A homegrown love of nature

As a child growing up in the suburbs of Montreal, I was encouraged to explore whether it was on my walk to school or on family camping adventures to our seashores, woodlands and beyond. Photography outings with my parents helped shape my interests.
As an adult, I lived and worked in different international settings but always travelled back to Canada. Exploring was in my blood I guess; the International Youth Hostel Association facilities around the globe enabled lower cost adventures. A unique one here in Canada was cycling from Banff to Jasper over 2 weeks, with time to hike & learn more about our vast country.
Later in life, international travels with friends & family, always with a nature focus, has taken me to all 7 continents. Discovery was always a part of any adventure. Now with tools like iNaturalist and Merlin for bird ID, one can explore as an individual and learn at every step! Sharing this love of nature has been a part of my volunteerism, with local groups here in Nova Scotia, my home for many years. Enabling others to explore on new and future trails and parks is key to my conservation goals. Whether advocating, donating funds or just sharing the love of nature with friends & family, it continues now in my senior years.
As more citizen scientists engage and report concerns to decision makers, one can only hope that our planet will survive for future generations, my grandchildren and yours!
It takes a village! Lets make sure our urban centres will have access to the National Urban Parks currently planned for our cities, including Halifax with the Blue Mountain Birch Cove Lakes. Access to nature will enable our residents to live active& healthier lifestyles.