CWF’s Below Zero Nature-Based Education Program Inspires Winter Fun and Learning Outdoors
Canada is the world’s largest winter playground, offering a variety of landscapes and opportunities to experience an entire season of fun and outdoor play. While winter isn’t for everybody, it is a vital part of our Canadian heritage, our traditions, and in some respects, our livelihood. It’s also an important season for Indigenous communities, when native storytellers shine and outdoor games bring all ages together in the spirit of togetherness and friendly competition. Connecting with nature is as important in winter as it is at any time of the year. Select either path below to discover all you need to connect with nature when temperatures drop Below Zero!
Educators and Teachers
Learning more about the importance of winter and wildlife is the goal of Below Zero, a Canadian Wildlife Federation education program targeted toward teachers and educators that is part of CWF’s WILD Education program.
When you’re looking for new ways to engage your students and inspire a greater appreciation for winter, our Below Zero workshops are a great training resource.
Enter the Below Zero Contest FOR EDUCATORS!
Enter to win a Below Zero workshop for you and nine fellow educators! That's a prize valued at $400!
Everyone
For everyone else looking to stay connected to nature in the winter, CWF’s Below Zero section provides a variety of great resources designed to get you active and outside while reinforcing the importance of winter to us all. From fun family-friendly activities to traditional winter games played in various Indigenous communities, getting outdoors and connecting to nature can be fun when temperatures drop below zero.
Enter the Below Zero Contest!
Answer three questions and you will be instantly eligible to win our Below Zero Prize Pack that includes a 1-year subscription to your choice of one CWF magazine, birdhouse, bag of CWF premium birdseed, headband hiking light, CWF branded mug and CWF ballcap!
Let the Games Begin!
Winter Time is Play Time
It’s time to give winter its due. Sure, the other seasons have their merit, but winter is unique in the Great White North. In fact, it’s a defining characteristic of the people of our great nation that we actually look forward to blankets of pure white snow and crisp, fresh, sub-zero temperatures. How else could we get conditions that allow us to ski, snowshoe, snowmobile, play pond hockey, or go ice fishing?
At Canadian Wildlife Federation, our Below Zero initiative is designed with a spirit of appreciation for winter in mind – especially when it comes to doing fun things outdoors. Here you’ll find a variety of helpful resources to keep you from taking winter for granted. We have informative videos from Hinterland Who’s Who focused on wildlife in winter, videos from Indigenous Storyteller Dickie Yuzikapi that details the importance of winter games to First Nations Peoples, interesting facts on the multiple ways both humans and wildlife adapt to winter, a list of 50 fun things you can do to get outside and connect with nature, and other great information we hope will inspire you to get outside. We’re even sharing a couple lesson plans from our Below Zero educator workshop you can use to engage your friends and family in outdoor play. Whether you’re simply walking in a winter wonderland, or tracking nature observations using your iNaturalist app, we encourage you to experience the joys of like outside when temperatures drop below zero!
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Indigenous Games: Inspiring First Nations People
There’s a strong connection to winter and nature in Canada’s Indigenous communities. With February being Indigenous storytelling month, it presents a great opportunity for Indigenous storyteller Dickie Yuzicapi to offer insight into the winter games played in many Indigenous communities and the equipment used to enjoy them. Here are Dickie’s video stories:
Now you’ve watched the videos, it’s time to enter our CWF Below Zero contest.
Below Zero Games You Can Play Outside
CWF’s Below Zero interdisciplinary program provides a toolbox of interactive indoor and outdoor activities to engage youth in learning about and taking action for wildlife and the environment. It’s a great tool for educators tasked with inspiring nature connection in the winter, or for groups just looking for ideas for outdoor play. Here’s a couple of examples of the kind of activities taught through CWF’s Below Zero program you can try with your own friends and family.
To learn more about the Below Zero activity guide and professional development workshops, check out our Below Zero workshop page.
Webinar: Embrace the Chill: Lessons from Winter Wildlife
Ever wondered what animals do when the temperature drops? Join us as we dive into the fascinating world of winter wildlife! From hibernation to migration to adaptation, we’ll explore the strategies our furry friends use to thrive in the cold. As humans, we don’t hibernate or migrate (well, some of us do!), but we do adapt to winter conditions in our own unique ways. Get inspired to bundle up and head outside through this interactive lesson with the Canadian Wildlife Federation! All registrants will receive a Winter Resource Kit containing activities to inspire further outdoor exploration! This webinar is being held in collaboration with Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants. Disponible aussi en français.
Let's Do This Today!
Here are a variety of ideas, options and information you can incorporate into your outdoor activities this winter.
What if our Canadian winter…disappeared?
No more snow. No more below zero temperatures. It would mean a radical change for both human life and wildlife in Canada. The simple fact is Canadian winters marked by freezing temperatures and heavy snowfalls serve significant purpose for all inhabitants of the Great White North.
For example, cold winters help protect crops from the spread of damaging insects and disease. Many plants need shorter days and low temperatures to become dormant. This way plants can store up energy for new growth. Ample snowfall can help lessen drought and dry forests, reducing the risk of summer wildfires. Large volumes of winter precipitation helps to replenish water tables. Prolonged cold temperatures keeps flora and fauna from reemerging ahead of schedule. Strong winters also mean fewer bugs in the summer. There are so many positives to a Canadian winter, it’s hard to imagine why people migrate south to avoid it!
It’s time to give winter its due. Our Below Zero initiative is designed with a spirit of appreciation for winter in mind. Here you’ll find a variety of helpful resources to keep you from taking winter for granted. We have informative videos from Hinterland Who’s Who focused on wildlife in winter, interesting facts on the multiple ways both humans and wildlife adapt to winter, a list of 50 fun things you can do to get outside and connect with nature, plus our “Don’t Take Winter for Granted” contest with Granted Clothing, a company that knows a thing or two about dressing appropriately for outdoor fun. We hope you enjoy discovering all the fun to be had when temperatures drop below zero!
Discover More at Hinterland Who's Who
To discover all the unique ways Canadian wildlife species adapt and thrive in adapts, visit our Hinterland Who’s Who page on Wildlife in Winter You'll find videos, wildlife facts, games and more!
