Ontario Children's Outdoor Charter

The newly developed Ontario Children's Outdoor Charter coincides well with my reading of Richard Louv's "Last Child in the Woods" (yes I am still reading away). 

Louv's belief that every child needs to have a connection with the outdoors is reinforced in the Charter's mantra that all children should participate in certain outdoor activities.

The proclamation that the Charter makes is that,

In Ontario, every child should
have the opportunity to: 

Follow a trail
Explore a park
Harvest something to eat
Swim in a lake
Paddle a canoe
Play in the snow
Build an outdoor fort
Visit a farm
Camp under the stars
Go fishing
Observe plants and wildlife
…Or create an outdoor adventure

I believe that it's a pretty comprehensive list, when it all comes down to it. I have vivid memories of completing all of the items on that list as a child including fishing with my grandma early in the morning at the cottage, sleeping under the stars in my backyard, hiking the boardwalks at Chesney Conservation Area and stealthily paddling the canoe to catch a glimpse of loon up close. Indeed, I continue to do many of these activities today (as my pictures from my hike this morning show).

Despite how comprehensive the list is, there are some nature activities that had a profound affect on me when I was a child that are not on the list.

The first item is: climbing trees.

My neighbourhood friends and I climbed the tree in my front yard religiously until the day that the city trimmed its branches, and we were no longer able to climb it. I think that climbing this tree brought me closer to my friends, closer to the nature in my yard and gave me fond memories of eating the trees leaves dipped in peanut butter (I was in the Parent Trap phase, where I wanted to test out what all tasted good with peanut butter besides Oreos).

The second is: sitting around a campfire cooking s'mores and listening to the bullfrogs croak and the crickets sing.

I can imagine that some of you may also have some favourite childhood nature activities not mentioned on this list. What are they? Are you going to do those activities with your children and grandchildren (or have you already passed the glories of these activities on to your next of kin?)

In the end, I suppose that these items we are thinking of that are missing from the list are probably included in the category: "create an outdoor adventure," but I think that it is always good to think back on our nature explorations as a kid. I hope that all kids will be able to look back on their nature experiences with fondness when they grow up.

-Susannah
------------------------

From my walk this morning at the Woodside National Historic Site:

It was my first time there, and it is a nice little treasure where William Lyon Mackenzie King grew up. I was amazed at all of the little wandering trails, benches and nicely incorporated human elements (i.e. the 10th Prime Minister's childhood house and a gazebo). There is a lot of nature on a smaller area of land that still allows for a nature escape without hiking very far. I want to return when the house is open for visitors (I am a history buff).


Find out more about the Ontario Children's Outdoor Charter at http://news.ontario.ca/mnr/en/2013/10/celebrating-the-new-ontario-childrens-outdoor-charter.html

Getting Back to Nature

[image from: http://eartheasy.com/bookreview_Last_Child.jpg]

During my undergraduate career, Richard Louv's "Last Child in the Woods," was continuously recommended as a must read for environmentalists. It wasn't until now that I finally found a copy at the library and cracked open the spine, and started reading. I am very grateful that I did start reading it, as it has been very insightful so far and makes me realize why I did a degree in Environmental Studies in the first place.

Over the past few months, I have been wondering about my life choices and whether or not I made the right ones, as I am amidst the world of the unemployed. The world where self-deprecation, self-pity and depression are rampant.

Today, I decided to make my connection to nature stronger by venturing out for a hike on my own. I wish I did things like this more often, and really I should. I proclaim to be a nature lover and have led canoe trips for many-many summers, but I still sometimes find the pull of the television and computer keeping me indoors.

Well, today I went hiking, and I am glad that I did. My senses were rejuvenated. I didn't need to take the nap that I thought I would- since I was awake since 6am with no particular agenda. I was inspired with the idea of volunteering to run outdoor programming for local schools. And many other ideas to help use my time more meaningfully, including going for a hike everyday (whether alone or with friends).

Speaking about living a meaningful life, despite having an amazing walk and being so happy that I was taking it, the longer I walked, the stronger this nagging sensation in my chest kept on saying, "Shouldn't I get back so I can apply to more jobs, don't I need to be doing this..." My everlasting mantra to do better kept on ticking.

One thing that I have learned from Richard Louv is that prioritizing nature in our lives is difficult, but necessary. I am going to commit myself to further connecting to nature in my urban environment by going for a hike daily, ran or shine.

This goal may be a little too optimistic, but it is better to hope for more than to expect less, right?

