Note: The following giveaway is open to Canadians only.
This morning, I did something I swore I would never do: I checked the long-term forecast.
I know, I know – it’s not exactly a high crime to peek at the anticipated probability of precipitation. However, I’ve learned that I often schedule my life around the weather (“We can’t go to the park, it might rain!” or “I wish I could make it, but the humidity is too high next Tuesday”), so I’ve cautioned myself to ignore what the meteorologist is forecasting and simply GET OUTSIDE.
It’s been working for me. Earlier this summer, you’ll remember that I published a bucket list of family-oriented outdoor activities. Near the top of the list: a visit to Niagara Falls, as the boys are at an age where they can appreciate this wonder of the world, and I couldn’t think of a better connection to nature than feeling the cool mist of the falls on a hot summer day. We had so much fun, and can’t wait to return next year!
In fact, we crossed four other items off our Rediscover Nature Summer Bucket List, including picnicking by the lake, glamping in our backyard, riding our bikes in my childhood neighbourhood and spending a weekend in cottage country. We just missed fruit picking, but there’s always the opportunity to visit apple orchards in Fall!
So, what precipitated this keen interest in the outdoors? It’s all thanks to Nature Valley, who asked three separate generations one simple question: What did you do for fun as a kid?
Through the mini-documentary, it became clear that our relationship with nature is decreasing with each generation. Today, less than 10% of kids are spending time in nature!
We can change that. Nature Valley and Take Me Outside are joining forces to challenge you and your family to spend at least one hour enjoying the great outdoors on Sunday, September 20, 2015 for Rediscover Nature Day. Whether it be in your backyard or at one of Canada’s national parks, on a trail or at a beach, we’re encouraging you to get outside and #RediscoverNature.
Now, apart from re-establishing your connection to the outdoors, breathing in some much-deserved fresh air and experiencing valuable family bonding time, there’s another reason you’ll want to Rediscover Nature:
Between September 9 – 30, 2015, using the #MyBanff and #RediscoverNature hashtags, share photos of your time in the great outdoors via social media and you could WIN a trip to Banff National Park to experience Banff and Lake Louise with your family! You’ll also have a chance to win one of 10 Nature Valley Rediscover Nature Kits (value $50), which is of course more motivation to get outside.
To enter the contest, please RSVP to participate in Rediscover Nature Day on Sunday, September 20, 2015. Follow the link for full rules and regulations.
And, from the good folks at Nature Valley, I’ve got a sweet little prize pack to offer to a lucky reader: a bundle of Nature Valley gear to help your family Rediscover Nature ($50 value).
(2) Nature Valley Rediscover Nature draw-string backpack
(2) Nature Valley travel size LED flashlight
(4) Nature Valley stainless steel 16oz water bottle
(2) Nature Valley Lunch Box snack bars
To enter, simply fill the form below with your qualifying entries. Good luck everyone, and see you outside on September 20 to #RediscoverNature!
Branka Stefanovic
Go for a hike with my husband on our Rail Trail ;)
Maria
We love to go for a hike to our Provincial Park
mrdisco
I will be taking a long walk on the beach
Tara
We’ll probably go for a hike and a picnic in our back fields.
Louanne Baelde
We will go hiking at the Cooper’s March near Lancaster, ON.
Melinda L.
We are going to go hiking on the Bruce Trail
Margo beredjiklian
I will rediscover nature by bike riding all day !!!
Jeannie Lam
We are heading out to Pacific Spirit park and going on a nature walk and enjoying the sites and sounds of the forest.
Michelle
enjoy family time in the backyard
Angela Mitchell
Well it depends on the whether but we are hoping to go for a 14km walk around Inland lake.
sandy
Doing yardwork, get ready for winter
Belinda McNabb
we plan on cleaning up the back yard. making a huge pile of leaves and jumping in them
Victoria Ess
We may go hiking!
David
like walking on the beach
Karla Sceviour
I will go outside and go for a nice walk!
Tammy Dalley
Ill go for a walk
Linda
I’m going to take a walk in the park with my family.
