Quality Daycare and Summer Camp Programming That Connects Kids to Nature
We bring everything you need for a fun and educational outdoor learning workshop in your local green space!
The program is led by Environmental Educator Carly Gray, a certified teacher who has a decade of experience working with children in schools and as a day camp counsellor and dance instructor.
CPAWS Manitoba taught 14,938 children and students about Manitoba's wildlife and natural wonders through 733 place-based outdoor education workshops, field trips and activities from May 2021 to March 31, 2024. We look forward to helping many more children connect to nature in the months and years to come.
Our 2024 daycare offerings included:
- Little Wigglers
- Little Explorers
- Animals of Manitoba
- Nature Mindfulness
Workshops are offered at the subsidized rate of $75 (+tax) for the first workshop and $25 (+tax) for subsequent workshops, thanks to the generous support of our funders. We can provide a maximum of 5 workshops per day.
Program Offerings Summer 2024
Little Wigglers
Bugs can be new, different, and sometimes scary. This program is designed to help children build a positive relationship with insects and spark curiosity in the natural world! In this preschool program, children will inspect nature through a scavenger hunt and pay very close attention to the little critters around them. Children will explore the microscopic world through song, movement, and exploration, followed by a nature-themed craft.
Ages 2-5, 45 minutes
Little Explorers
Our preschool program is designed with the little explorers in mind. Children will embark on a scavenger hunt as they notice and collect things found in nature. They will have an opportunity to share their findings as they explore the interconnectedness of the natural world. We
will move and groove with mindful movement and animal sound exploration, followed by a nature-themed craft.
Ages 2-5, 45 minutes
Animals of Manitoba
Calling all animal enthusiasts!
In this workshop, children will learn about Manitoba animals and how they move! Children will use a kid-friendly field guide while looking for animal tracks in their greenspace. Don’t worry, we will bring the tracks! Through group games and movement activities, we will explore predator/prey dynamics, adaptations, and what animals need to survive… and thrive!
Ages 6-12, 60 minutes
Nature Mindfulness
In this workshop, children are invited to connect to the present moment through mindful movement and learning breathing techniques to bring calm to the mind and body. We will move through your greenspace on a sensory nature walk where children are encouraged to use their senses to take in and explore the world around them. Children will design their own nature journals that comes with additional activities so they can deepen their relationship with nature even after the workshop!
Ages 6-12, 60 minutes
Join the Fun
Summer 2021 daycare offerings included scavenger hunts, nature mindfulness, and learning about Manitoba plants and animals. Watch this video to see how much fun everyone had!
How Does Spending Time Outdoors Improve Our Well-Being?
There is a wide array of evidence that shows spending time in nature improves mental and physical health, boosts immunity, and reduces risk of disease.
Connecting with the natural world has also been shown to improve sleep and augment vitamin D levels. And it boosts endorphin levels and dopamine production, which promotes happiness.
Healthy forests, lakes, and wetlands are also working to protect our physical health even when we’re not out in nature. They clean our air, filter our water, and act as a protective shield against the worsening impacts of climate change.
Safety Protocols
CPAWS Manitoba takes the safety of all program participants seriously.
All CPAWS Manitoba staff members have cleared a criminal record and vulnerable sector background check with the Winnipeg Police Department.
CPAWS policy requires that at least one person leading programming which may involve children must be certified in first aid. This applies to staff or to volunteers.
Supporters
This programming was made possible thanks to the generous support of: The Province of Manitoba’s Building Sustainable Communities Program; The Conservation Trust, a Manitoba Climate and Green Plan Initiative delivered by the Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation; Eco Canada; The Winnipeg Foundation; TD Friends of the Environment Foundation; Telus Friendly Future Foundation.
