March 2025
Winter nature immersion at the Wildlife Centre
Written by Greg Lister, For Our Kids Ottawa- Gatineau
On February 24 we hosted our second annual Nature Discovery Workshop and snowshoe adventure with the Ottawa-Carleton Wildlife Centre. Our day began with one of our members being greeted by weasel in the parking lot and large fluffy mini pancake-sized flakes gently falling.
Our group meandered by snowshoe and sleigh on a trail through the woods while looking around at animal homes and listening to the surrounding wildlife. Awe-inspiring nature was in full action.
At our turnaround point a family of chickadees socialized while our group waited with seeds in hand. Nature is seldom hurried and no doubt best teacher of stick-to-itiveness.
Video credit: Nicole Merriman
Back at the centre we warmed up with hot chocolate and a presentation by Kate MacNeil, the Wildlife Centre's Educator to learn about some of the amazing species that we share our spaces with. The presentation included lots of pictures, videos and animal sounds.
The morning wrapped with a simple kids animal craft. It was obvious the imaginative budding artists in our group were up to the task.
And of course, several parents unleashed their own inner artisans putting paint brushes and markers onto the little circular wooden canvases.
Check out photos of our previous adventures at the Wildlife Centre with ways For Our Kids Ottawa-Gatineau is helping to protect our local wildlife.
We hope to see you at a For our Kids activity in the near future.
Stay tuned!
We are always looking for more volunteers so we can run more of these nature-based programming -- if you're interested, send us an email.
The Ottawa-Carleton Wildlife Centre has been educating people about wildlife and helping to foster an appreciation of the natural world for over 35 years. When we learn to coexist with other species it allows us to connect and enjoy the natural world. There is growing evidence of the benefits nature has to offer people of all ages. It is far reaching, encompassing mind, body and spirit.
Want to learn more about OCWC? Read their most recent newsletter!
