ABSTRACT
In the face of lagging positive global change, it is essential to provide opportunities for young people to feel agency, inspiration, autonomy, and belonging in spaces that are becoming more scarce, vulnerable, and imperilled. The hope for constructive paradigm shifts is through grassroots efforts. Plant things that bring bees; plant food to share with neighbours and friends; put up a bird feed centre; plant trees. Historical walking tours in the neighbourhood, English descriptive writing that establishes settings, photography in nature, social science field study, math quantifying observations about animals and plants observed over time, all of these are potential modes of learning that engage the sense of outdoors through experience. Youth crave acceptance from one another more than access to learning in, for, and about the environment. It is easier to sit inside and connect via social media than to be vulnerable getting outside and unplugged.
