Recognizing National Child Day
For a third consecutive year the NSCSW is joining our community partners for a National Child Day event. This year we are partnering with the Healthy Populations Institute at Dalhousie University, the IWK Mental Health and Addictions Health Promotion Team, Riverside School in Albert Bridge, Cape Breton, and youth advocate Stacie Smith. We’re holding a panel discussion with youth and adults, Nature Rules the World! at the Delmore “Buddy” Daye Learning Institute in Halifax (and online from anywhere) from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on November 20.
This event is a celebration and recognition for the many ways nature and the natural world are integral in the lives and well-being of youth. We know that the growing climate emergency has a direct impact on the wellbeing, learning, and joy of youth around the world. According to the One Chance to Be a Child report, “The places and spaces where children and youth spend their time play a key role in supporting their health and well-being but access to safe and healthy places and spaces is not equitably distributed – too many children and youth in Nova Scotia are not able to connect directly with the natural environments where they live. The mounting threat of the climate emergency also cannot be understated.” (One Chance to Be a Child, 2022).
As we consider this year’s National Child Day, we know that social workers have a role in supporting the health, wellness, and education of youth in the province. In particular, we know a large number of social workers in Nova Scotia are engaged in child protection and welfare work. The child welfare paper by Wisdom2Action that we published in 2023 (Building an Ecosystem to Realize Children’s Rights and Support Family Well-being in Nova Scotia) also called out that climate justice is integral to the well-being of children and youth. Our upcoming revised Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice will deepen the College’s commitment to sustainability, as part of ensuring safe(r) social work practice in Nova Scotia.
While there is no shortage of concerning and alarming news about the climate emergency, it is the youth of today who will bear the biggest challenges of the changing climate. Fostering a connection to nature and the natural world in youth is essential for addressing the climate emergency and for fostering the health and wellness of youth. We are proud to partner with Riverside School in Unama’ki, as they are an example of how a school can support youth in connecting with nature and working towards truth & reconciliation.
Riverside School – Nature Rules the World!
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Riverside School began work on their dream of the Knowledge Path, a walkable educational journey that is part of the National Healing Forests Initiative. The Knowledge Path is a place for students and educators at the Primary to Grade 8 school to engage with nature while learning about Mi’kmaq history. Students participate in learning activities along the path at spots like the Medicine Wheel Sharing Circle, the Mawita’nej Outdoor Classroom, and the Sule’katike’l Sound Garden. It is the hope that by allowing students to engage with nature while learning or using the space for leisure, they will become stewards in protecting the environment. Suzanne Brown, the principal of the Riverside School, will be participating in the National Child Day event on November 20 and sharing the vision and purpose of the Knowledge Path and how it supports the learning and wellness of the students.
The students at Riverside School chose the name, Nature Rules the World! for this year’s event. Riverside School and the Knowledge Path demonstrate what is possible when education and on-the-land learning meet. The students at Riverside can engage with Mi’kmaw teachings and get to experience nature through their education daily. From treasure hunts, to performances, to creating art work for the Knowledge Path, the students and educators are in the Knowledge Path almost daily to support deeper learning and connection to nature.
Join Our Event
People in the Halifax Regional Municipality and surrounding areas are invited to attend our in-person event, while those who are outside of the region can join our event virtually. Registration can be found at the Eventbrite link.
The celebration will include hearing from Principal Suzanne Brown and the students at Riverside School. The panelists and speakers at the event will be highlighting the importance of connecting with nature and addressing issues of social and climate justice.