Silvia D
depending on the weather..either go hiking in our local mountains or a walk along the river
Angela Massis
Go for a walk with my family and enjoy the outdoors especially with the changing weather and watching the leaves change.
Gillian Morgan
We are going to spend it at the park.
Wendy Hutton
by going for a walk along the river trails
Cheryl
We’re going for a walk to the park
Herbert
Gonna take my dog out to the dog park
Dianne
We have talked about several options and depending on the weather we will go to Kananaskis, The Bird Sanctuary, The Zoo or else to a local park along the river.
Josie Tusa
Going for a hike in the woods with my husband
Peter Tusa
I will spend it going for a hike in the woods with my wife
Stephanie LaPlante
Maybe we’ll go to the Royal Botanical Gardens
Florence C
I will be taking a hike on the trails in and around my community.
Zoey Jiru
I’ll be taking a hike along a ravine and trails.
Elaine Laforge
We will go for a nice walk and spend some time playing around at Summerville beach.
joy
going for a hike in the woods with the dogs and my family
Lynda Cook
Going for a walk around the block in my hamlet and just going to take in the sights and see what is new!!
Treen Goodwin
Biking on the trails in our neighborhood with my Sons :)
Jonnie
We will spend the day at the lake
ivy pluchinsky
going for a walk or the park with my niece
Rhonda W G.
Like most Sundays we will probably end up at the park with our 2 dogs…
Nate Fuller
We spend our time at the park near our house which is on the ocean so you get the best of the seashore and the forest!
maria
We will go for a hike.
Doris Calvert
We will be outside at the lake for a bonfire and long walks
Tina L.
We will be hiking the trails near out place.
Jenn Erin
We will hike/do the Grouse Grind!
Amy C
I’m hoping to be out canoeing.
nicolthepickle
We’ll go for a hike in the country.
Anna
We will spend the day hiking the trails by our house.
Juliee Fitze
I will be spending the day at an outside meeting for our park.
Tanis
Geocaching with my family!
heidi c.
We will probably head out for a walk to the park.
andrea amy
Nature scavenger hunt around the neighbourhood with the kids.
Holly MacRitchie
I will spend the day with my dog walking at the local park
Andrea
We will be enjoying nature outside!
Evelyn Brydon
we plan on being outside at the lake – we’ll probably be fishing or poking around on the shoreline
Joan G.
A walk along the river.
l p
going out to explore parts of the neighbourhood that are new. thanks
Lee-Ann
We get out and take the dogs for a walk, or gofishing
Charity Konrath
playing outside with the kids
Carol Denny
We will go for a walk in the conservation area behind our home.
Athena
Nature walk
sarah sar
The family and I went for a lovely hike along our favourite trail today!
Erin W
We spent the day walking around the neighbourhood jumping in puddles!
Dana Miller
I spent Rediscover Nature day outdoors with my little one, collecting rocks and bugs and pinecones. We practiced riding bikes, getting ready to remove the training wheels.
Erika Letson
We spent it at one of our local walking trail for a nature walk as a family!
leanne
we played soccer.
lynn clayton
long walk in the woods
Melanie B
Going for a hike
Travelbuds
walking my dog in the park
Emily C
Going on a hike.
denise
Hiking with my family.
KellyPC
Going to the beach to search for treasures!
lori b
geo caching
Robyn Bellefleur
A long walk along the river near our house.
Monica Lueddeke
I will get out on my bike and get around town.
Chris Stockford
Going for a Hike!
Josh S
We went for a long hike outdoors.
Crystal Porter
We walked in the woods!
Sabrina Tong
I will be hiking the trails that surround my home with my little one.
Jasmine Bourret
Hiking with my boys in the many surrounding Provincial Parks!
POONAM varshni
I ADORE NATURE.NATURE WALK- VERY REFRESHING…
Julie Bolduc
I am going on a nature walk
Tara Gauthier
We will go do some geocaching!
kathy downey
The kids are always making plans for their kids,no matter the weather my son always says we can dress for the weather but we cant get back a missed day
Debbie White Beattie
I live 20 minutes from Niagara Falls and I always had fun going there when I was young but so many things have changed since then. I like all the other places that you mentioned too.