I hope that you get out hiking yourself!


Taking a hike for now,

Susannah

(Beautiful hiking in Minnesota, 2012)

New Blog Update

Why the New Blog? 

I decided to move my blog from tumblr to blogger, just because I couldn't do what I wanted to with the tumblr format (or at least figure out how to do it without buying a custom template). Instead, I moved over to blogger, which I think will work better for me.

I moved my blog entries and kept the same name (Self Sightings), so it should be the same thing.

I hope that you like it, too.

10 Things I have done since I Graduated from Teacher's College

I have been busy...

Part of the reason why I wanted to start writing a blog was to share my journey of finding a career as a teacher (and commit myself to this mission). I graduated with my Bachelor in Education from Lakehead University in June, and have since been giving myself a break, while applying for jobs. 

So far since graduating from Teacher’s college with teachables in Environmental Science and English at the Intermediate/ Senior level, I have: 

1. Taken my Intermediate Division, Geography ABQ

 [My final project for the course, creating an interdisciplinary unit. I did mine on the theme of moving. The picture is  of the title page.]

2. Cared for my grandmother, who broke her leg

3. Obtained my Ontario Certified Teacher (OCT) designation. You can now find me under “find a teacher” on the OCT website: http://www.oct.ca/findateacher/memberinfo?memberid=647228

4. Chaperoned a 15-day canoe trip for Grey Highlands Secondary School- where I did my second teaching placement 

5. Went on a trip to Costa Rica with my boyfriend (who got a black eye while white water 

rafting)

6. Volunteered for Dundas Street United’s Vacation Bible School

7. Worked for Trails Youth Initiatives, where I led two canoe trips. I will continue working with one of the groups for a weekend every month during the school year. 

8. Went on a five day backpacking trip in Algonquin Park & Completed my first mountain bike race (Paul's Dirty Enduro 30 km)

9. Have had one interview for a Section 23 Aboriginal Studies job, which unfortunately, I didn’t get. It put many smiles on my face to be given an interview. As a side note, I had originally been given an interview, which was cancelled and rescheduled because I wasn’t on the board’s occasional teaching list. I am happy to have had the experience, as it gave me hope for a future in the teaching profession. 

10. And of course, I am applying for  jobs, vigorously improving my resume, cover letter and job hunting techniques and awaiting another interview to come my way 

  

There have been times in the past 5 months where all I have wanted is any job, but I think my desire to have a job related to teaching is rekindling.

My end goal is to teach in the traditional classroom, but at the moment I am aiming for a job tutoring, to get on a supply list or any other education related job. There are probably so many education related jobs that could be perfect for me that I am totally unaware of. 

Like usual, the key is to keep my eyes on the prize, live my life to the fullest, and believe in myself.

Until next time,

Susannah 

[Taken from my original blog: http://selfsightings.tumblr.com/ written on October 17, 2013]

My Brother's take on "O Canada!"

A new use for our national anthem

My brother- perhaps, pondering about life

I find it funny that there is so much talk about our national anthem these days, as the thing is, my brother brought up those two controversial words sometime last month.

I got wind of my seven-year-old brother’s fascination with “O Canada” via my mother on the phone. And my dad retold the story to her.

According to my mom, my brother asked my dad if he had ever sung “O Canada.” My dad said, yes, of course he has, while he probably wondered where this was going. Then my brother told my dad to prove it and sing it for him. So my dad began singing our anthem- I imagine off-key, but regardless he belted it out at my brother’s insistence.

Until that is, my dad go to the now, famously emphasized words: “In all thy sons command,” and my brother made my dad stop. Then my brother triumphantly exclaimed, “See, it says all SONS command, not DADS command!”

[The lyrics to O Canada, from: http://www.jubileequeencruises.ca/images/ohcanadalyrics.jpg]

I can just imagine the gloat on my brother’s face, while my father was probably just taken aback. As really, it is an amazing play from my brother. Plus this is a discussion that will probably be laughed over for a while.

The real killer to me was when a couple weeks after my whole family has had a laugh over this event, that line my brother brought to our attention is all over the media. This time instead of showing that dads don’t command, it is woman and girls who are left out of the anthem.

Beyond my initial disbelief that these words were being brought to my attention again, I kind of wonder, why isn’t it “in all of us command”?

Regardless, we haven’t mentioned the proposed word change to my brother. I don’t know how he will take it…

[Originally published on the author's original blog: http://selfsightings.tumblr.com/ on October 10, 2013]