Small Steps to a Greener World: the Naturebag

by Gwendolyn Floyd

When I started looking for new Canadian products for the 2-6 set I came across the Naturebag. This is a new product put together by two Vancouver mums with an education background and a love of nature. They decided that especially in a city like Vancouver there was a need to bring kids back to nature. I was able to get a bag to try with my three year old and I must say I am impressed.

Photo: With permission Katharine Byers

First off the bag is about the size of a small purse made of organic cotton. Most of the items in the bag are organic, recycled or fair trade items so their ecological footprint is as small as possible. The notebook, colour cards and picture windows are made of recycled paper, and the pencil is made of recycled CD cases. How cool is that? It is also light and the magnifying glass and binoculars are made for small eyes and hands. While the bag is small, it is big enough to add a few things like the rocks and sticks that your child may insist that you bring home.

The activity book is light but has a number of activities that will get you started on your way to enjoying nature with your child. For example the Leaf Window activity. Take the cardboard picture window and put your favourite leaf in between the card. Hold it up to the light and look through the leaf. What patterns do you see? Some of the activities are meant for older children but with a little bit of adaption they can be made to work for kids of all ages.

Photo: With Permission Katharine Byers

Adding nature activities using things in the Naturebag should be easy and fun. The searching for worms activity would be a wonderful start since it is as easy as digging in the closest green space. Building a nature collection works really well with the colour cards. Search for nature activities on the Savvy Source activity page for different activities. I am using my Naturebag with a book by Jacqueline Horsfall called Play Lightly on the Earth. It is a book of nature activities for children ages 3 to 9.

I will soon have a guest post from the creators of the Naturebag, Sylvie de Sousa and Katharine Byers, talking about the educational philosophy behind the bag. With their guest post we will be giving away a Naturebag to one lucky Being Savvy Vancouver reader, so keep posted.