GET OUTSIDE!
PROGRAMS
Outdoor activities are good for our physical and mental health! A suite of Get Outside! programs were developed beginning in 2020 to get children outside in response to Covid-19 restrictions that caused many activities for individuals and families to be cancelled. Getting outside continues to be important as children and youth spend more time on electronic devices. These programs are free to everyone and provide opportunities for families to explore nature in a safe outdoor setting.
We thank our many collaborators who provided their expertise and help in developing and/or delivering these programs including: Nature Saskatchewan, SaskOutdoors, Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation, Ducks Unlimited, Royal Saskatchewan Museum, Birds Canada, Saskatchewan Science Centre, Regina Ski Club, Regina Public Library, the Art Gallery of Regina., Neil Balkwill Civic Arts Centre, Saskatchewan Orienteering Association, Regina Symphony Orchestra, and University of Regina – Faculty of Education. We thank Tourism Regina, CJTR Community Radio, Global News Morning, CTV News and CBC for promotion and coverage of events. We are grateful to Cabela’s Outdoor Fund for providing outdoor equipment for use at Nature Regina events.
For event dates for Get Outside! programs, please see our Events page, or watch for notices in our e-newsletter. If you are interested in volunteering, contact natureregina@gmail.com.
Nature Regina is funded by the purchase of memberships and donations. To support the Get Outside! programs and other nature activities, please consider making a donation or purchasing a family membership.
Get Outside! Outdoor Adventure Guides
The Get Outside! Outdoor Adventure Guides provide education and inspiration through exploring parks and community green spaces in and around Regina. These self-guided, outdoor adventure guides were created beginning in April 2020 as a Wandering Wednesdays social media campaign in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, with new guides posted bi-weekly on Wednesdays for two years until April 2022. With 50 guides now available, there are abundant choices of places to enjoy and explore for people and families of all ages.
The Outdoor Adventure Guides provide directions along with family-friendly activities once there. This includes wildflower hunting, insect spotting, birdwatching and pond dipping, as well as identification of plants, insects, birds and wildlife at each location. There are also kid-friendly activities from the minds of two creative and nature-loving 10- and 12-year-old youths. The Outdoor Adventure Guides can be used by any age group.
Nature Regina partnered with the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation, Ducks Unlimited, Royal Saskatchewan Museum, Birds Canada, Canadian Wildlife Federation, Art Gallery of Regina and several biologists to develop these guides. Tourism Regina, Play YQR, Nature Saskatchewan, SaskOutdoors, Regina Outdoors Club, Regina Horticultural Society, Prairieview Walkers and Hikers, along with others, help to promote these guides. Over two years, Wandering Wednesdays resulted in over 350,0000 Facebook views for Nature Regina!
All guides are available here.
Thanks to the Community Initiatives Fund and the City of Regina Community Grant Program for providing funding to make the Outdoor Adventure Guides possible.
Get Outside! Kids Club
The Get Outside! Kids Club is a free outdoor education program offered by Nature Regina for children between the ages of 6 and 13 and their parent/guardian. Children 5 and under are welcome to attend with their family. Kids Club was initiated in 2020 in partnership with Nature Saskatchewan, SaskOutdoors and WILD Outside (Canadian Wildlife Federation).
Families are introduced to outdoor settings at green spaces throughout Regina, sometimes with an indoor component with one of our many partner organizations. The program leader guides the children through a great variety of nature-related activities in fall, winter and spring that challenge their senses and imagination. We have developed many partnerships in Regina to host events, including the Royal Saskatchewan Museum, Saskatchewan Science Centre, Regina Ski Club and the mâmawêyatitân centre.
Activities may include, but are not limited to: scavenger hunt, making bird masks, insect collecting, migration obstacle course, teepee raising with a Knowledge Keeper and indigenous games, plant search, making seed bombs, predator-prey game, bird watching, magnifying glass exploration, bird feeder craft, art activity, learn to ski, snow sculptures, winter snow kitchen, and fire building skills.
Advanced registration is required at natureregina.ca/events.
Nature Regina welcomes all voluntary donations at natureregina.ca/give to support this
program.
A huge thank-you to the City of Regina Community Grant Program for providing funding for this program.
Get Outside! Preschool Club
The Get Outside! Preschool Club is a free outdoor learning program offered by Nature Regina for children between the ages of 2 and 5 years old and their parent/caregiver. Younger children are welcome to attend with their family and/or caregiver if a child between the ages of 2 and 5 is registered for the program. Preschool Club was launched in 2021 following the success of the Kids Club model.
Each month, the program leader leads the children in exploring a park in Regina with nature-based games and exploration plus early literacy science and math activities. Spring/fall activities may include, but are not limited to: insect spotting, pond dipping, predator-prey tag games, using our 5 senses, nature crafts, Indigenous games and storytelling, nature scavenger hunts, garden exploration, birdwatching and identification, outdoor nature themed story time, learning about Indigenous plants and more!
Winter activities include exploring animal tracks, finding out what is happening under the ice and snow, snow saws and making quinzes and winter snow forts, playing in our snow kitchen, predator-prey tag games, nature scavenger hunts and hikes, winter birdwatching, winter story walks, trying snow shoes and more!
Advanced registration is required at www.natureregina.ca/events.
Nature Regina welcomes all voluntary donations at natureregina.ca/give to support this program.
A huge thank-you to the City of Regina Community Grant Program for providing funding for this program.
Get Outside! Free Public Events
Free Public Events teach about birdwatching, native plants and other nature knowledge, as well as provide nature-themed games. These were initiated and delivered in January and February of 2021 to provide opportunities for Regina residents to spend time outside, and to support positive mental and physical health during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Four events were held in winter 2020-21, including at A.E. Wilson Park, Wascana Lake, Les Sherman Park, and a virtual event. We thank the many volunteers who made these possible, as well as various organizations that helped at an event: Nature Saskatchewan, Birds Canada, Art Gallery of Regina, Canadian Wildlife Federation, Nature Conservancy of Canada, Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation and the Royal Saskatchewan Museum.
Thank-you to the City of Regina Winter Activity Grant and Community Grant Program for providing funding for this program.
In winter 2024, Get Outside! provided programming in two free Public Events sponsored by the City of Regina together with various partners: FROST Festival and Star Stories Event.
Get Outside! Outdoor Explorer
The Outdoor Explorer events are nature walks led by an experienced field biologist at various parks or open spaces in Regina. Participants are introduced to birdwatching, native plants, and other interesting nature facts. This is a multi-generational nature exploration program. Outdoor Explorer was initiated and delivered in winter 2021-22. There were events in January to April, with up to 4 sessions on a day and group sizes limited to 9 people due to Covid-19 restrictions. In total there were over 50 walks that included 361 participants.
Thank-you to the City of Regina Winter Activity Grant for providing funding for this program