Outdoor Parent — environmental news for adventurous families. Find eco-friendly news, photos and videos. Read the latest headlines covering climate change, conservation, animal and forest protection, environmental education, outdoor learning, recycling, pollution, children and youth climate actions and more. 100% TREE-FREE #greennews.
Outdoor Parent editor-in-chief: Andrea Koehle Jones
FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: Let’s Build More Outdoor Classrooms
CLIMATE EDUCATION FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: The ChariTree Foundation is helping build even more #OutdoorClassrooms. Apply by September 16, 2022 if your Canadian school or summer camp is building an outdoor classroom for environmental education programs for children and youth. Instructions here.
Kids are counting on Trudeau to protect oceans
Children can already see the impacts of climate change right here on the coast and they are worried. BOWEN ISLAND, B.C. — When Prime Minister Justin Trudeau launched an expanded oceans protection plan from Bowen Island last week, kids were watching. “There’s no time to wait. Let’s do all we can now to stop the…
COP15: Forest Habitats, biodiversity + animal habitat restoration
Kids love animals and they want to make sure animals always have safe places to call home. A great way to help endangered species and all animals is to protect their forest habitat. Forests are under-rated. They are crucial for life on earth and are home to 80% of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity. These complex ecosystems are…
Talking to children and teens about climate change
Help your kids be part of the solution by Andrea Koehle Jones. (EcoParent Magazine) “Climate change is the greatest threat facing humanity today and our kids will hear about it in school, on the news and from friends so I think it’s critical that we talk to them about it.” – Tzeporah Berman, environmentalist, author, and…
Trudeau launches a new wave of ocean protections during visit to Bowen Island
“It is so hopeful, especially for children and youth to learn about meaningful efforts to protect ocean biodiversity for future generations.” BOWEN ISLAND, B.C. — It was just last summer when the heat dome decimated starfish and shellfish populations up and down the BC coast. Today Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced new efforts to protect marine…
A forest walk with your child will never be the same: A book review of Suzanne Simard’s FINDING THE MOTHER TREE by Andrea Koehle Jones
By perceiving trees as possessing qualities we normally ascribe to intelligence and generosity, are we more willing to protect them? “When children can relate a forest to their own friendships and family relationships, then they will better understand that forests are connected and we are connected to nature as well.”— Suzanne Simard, Finding the Mother…
The world must halve emissions by 2030: IPCC report shows need for just and systemic transformation, fossil fuel phase-out
Climate Action Network – Réseau action climat (CAN-Rac) Canada Press Release For Immediate Release Unceded Algonquin Anishinaabe Territories [OTTAWA], 4 April 2022: Today’s report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) shows that a climate-safe, more just future is possible – but current governments’ plans won’t get us there. To limit global temperature rise to…
The ChariTree Foundation is at the United Nations General Assembly today
“Climate change is already a humanitarian crisis and kids are worried. Let’s grow inclusive and transformative free environmental education opportunities, especially for children and youth in regions hardest hit by the climate emergency,” said Andrea Koehle Jones, Founder, Executive Director and Children’s Climate Education Advocate, The ChariTree Foundation. “Stockholm+50 offers a powerful opportunity to prioritize…
Climate Education for children is essential to solving the climate crisis
Happy World Read Aloud Day! All over the world, authors, illustrators, teachers and librarians will read books to school students through the magic of the internet! In honour of #WRAD, Canadian children’s author + environmental education activist Andrea Koehle Jones will read her book, The Wish Trees: How Planting Trees Can Help Make the World…
Lessons from COP26: Climate education is critical for children to survive and thrive
“Without education, your children can never really meet the challenges they will face.” — Nelson Mandela GLASGOW — We must give children the climate education tools required to face the climate crisis. In these last hours of the United Nations Climate Change Conference, there is still hope that negotiators will prioritize climate education for children,…
The ChariTree Foundation is creating hope for kids at #COP26
“Let’s create hope so leaders can bridge their differences and take immediate positive action especially for children and youth. They are among the least responsible and most at risk from the impacts of the #ClimateEmergency.” — Andrea Koehle Jones, Founder and environmental education advocate, The ChariTree Foundation. Andrea is at #COP26 (The United Nations Climate…
The Wish Trees is a #2 Amazon Best Seller in Children’s Forest & Tree Books!
The Wish Trees: How Planting Trees Can Help Make the World a Better Place (2021 Kindle Edition) is a #2 Amazon Best Seller in Children’s Forest & Tree Books on Amazon.ca! This is TREE-mendous news as the author is giving away 100% of book profits from this popular children’s tree planting book to The ChariTree Foundation and other…
The Wish Trees children’s book is inspiring little tree planters and wishers everywhere.
A children’s tree planting book introduces young readers to the wonder of trees PRESS RELEASE | October 7, 2021 It is never too early to get children digging and planting trees. The Wish Trees: How Planting Trees Can Help Make the World a Better Place is an inspiring picture book for the youngest readers. Rooted…
Let’s give as many children as we can a free copy of The Wish Trees
The newly released expanded edition is tree-free + free on Kindle today until Oct 1. Calling all parents and teachers… Canadian author and children’s environmental education advocate is giving away free copies worldwide today until Oct 1, 2021. Please tell your friends with little babies, toddlers, preschoolers up to grade 2 – and anyone who…
Goodreads Book Giveaway: The Wish Trees (100 copies)
Announcing the release of the 2021 expanded edition of The Wish Trees: How Planting Trees Can Help Make the World a Better Place and to celebrate I’m giving away 100 Kindle copies to children, parents, teachers and anyone who loves trees. The Goodreads giveaway is open September 25, 2021 – October 25, 2021. Goodreads Book…
How protecting forests can safeguard us from future pandemics
Seeing the Forest for the Trees by Andrea Koehle Jones. (EcoParent Magazine, Spring 2021) Pandemics and Deforestation: Scientists warn the next deadly pandemic could be looming if we don’t take steps now to protect forests. Environmental journalist Andrea Koehle Jones investigates the connection between accelerating deforestation, biodiversity loss and pandemics. Pandemics like COVID-19 will happen more often if we…
Top 5 tips to get kids and teens plugged into the wonders of nature
These days many children have less time and fewer opportunities to connect with nature. This is a real loss because research shows that contact with nature makes kids feel better about themselves. #Adventure is a state of mind and a short hike near your home can be an incredible adventure your family will never forget. The most important thing is to #getoutdoors, explore and have fun!
Youth-led groups call for urgent action at the United Nations Youth Environment Assembly
Excited for The ChariTree Foundation to be participating in the planet’s largest youth-led environmental event. The United Nations Youth Environment Assembly (YEA 2021) is happening on Feb 12-13 | 18-20. Youth and youth focussed organizations like The ChariTree Foundation care about the world and want to help. “Millions of children are already impacted by climate…
Inspiring books to teach children environmental leadership
BY GREEN BOOK BLOG, 10 FEBRUARY, 2021 You are never to young or too small to help make the world a better place. I’ve dug-up three amazing nature books for children about environmental activism and how they can help take care of the planet. Kate, Who Tamed the Wind by LIZ GARTON SCANLON and Lee White LEE…
Protecting Environmental Education Programs for Children
“Organizations like Canada’s ChariTree Foundation are stepping-up to make sure outdoor learning opportunities continue and grow…”