As parents we are often bombarded with different studies and articles that express the importance of physical activity and outdoor time for kids of all ages; but as the winter arrives, just like many other species we tend to “hibernate”.  Here are some fun winter activities for the whole family, just bundle up and enjoy the chilly weather.

Track Hunt

Go for a hike and explore the areas around your home, parks and woodland areas. Find out who else shares that space with you and your neighbours!  You can find more tips and resources on how to identify tracks and animal patterns here.

Sledding

This will for sure bring hours of entertainment for the whole family. Just find a good hill and let the fun begin.  Make sure to wear the appropiate safety gear.

Building with Snow

Build a snowman, a snow fort or a quinzhee.

Snow Painting

All you need is cold water, food coloring and spray bottles. Mix a few drops of food coloring with the cold water and use the spray bottles to create master pieces in the snow. Pick different colors, mix them and let your inner artist flourish.

Snow fight

Every body can join a snow fight.  On super cold days, snow tends to be too light and airy, try lying down on the snow to heat it up and then pack the snow into a ball.  Avoid injuries by making sure the snow isn’t too icy.

Winter sports

You can always enjoy the wide variety of winter sports that are available in southern Ontario like snowshoeing, down hill skiing, cross country skiing, ice skating, and even ice fishing!

Happy Trails!

Now that the Holidays are approaching there are many ways to keep your environmental resolutions.  Make your holidays more meaningful by following these suggestions:

• Be more creative and make your own Christmas decorations
• Use less wrapping paper or alternatives, such as recycled materials, fabric, ribbon, and reusable bags and boxes
• Give fair-trade gifts and waste-free presents
• Buy local – support local artisans and small businesses or donate to a cause in honour of your loved one
• Pay more attention to the social and environmental quality or your purchases

Remember the true meaning of the Holidays and don’t get gripped in a frenzy of consumption.

As a Conservation Association, Oakvillegreen is always trying to find ways to help “green” our community. We want to give you some easy steps to start taking action towards a more sustainable life.

Winter is here and while we all want to stay warm, we tend to overheat our houses, offices and schools. Our homes are responsible for much of the carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere that are causing climate change. Today you can make a difference by turning down your thermostat by 1C.  Just by turning your heating down 1C you can save 300kg of carbon dioxide per year and up to 10% off your bill.

Be sure to use your heat wisely this winter and insulate your home and your body with an extra sweater! It doesn’t need to be ‘National Sweater Day’ to save money and reduce your energy consumption! If you want to go one step further, install a programmable thermostat and save approximately 10% on your heating and cooling costs.