TL/DR –
The sixth annual Sharing Nature with Children event was held in Chocolay Township, Michigan, with the aim to introduce children to nature and its conservation. The event included activities such as a micro scavenger hunt, planting seeds, and observing aquatic insects. The Marquette Conservation District also gifted families free trees to grow, emphasising the theme of caring for nature from a young age.
Sharing Nature with Children Day Celebrated at Lakenenland Sculpture Park
Saturday afternoon saw families flock to Lakenenland Sculpture Park for the sixth annual Sharing Nature with Children event. The Earth Day celebration aimed to foster children’s love for nature through interactive outdoor activities.
Angela Miller-Porter, Director of Marquette-Alger RESA Great Start Collaborative, highlighted the importance of such initiatives. “People only care for what they love, and love for nature often originates in childhood,” she said.
Participants enjoyed grilled hot dogs and performances by the local band, Waawiyeyaa. Children partook in a micro scavenger hunt, seed planting activities, and even received free nature books from the Bookmobile.
Miller-Porter emphasized the necessity of outdoor playtime amidst the digital age. She stated, “Encouraging children to play in nature is more crucial now than ever.”
The event also promoted the idea of taking nature home, with the Marquette Conservation District providing families with free saplings like white pine and spruce for children to nurture and grow.
Christy Foye, Administrative Assistant at Marquette Conservation, stressed the importance of growing a love for nature, especially in the Upper Peninsula. “Kids connect with nature as they plant, nurture and care for these trees,” she said.
Additionally, Foye demonstrated stream samples to children to identify aquatic insects, igniting their curiosity about local ecosystems. She expressed her hope to instill environmental ethics in the participants.
Explore Natural Beauty Close to Home
“Just a few miles from home, children can discover beaches, streams, creeks or forests,” Foye suggested, emphasizing the accessibility of natural beauty surrounding their local area.
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