Earth play for Earth Day

Remember how you played as a child?

Did you spend a lot of time outside, building forts, climbing trees, inventing new games and get your hands dirty, without any grownups interfering?

This type of play is rapidly disappearing from our world.

Why does Earth Day Canada care so much, and why should you?

Because kids who don’t get outside, who aren’t stimulated by their environment, won’t grow up with any motivation to protect our planet. And kids who don’t connect to their inner nature through creative play won’t be as resilient as generations before them.

That’s why Earth Day Canada is dedicating this year’s campaign to outdoor play, asking everyone to “EarthPLAY for Earth Day.”

EarthPLAY is Earth Day Canada’s new program that protects and creates outdoor play opportunities for children and youth across Canada in schools, parks and on neighbourhood streets.

EarthPLAY works with educators, parents, local councillors and MPs, community groups and engaged citizens to integrate unstructured, outdoor free play into the day-to-day lives of children ages 5 to 15.

Launched on April 1, Earth Day Canada is raising money to support adventure playgrounds across Canada.

Donations earn entries into a draw to win a trip for four to the renowned adventure playground in Berkeley, California, as well as a prize pack featuring goods from EcoParent magazine, G Adventures, Patagonia and more.

Share a play memory and win

Earth Day Canada is encouraging people to share their play memories and vintage photos on social media.

Using the hashtages #PLAYmemory and #ED2017, people can share memories of playing outdoors.

“Think back to when you were growing up, to when you stayed out with your friends playing on the street until it got dark; when you had a favourite climbing tree in a nearby ravine; or when you got soaked playing Capture the Flag in the rain. Tell us what made it memorable, why you had so much fun, or even how it shaped who you are today,” the organization said in a press release.

Tag @Earthdaycanada on Facebook and Twitter.

Each person who shares a #PLAYmemory will be entered into a weekly draw to win a free digital subscription to EcoParent magazine.

Earth Day campaign

for schools

The EarthPLAY program for schools is called Outdoor Play and Learning (OPAL) and is focused on making sure there is allotted time, space and materials needed for enriched outdoor play during recess, lunch and after-school hours.

This year, Earth Day Canada is asking schools to “EarthPLAY for Earth Day” – either with an extra or extended recess, or by hosting a full day of Adventure Play.

All schools who register to take part will be entered to win a custom Play Fest.

Past programs

The 2016 Earth Day Canada campaign, Rooting4Trees, asked Canadians to pledge and plant a tree to grow the global forest. More than 5,000 trees planted.

The 2015 Earth Day Canada asked Canadians to celebrate “Earth Day Every Day” and clean their commute. Over 1,700 “acts of green” were logged for the campaign.

About Earth Day Canada

Celebrated every year on April 22, Earth Day is the largest environmental event in the world.

Founded in 1990, Earth Day Canada is a national charity that inspires and supports people across the country to connect with nature and build resilient communities.

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