First Steps to a Healthy Climate is a fun and engaging program for families to come together to discuss, learn about, and explore climate action and suitable living. Climate change has begun to impact our daily lives, sometimes in challenging ways. Current programming can be found here.
The program began in 2022 with two "one-of" pilot sessions, and individual interviews with climate and eco-conscious parents. (Details can be found in the archive on the Registration page.) Fall 2022 saw a 6 week in-person program run at the West Side Family Place, wherein we will came together as a community of caregivers to explore empowering and uplifting possibilities for parenting, with the health of our children and our planet in mind. Program format and themes were developed collectively in our first session. Parents enjoyed thoughtful discussions, while children learned through hands-on activities, stories and song. Each session closed with a special activity which parents and children enjoyed together.
Funded in part by the City of Vancouver’s Greenest City grant and a Mitacs fellowship, First Steps to a Healthy Climate is led by Laurel Hart (PhD) as part of a research study to better understand the needs of families, and to develop educational resources that will be shared through social media and more.
Participants will ask to provide consent in order to meet ethical requirements of Dr. Hart’s host institution, Simon Fraser University. This program is for parents/caregivers and their children, from babies to five years old. Please review the consent form found at www.firststepsclimate.com prior to registration.
If you have any questions about the program, please contact program organizer Laurel at [email protected]. Please visit the registration page to see the latest programming.