Parkbus Kids

Explore. Create. and be WILD!

Parkbus is launching an exciting program for youth 7-11 years who want to explore the wild beyond the city. Through games, survival skills, and natural curiosity participants learn about the wild - in the forests, rivers AND in themselves!

To find out more, fill out the form at the bottom of this page!

What will the kids do?

In true Parkbus fashion, kids will get to explore several of Southern Ontario's most BEAUTIFUL locations. Together with their mentors they will learn through experience, play and adventure. Kids will get a balance of unstructured exploration while also learning fun new skills. Curriculum may include:

  • Fire making
  • Fort building
  • Learning about the plants and animals of the area
  • Team building
  • Camp craft
  • Games and Storytelling

Why Kids Need Nature:

Kids today spend the MAJORITY of their time indoors:

In North America that’s an average of 7-10 hours per day! This is a drastic change from previous generations and according to the Child and Nature Network only 6% of kids get any unstructured time in nature over the course of a week. Which, as you can imagine, has a serious impact on a child’s overall health and happiness.

Spending time in nature is REALLY healthy:

If increased vitamin D, more exercise, improved vision, and a healthier immune system aren’t inspiring enough- connecting to nature also provides kids with emotional health benefits including an increased sense of confidence, resilience, self awareness and decreased level of stress!

The more we LOVE nature the more we TAKE CARE of it:

Kids who play outdoors develop a relationship with the environment. Nature changes from being a place that is ‘out there’ to something a child is connected to and a part of. Science says: when people feel connected they are kinder!- and on top of that kids who grow up having experiences in the outdoors are more likely to take care of the environment as adults. It’s an all around win!

Meet CARLY JOYNT - PARKBUS KIDS DIRECTOR

Carly Joynt is a passionate outdoor educator who loves nothing more than to explore with wild ones in the outdoors. She has over 10 years of experience facilitating youth nature connection programs including founding a Girl's Leadership Camp, and as the director of a backcountry and survival skills camp. Carly has developed and led programs for both the p.i.n.e project and the TRCA. She brings a love of survival skills AND the arts and believes that fostering a connection between youth and nature is one of the most valuable things that one can do.

More info please!

If you’d like to find out more about this program, or have a child in mind who you think would love it, please fill out the form below with your contact. We’ll be sure to let you know the date of our info session, and final details on the program including how to sign up.