The Halton Learning Foundation (HLF) is pleased to welcome Robert Bateman to the Royal Botanical Gardens to kick-off the “Get to Know” Virtual Hike for Southwestern Ontario on Tuesday, October 19th.
The Robert Bateman “Get to Know” program has been inspiring connections between children and nature in the outdoors for over a decade. Mr. Bateman believes that having students learn local species’ names and characteristics will create increased awareness and understanding of wildlife, which in turn will instil increased empathy for the well-being of their “wild neighbours”.
Providing young people with the opportunity to spend more time outdoors is a priority of the “Get to Know” Program. Bateman feels this is particularly important in this day and age as children continue to abandon outdoor experiences, resulting in a sedentary lifestyle and a disconnect with nature.
Date: Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Time: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Place: Royal Botanical Gardens, 680 Plains Road West, Burlington, ON
“A growing body of research has identified the academic, social, emotional, and health benefits of getting students outdoors and connecting to the natural world,” says Ron Ballentine, Coordinator of Environmental Education at HDSB. “Robert Bateman’s ‘Get to Know’ program is truly inspirational in encouraging outdoor experiential education”
The Foundation has partnered with TD Friends of the Environment Foundation, Mayor Cam Jackson’s “Pride in the Community Fund” held by the Burlington Community Foundation, as well as MTE (More Than Engineering) to bring this program to Halton schools.
“Robert Bateman inspired me as his student and I am honoured to financially support this amazing legacy project for all future generations of students to appreciate our natural neighbours.” said Mayor Jackson.
“Giving back to our communities is a source of pride and differentiation for us at TD,” adds Ruth Lee, TD Branch Manager. “It is incredibly important to us that we do our part to strengthen communities and positively impact the lives of the people who live in them. This project which received funding from TD Friends of the Environment is a perfect example of an initiative that meets all three of our key community funding pillars: Children’s Health, Education and Literacy and The Environment”.
“We are proud to be supporting ‘Get to Know’ as it will provide the Burlington area with a valuable program for many years to come.” says MTE’s John Goodwin, Manager of the company’s Burlington area environmental services.
“We would like to thank our partners for supporting the Halton Learning Foundation in support of environmental education initiatives” adds Mike Shepherd, Board Chair of the Halton Learning Foundation. “The Foundation is excited at the opportunity of bringing this new innovative program to Burlington students”.
The Halton Learning Foundation exists to acquire and allocate resources to enrich educational opportunities and eliminate economic barriers to learning for Halton District School Board students.
Tags: Robert Bateman
About the author: Richard Douglas
Richard contributes articles, photos and video about news and events happening in the Town of Oakville, Ontario.
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