5 ways to connect youth to nature and climate this Earth Day

For us at The ChariTree Foundation, every day is Earth Day. We work every day to put children’s rights at the forefront of climate action to improve their education, health, and future. Today is the globally recognized Earth Day, and this year’s theme is “Invest in Our Planet,” ensuring everyone is accounted for and everyone is accountable in actions to protect nature and climate.

And these actions start in childhood.

Now more than ever, we must support a child’s ability to flourish amidst a changing climate to protect nature, improve their climate education, maintain infrastructures needed for their well-being, and secure their futures.

Empowering children and youth to be the climate leaders of tomorrow starts with climate literacy today.

5 Earth Day activities for children

1.) Outdoor learning

Children need time in nature to foster their physical and mental well-being. Taking the classroom outside to connect youth to nature and learn about climate change in a hands-on way transforms their understanding of the world around them.
We support national and international children’s outdoor education programs to develop youth’s environmental literacy and awareness of nature.

Children need time in nature to foster their physical and mental well-being. Taking the classroom outside to connect youth to nature and learn about climate change in a hands-on way transforms their understanding of the world around them.

We support national and international children’s outdoor education programs to develop youth’s environmental literacy and awareness of nature.


2.) Planting a wish tree

Children can plant wish trees to support current and future generations and take meaningful steps for climate action. A wish tree is simply any local, native tree seedling planted by children with a wish they make for the world.

3.) Reading books to inspire climate action

Reading gives children an opportunity to boost their environmental literacy while getting lost in storytelling. Here are some of 2023’s top sustainability books for children and youth:

4.) Going for a walk or hike in nature

Children need time in nature for their physical and mental health. Research has proven time spent outdoors decreases feelings of stress, sadness, and anxiety. Plus, time spent exploring nature helps children and youth build critical thinking, creativity,
resiliency, and social skills. Taking a walk, going for a run, hiking, or other forms of movement in nature helps children
connect with the outdoors and grow an appreciation for the natural world.

5.) Taking photos of nature

Head to your local park and take photos of the plants, trees, birds, and other animals. Seeing and experiencing nature and all those calling it home can help children connect to the environment and climate on a deeper level.

You can make a difference this Earth Day

The ChariTree Foundation is a Vancouver-based charity connecting local and international youth to climate education to help them survive and thrive today and lead a better tomorrow. Follow us on Twitter or donate today to help children survive and thrive in a changing climate.