The year 2024 comes to an end

That’s it, 2024 is coming to an end and we are slowly entering the winter season. December is a magical month, between snow-covered landscapes and the holiday season.

This month, we would like to take advantage of this last newsletter of the year to tell you about the great progress made at our daycare centres and the children’s adventures. It is also an opportunity for us to tell you about the festive season and to thank you for your commitment to the forest project.

Late autumn is snowy!

For some time now, snow has been invading our forests and the landscape has been completely transformed. The children are delighted and make the most of this open-air playground as soon as they can! Running through the fresh snow, falling over laughing, feeling the cool wind on their cheeks: it is fantastic! Let us tell you about one of the children’s outings at Boréal des tout-petits.

Our explorers set off to play in the snow on the Macdonald-Cartier site. There, they discovered a shelter that they thought must have housed sheep. Some of the kids even thought it was home to dinosaurs! It is great to share these adventures with them and to see their wonderful imaginations!

These nature outings are also an opportunity to spot tracks left by birds or other animals, and at the same time to have fun with their own tracks in the snow. This is the time of year when animal tracks are easy to find, and it is very rewarding for the kids!

And that’s just the beginning of this wonderful season! The snow has so many treasures to share with us that we are sure they will have many more great adventures!

Each month brings its own new features

Sudbury East’s early childhood centres: Trésor des tout-petits and Village des tout-petits.

Erick, our Daycare forest Project Manager, accompanies the educational staff in setting up forest outings with the children, and ensures the safety of the trails by laying them out. So kids can enjoy these new activities in complete safety!

At Boréal des tout-petits, Mathieu and Erick have been hard at work creating a forest toboggan run. The children will soon be able to try it out, and we are sure they will love it! As well as being fun, they will be able to develop their gross motor skills and coordination.

We are delighted to set up these initiatives to bring even more to the children in our early childhood centres, and give them the chance to blossom in nature.

The end of the year, a time to gather!

There is no denying that the month of December is rich in traditions all over the world! Let’s take a brief (but not exhaustive) look at some of them!

In Europe

For those of us from Europe, the festive season is synonymous with brightly-lit decorations, Christmas markets and family time around a good meal – which usually lasts all day!

Of course, traditions vary from country to country: in France, we often share a sumptuous meal with foie gras, oysters and Yule log. In Germany, mulled wine is the order of the day, accompanied by spiced cookies and carols. In Spain, at New Year’s Eve, the tradition is to swallow 12 grapes to the rhythm of the 12 strokes of midnight, a moment so important that it is broadcast live on Spanish television!

Depending on the country or region, children look forward to the visit of Santa Claus, St. Nicholas, or the Befana (early January) in Italy. For those unfamiliar with the Befana, an elderly witch-like lady, she is a bit like the female version of Santa Claus. She brings sweets or dried fruit to well-behaved children, and coal to those who have misbehaved during the year.

And what about over here?

In Canada: A blend of traditions

Canada’s holiday season reflects the country’s cultural diversity. Many families come from other parts of the world, and each brings with them their own customs.

Traditionally, Canadian families decorate their homes with lights and trees, children send letters to Santa (who, of course, officially lives in northern Canada!) and meals often include local delicacies, such as roast turkey, tourtière or sugar pies. As for the French-speakers, many of them listen to French songs every day and sing them as a family! These are precious moments that bring people together.

Snow, present in many parts of Canada, adds a touch of magic. Activities such as ice skating, snowball fights and sleigh rides give rhythm to the day and create unforgettable memories, especially for the youngest members of the family. These are festive times! And, of course, there are even older traditions.

First Nations: honoring natural cycles

For some communities, it is often the winter solstice, on December 21, that is celebrated. It is the shortest day of the year, but it marks a transition, the moment when the days will once again begin to lengthen. So, even though it is the first day of winter, it is not the time when things end, but rather the time when they grow.

And here too, it is a time of sharing for these communities, of meals and offerings. Some ancestral stories are only told on this day.

*Document shared by the Anashinabek Nation*

Friendly moments that bring us together!

Whatever the tradition – Canadian, First Nations or European (and the same is true all over the world) – the end of the year is above all a time for sharing. Over a meal, a story or a campfire, these moments remind us of the importance of being together.

In these times of gathering, whether with our families, friends or communities, we hope that everyone finds the joy and communion that the end of the year can bring.

And these are not the only things we are hoping for, so we have decided to make a short list of what will be important to us in 2025.

Our wishes for 2025

As the year draws to a close, we are thinking a lot about the great progress made in 2024, and the goals we have set ourselves for 2025.

Here is what we would like to see in the coming year:

  1. More nature outings. We are working to ensure that all our network’s early childhood centres can offer children regular outdoor outings, whatever the season. Nature is a great source of learning and well-being, and we want every child to be able to take full advantage of it.
  2. Give more support to centres that want to make nature part of their daily routine. We know this can be a challenge, but we want to be there to support educational staff, share our knowledge and propose concrete solutions. We are actively working to achieve this goal by the first quarter of 2025!
  3. Create opportunities for exchange with families. In 2025, we would like to offer workshops and activities that enable families to have fun in nature. These intergenerational moments are important and contribute to the bonds between parents, children and their living environment.
  4. Continuing to innovate and grow. The forest project has already come a long way, but we know that the best is yet to come. Thanks to your support and enthusiasm, we are motivated to go even further.

Finally, we would like to thank you. Thank you for accompanying us on this adventure, for believing in our mission and for helping to make thisproject a success. We are grateful to be able to count on such a committed community!

Our best wishes for the New Year

We wish you a wonderful festive season, surrounded by your loved ones. May this period be filled with joy and sweetness. Take care of yourself and your loved ones, and make the most of this time to create lasting memories for you and your children.

See you in 2025 for new adventures in the great outdoors!

Carrefour francophone would like to say thank you

Our project partners: PLAYLearnThink, Collège Boréal, Centre éducatif des Premières Nations, Métis et Inuit et la Pavillon Shkode (Coeur du feu); our research partners: Child and Family Social Innovation Centre and our funder: Employment and Social Development Canada.