outdoors

Plant a Monarch-friendly Garden

Set aside some space for nature and create a butterfly haven in your own backyard. Help Monarch butterflies with the plants and flowers they need to thrive.

Follow these guidelines for the most successful Monarch butterfly garden:

12 Ways to Make Your Backyard Bird-Friendly

Birds link us to the natural world every day of the year -- even in the most urban settings. Birds do so much for us. They keep our ecosystems running smoothly by controlling rodents and insect pests, scavenging wastes and pollinating plants. And there’s much to be learned by getting out the binoculars and watching common birds.

As our best-known group of living things, birds are easy to identify and count. The results, over time, show us where our environment is not what it used to be, and when the decline (or improvement) started happening.

WormWatch

You can watch an earthworm but it can’t watch you. That’s because it doesn’t have eyes. It doesn’t have ears to hear you, or a nose to smell you or hands to hold you. But you have all of those and that means you can be a WormWatcher.

Earthworms are nature’s great recyclers. They munch on debris, leave behind wonderful nutrients and make sure that the water reaches the roots of plants.

Category: 

Earth Day

Date: 
Sunday, April 22, 2012 (All day)

Today marks our annual celebration of the planet we live on. But did you know that Earth Day was originally conceived by an American senator as a teach-in - a practical, participatory, action-oriented day of learning about the environment? In 1990, Earth Day went global and is celebrated in more than 175 countries each year; in 2009, the United Nations officially recognized International Mother Earth Day on this date.

PlantWatch

Does a watched plant ever bloom? It sure does. And we need citizen scientists like you to tell us when that happens. The history of plant watching goes back over two hundred years! By watching and recording when selected plants bloom each spring, researchers can track the effects of global climate change in Canada.

Category: 

Connect with Nature: Sun Smart Tips for Outdoor Fun

The sun has made its reappearance in Ottawa this week, and it's got me thinking: how can I make the most of my time outside while staying safe from the harmful effects of the sun? After a bit of research, I found these great tips for enjoying my outdoor activities in the sun.

1. Wear protective clothing. Hats, sunglasses and loose-fitting, full-length shirts and pants are your best defense against the sun's rays. Make sure as much skin as possible is covered to limit your exposure.

Connect with Nature: It's Festival Season!

While there's something to love in every season in Canada, late spring holds a special treat - the start of so many outdoor festivals across the country! The nicer weather means that we can celebrate everything from music to food to art to the environment, all outdoors in beautiful spaces.

Connect with Nature: Celebrate Earth Day!

Today marks our annual celebration of the planet we live on. But did you know that Earth Day was originally conceived by an American senator as a teach-in - a practical, participatory, action-oriented day of learning about the environment? In 1990, Earth Day went global and is celebrated in more than 175 countries each year; in 2009, the United Nations officially recognized International Mother Earth Day on this date.

Connect with Nature: Get Outside and Get Active

According to a recent Statistics Canada study,

"just 15 per cent of adults are meeting the latest proposed guidelines in Canada for averaging 2 1/2 hours per week of moderate to vigorous activity. For children, just seven per cent are achieving the benchmark of at least one hour of activity per day."

Connect with Nature: Take a Winter Wildlife Walk

Gifts have been unwrapped. Holiday meals have been eaten. The spirit of the season has been shared with friends and family. What better way to relax after the festivities and reconnect with nature than with a winter wildlife walk?

Pages