15 ways to inspire your kids to become nature-lovers

12. Take a trip to a countryside farm. Inquire if any of your acquaintances has a relative or a friend who makes their living as a farmer. Arrange to stop by for a visit, preferably in small groups, at a dairy farm during milking time (typically early morning or late afternoon/early evening), or tour a cash-crop farm during harvest season (late summer, early fall) to see how grain, hay or corn (for example) are harvested. When you return home, open the kitchen cupboards or refrigerator door with your kids and encourage them to identify what food products were produced by the crops and/or animals you visited that day.

13. Make a game to find the most birds. Invite the neighbourhood children into a fair-feathered competition with your kids. At the beginning of the year (or perhaps on the first day of spring), print out a checklist of birds that live in Canada (www.birdlist.org/canada.htm is a good resource). Check off each time you spot a species, and see who can spot the most bird visitors to Canada. The winners get an outing to a nature centre or environmental activity of their choice.

14. Plan an eco-friendly birthday activity for your son or daughter. When you host a daytime party for your child and about 10 of his or her best friends, why not include a friendly "clean up the neighbourhood" activity as part of the festivities. Break the kids up into groups of two or three, give each a recyclable bag and see which "Green Team" can collect the most litter off the neighbourhood streets within 15 minutes. This not only teaches children about pollution and taking care of nature, but also helps burn off some of that hyper energy!

15. Enjoy a Sunday hike with a local hiking club. Get your kids to plant their feet in nature. Not only will they appreciate the changes in vegetation that accompany changes in terrain, but they'll also get great exercise. Organizations such as the Bruce Trail Club offer family-friendly hikes suitable for children.

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