply asking important questions about how we take care of the places where they play.
While it’s important to help children connect with nature where they are, everyone deserves a place to experience nature — not just in small pockets, but in thriving, biodiverse landscapes. That’s why it’s just as important to advocate for nature-rich public places that work hard for the health of both people and planet.
