What does a School Nature Club look like?

A school nature club is a group of students, along with a leader (usually a parent or a teacher) who meet on a regular basis to enjoy nature exploration and activities. Each nature club is unique- just like its participants! How often a nature club meets, and the kinds of activities they do, the number of children, the range of ages, where and when they meet - are all variable. You decide what works in your school community. Some nature clubs focus on learning about local species through nature studies in the schoolyard, neighborhood or local parks, or by inviting guest speakers like local natural history experts. Other nature clubs focus on projects like creating a wildlifefriendly garden, running a recycling team, reducing energy use in the school or restoring habitat in a nearby Green space. Its up to you and your club to decide what works!

Some Types of School Nature Clubs

Meet your wild neighbors this club likes to study local birds, mammals or insects; Exploring Outdoor Exploring- this type of club likes to get outdoors exploring the school yard, neighbourhood parks and possibly beyond; Conservation Station- this type of club learns about and contributes toward the success of local conservation projects; Nature-friendly lifestyles this type of club tackles current environmental challenges through bene cial personal actions such as reducing your carbon footprint, saving energy, walking to school, recycling etc; Digging deeper- this type of club likes to play in the dirt with school gardening projects like xeriscaping, native species gardening or wildlife gardening.

Why Join the Young Naturalists Club?

Since 2000, the YNC has helped over 20,000 children explore nearby nature and take action to help the environment. The Nature Clubs in Schools Program is a tool to assist both schools with existing school nature & environmental clubs and schools who are starting a new nature club. When your school joins the YNC, your club will receive a welcome package with some great resources, ongoing information about BC nature and alerts about citizen science opportunities. Your club also becomes part of a growing network of students, teachers and parents who believe in the importance of connecting children with nature.

Membership Bene ts
For the School Upon joining, the club will receive a welcome pack including: Its easy being green Membership Certi cate (PDF), .yn c .c a Poster of BC Wildlife, Handy Bird/Insect identi cation card, Laminated Backyard Bird ID Card for your region, Schools NaturePlay Day Activity Guide (PDF), New Fall 2011! Receive YNCs 20 page SalmonWILD education resource. Throughout the year you will also receive: E-bulletins with activities, citizen science opportunities & contests, 1 club copy of each issue of NatureWILD (produced quarterly), plus 1 copy for each registered club member (during the school year).

ww

Clubs

Nature Nature in

NatureWILD Magazine for every child in your club!

Your school club membership includes a copy of each issue of NatureWILD Magazine produced during the school year for each child in your club to take home and keep.

Why Start a Nature Club in your School?

Nature Clubs are important because todays children have fewer opportunities to explore nature than in previous generations; Its a great way to create a sense of place and connection to our neighbourhoods and our planet; Nature Clubs build school spirit and camaraderie; Nature Clubs reinforce healthy habits getting kids active and outdoors; Nature studies enhance, reinforce and engage kids in their classroom learning; Nature Clubs enable children to bring classroom learning into their own real life experience; Nature Clubs can directly bene t the school community through projects and attitude; Nature Clubs help connect children to the earth; Nature Clubs can reduce schoolyard con icts by creating a team environment; Nature Club activities reinforce the notion that learning is lifelong fun; Nature Clubs epitomize green time instead of screen time; Nature Clubs help make connections in the community via experts or projects; Nature Clubs can help children interpret larger environmental issues by gaining an understanding of our local environment; Nature clubs are important because never has the earth needed us to be more aware of how connected everything is on planet; Nature clubs are FUN because kids are innately interested in nature (and kids enthusiasm and concern for the planet is infectious!). www.ync.ca

Register your Club!

School Information
School Name: _____________________________ School Phone:__________________ School Address: __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________

Leader Information

Club Leader Name: _______________________________________________________ Email: ___________________________ Phone:_____________________ I am a teacher parent other : _________________________ Co-Leader Name: _______________________________________________________ Email: ___________________________ Phone: _____________________ I am a teacher parent other : _________________________

Clubs

Nature Nature Annual Membership Fee in Schools

Questions?

= $9 per club member (minimum 5) Number of Club Members* ___________ X $9 = Total ______________ *minimum 5 Young Naturalists Club of BC - School Clubs 1620 Mount Seymour Rd., North Vancouver, BC V7G 2R9

www.ync.ca coordinator@ync.ca 604.985.3057

Mail payment along with a copy of this form to:

Tell us about your Club!

Is this a new club or an existing nature club? _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ What types of activities will your club do this year? _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ Tell us why you think a Nature Club is important for your school _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________
Thank you! Your Welcome Package will be mailed shortly.