Ontario Nature Youth Challenge

What would I do without nature?

Ben
Grade 7 at Pleasant Corners Public School in Chute a Blondeau

What would I do without nature? I wouldn’t have all of the different opportunities to explore and learn more about the environment that I live in. It is important to my family to have access to nature’s treasures. Even though it may not be as renowned as the Grand Canyon, I feel privileged to have a provincial park at my doorstep.

My close proximity to Voyageur Provincial Park has given me the opportunity to spend countless hours exploring and learning about the different aspects of nature in many ways, mostly by biking or walking. Even if you aren’t close to a large park you can still experience nature by hiking, playing soccer or other outdoor activities.

Being so close to the great outdoors has also provided great learning experiences for me. For example, when I first saw a Great Grey Owl I hardly knew anything about it, let along what kind of bird it was. My encounter with this animal spurred me to learn more about it. So I borrowed books and began to learn many things, such as where it was on the food chain, what it hunted, its habitat, where they can be found, and other interesting facts. This learning experience was by far one of the most interesting ones I’ve had about nature but there were also many other animals that I have learned about, such as deer and coyotes. (Even though I have the advantage of living close to an expanse of land that it home to many different species of animals, you can still see them many other places.)

Now that I have a little puppy that loves to run, being close to a park is even more important because it is a place for her to run and explore. It is also an excellent spot to play fetch with her because of the enormous amount of space.

Not only is it good to be close to nature for the nice scenery it is also good for your health because it allows you to go running, biking, or walking. Also, mentally, it feels nice to take a long walk outside rather than sit inside because of the different sights, sounds, and smells. The fresh air is relaxing and that is why many people enjoy the outdoors.

When my family and I travel, we usually try to choose places with access to outdoor recreation. One of our favourite destinations in the summer is Vermont, the Green Mountain State. We like this place because the mountains provide many hiking trails. British Columbia is also an interesting place to visit because of its many different species of animals and vegetation. Since British Columbia receives more rain and has a milder climate than Ontario, it is home to many species which we don’t have here, such as massive redwood trees. Unfortunately, British Columbia’s forests are being cut down for logging. This endangers many species of animals because their homes are being cut down and soon because of this, whole forests could be wiped out.

As I have explained, nature is very valuable but also very fragile. That is why we should enjoy it with care and protect it from being destroyed. What would I do without nature? I do know that I would be constantly missing out on a lot of opportunities.

Ontario Nature gratefully acknowledges Dow Chemical Canada Inc. for sponsoring the Ontario Nature Youth Challenge Essay Writing Contest.