Nature education for children + youth so they can thrive today and lead tomorrow.
The ChariTree Foundation is a Vancouver-based charity connecting local and international youth to environmental education to help them survive and thrive today and lead a better tomorrow.
We are a United Nations Climate Observer Organization, putting children’s rights at the forefront of climate action to improve their education, health, and future. We believe in empowering young people to raise their voice on climate change through hands-on learning with outdoor classrooms, green camps, and advocacy.
Support youth today to become the environmental leaders of tomorrow.
The climate crisis is a child’s rights crisis
We are experiencing a first in history: a global generation of children are growing up in a world threatened by climate change. These children are the most affected by climate change, yet are the least responsible for the dual climate and nature loss.
The impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss affect the education, health, nutrition, and future of children around the world.
It’s never been more crucial to support a child’s ability to not only survive, but thrive and flourish amidst a changing climate.
Children are depending on urgent action to protect nature, improve their climate and biodiversity education, maintain infrastructures needed for their well-being, and secure their futures.
And when children and youth understand climate change and how it impacts them and the world they depend on, they make a lifelong commitment to protect the environment for themselves and future generations.
Climate action and nature protection starts with education.
That’s why The ChariTree Foundation’s national and international children’s school and summer camp climate education programs help kids develop environmental literacy, an appreciation for nature, and outdoor life skills.
It’s about supporting transformative, innovative and transdisciplinary education, formal and informal, at all levels, including science-policy interface studies and lifelong learning processes, recognizing diverse world views, values and knowledge systems of indigenous peoples and local communities. Learn more how we’re transforming climate education and climate action for youth.
Climate action supports children’s physical and mental well-being
Children and youth are more disconnected from nature than ever before.
They’re overscheduled between school, extracurriculars, volunteering, part-time jobs, and their social lives, making it difficult to carve out time to meaningfully connect to nature.
One in 7 youth in Canada are also struggling with a mental health issue, with anxiety being the most common. The lack of time spent outside is a contributing factor: youth spend nearly 8 hours a day with media, but are able to pack in almost 11 hours worth of content engagement thanks to multitasking across devices.
Children need nature
Regular time outdoors for their physical and mental health. Research has proven time spent in nature decreases feelings of stress, sadness, and anxiety.
Plus, time spent outdoors playing and exploring helps children and youth build critical thinking, creativity, resiliency, and social skills.
Time in nature can also strengthen youth’s physical health, from improved flexibility and lung strength to heart and bone health.
Connecting children and youth to nature through conservation projects, outdoor classrooms and hands-on learning supports their well-being, empowers them to become ambassadors for climate action, and builds their leadership skills.
Learn how we’re connecting youth to nature.