Kick-off the Summer at Lethbridge’s Largest Outdoor Children’s Festival!
Time spent playing outside is an important part of growing up!
Lethbridge, Alberta – The Helen Schuler Nature Centre will host Nature Play Fest on Saturday, June 8 from 12:00 noon until 4:00 p.m. at Henderson Lake Park in Lethbridge. Everyone is encouraged to take part in the outdoor festival that will feature 20+ play-based activities hosted by several local community organizations.
“Nature Play Fest is about bringing people together to remind them how much fun and accessible outdoor play can be!” – Taylor Hecker, Program Leader at the Helen Schuler Nature Centre, “Spending time outside is critical to the mental, emotional, physical, and social well-being of all people.”
Spending time outside and engaging in outdoor nature-based play has never been more important. Connecting with nature on a regular basis is a fundamental requirement for healthy child development. Nature Play Fest will provide families with the opportunity to try diverse outdoor activities from kayaking to loose parts play! Activities are free for everyone to enjoy throughout the afternoon.
Attendees will have the chance to discover different outdoor activities – including:
Try Canoeing – High Level Canoes and Kayaks
Solar Observation – Lethbridge Astronomy Society
Try eBikes! – Bike Lane
Loose Parts Playground – Lethbridge College ECE Program
Mud Kitchen! – Family Centre
Nature Collages – YMCA of Lethbridge
Scavenger Hunts – Mommy Connections Lethbridge
Obstacle Course – Building Brains Together
Painting Activity – Yellow Fish Road
Giant Jenga – Tourism Lethbridge
Physical Literacy Games – Lethbridge Public Library
Nature Photo Booth & Rock Art – Helen Schuler Nature Centre
In addition, the event will also feature a Benefits of Nature Walk and Get Outside 101 signage between activity stations. This will showcase the many reasons spending time outside is beneficial for people at every age!
While Canadian children and youth are increasingly sedentary, they are also spending less time outside. According to the ParticipACTION Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth 2024, only 4 per cent of kids in Canada (5 to 17) are meeting the combined 24-Hour Movement Guidelines.
Outdoor and nature-based play opportunities should be promoted for their connection to increased physical activity levels, improved mental health outcomes, and to encourage children’s planetary connection and environmental stewardship. (https://www.participaction.com/the-science/children-and-youth-report-card/)
Research shows that connecting with nature is good for every aspect of human health and wellness. That’s true for every stage of life, from infancy to adulthood. The list of benefits is extensive – spanning mental wellness to physical and emotional health. Positive impacts from daily contact with nature may include: enhanced cognitive abilities, improved academic performance, increased physical activity, improved eyesight, improved social relations, and reduced stress, among many other benefits.
The community is encouraged to share their photos of what they are doing outside using the social media hashtags #NaturePlayFest #yql
