Finding magic in the great outdoors

Those are a few ways that science educator Melissa Levi has been able to inspire that "aha!" moment in children. Levi has led Lambton Wildlife's Young Naturalist and Junior Conservationist groups for six years, bringing her own energetic brand of hands-on environmental activities.

"She has really imaginative ideas and she's devoted to this (youth education)," said Janet Bremner, president of Lambton Wildlife. "We feel it's one of our most important programs."

It comes at a time when academics fear children are longing for contact with the great indoors. In 2005, American author and journalist Richard Louv coined the term "nature deficit disorder" to describe the trend. He suggests children growing up in front of television and computer screens will have a lack of respect for the environment.

Sean Jenniskens isn't one of those children. The 16-year-old who lives outside of Watford has always had an interest in the environment, participating in the Young Naturalist and then the Junior Conservationist groups the past eight years.

The club is a great change of pace because "it's nice to share ideas," he said.

He has enjoyed several one-of-a-kind experiences through the program.

"Every other month this year, and the last couple of years, we've been going to a raptor rehabilitation centre," he said. "You go to help feed the raptors with broken wings or a problem like that and then clean their cages, which is really fun."

While that might not be everyone's cup of tea immediately, both adults and children can come around to appreciating the environment with exposure, said Levi, who use to work at the Insect Zoo in Victoria, B.C.

"I was able to take people who came in (to the Insect Zoo) and said, 'Ew, bugs are gross,' and sort of turn them around," she said. "In the end, they'd be holding the bugs and they'd be so excited and thrilled for each other."

Levi now tries to bring that excitement to Sarnia-Lambton youth.

"Some kids, it takes them a little while to get into it, but once they do, there's no turning back," she said.

When she took some of the members to a snake restoration project, she soon "couldn't drag the kids away."

Simple activities, like tending to a school garden, can be just as effective in harvesting an appreciation for the environment.

"It doesn't have to be grandiose — polar bears or dolphins — but it can still create that same perspective change, that same sort of enthusiastic light bulb," Levi said.

Both the Young Naturalist Group, for ages 7-11, and the Junior Conservationist Group, age 12 plus, meet monthly. Membership is $15 for the first child and $5 for each additional child.