We’re excited to begin our fifth year of partnership with the BGC Eastview Program at the Eastview Neighbourhood Community Centre, bringing free, weekly nature connection programming to children in Toronto’s Blake-Jones neighbourhood.
The first few weeks have been all about reconnecting and welcoming kids back. Participants have explored antlers and skulls at the Nature Museum, shared stories of wildlife they spotted over the summer, and jumped into active games inspired by animals and the natural world. Returning participants have also been reminiscing about favourite experiences from previous years, including building with sticks and creating with snow blocks.
Those memories are a reminder of what makes this long-term partnership so meaningful. Over multiple seasons and years, children have the chance to return to familiar people, activities, and outdoor spaces, building trust, comfort, and a stronger sense of belonging over time.
“As we begin our fifth year with Eastview, we continue to see how consistent outdoor experiences help children build confidence, curiosity, and a stronger sense of connection to the natural world,” shared Andrew McMartin, Pine Project Co-Executive Director. “It’s a powerful reminder of what long-term community partnerships can make possible.”
This year, as always, Pine and Eastview staff are working together to create programming that offers different ways to participate through active play, hands-on exploration, storytelling, nature knowledge, and quieter activities. These varied entry points help children with different interests and comfort levels engage in ways that feel meaningful to them.
A huge thank you to TD Friends of the Environment Foundation, Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities, the Johansen Larsen Foundation, and the McColl-Early Foundation and for making it possible for Pine to offer this weekly programming free of charge. Together, we’re helping reduce barriers to nature access and creating more opportunities for children to learn, grow, and feel at home outdoors.
We’re deeply grateful to our funders, our partners at BGC Eastview, and the entire Pine community for making another year of this partnership possible.
Thank you to our generous supporters:
The McColl-Early Foundation