Published on Thursday, February 26 2026
by Jasmine Morin in Blog
Dear families,
February is already drawing to a close. The days are slowly getting longer, the light is returning a little earlier in the morning, and yet winter is still very much present around us. The snow crunches under our feet, the forests are silent, and the air remains crisp.
This is a special time of year: children have already experienced several weeks of cold, ice, and snow. Some may be feeling seasonal fatigue, while others are still bursting with energy. As adults, this is an excellent time to ask ourselves: how can we continue to nurture their curiosity and sense of wonder, even at the end of winter?
In this newsletter, I invite you to:
Mathieu Lambert
CPE Forest Project Coordinator and Outdoor Education Advisor, Carrefour francophone.
Snowshoeing is an accessible and surprisingly simple winter activity. By increasing the surface area underfoot, it allows you to move forward without sinking into deep snow. Children can start snowshoeing at around 4 years old with the right conditions and equipment.
For children, it’s almost like magic: what was difficult before is now possible!
But to ensure that the experience remains enjoyable, it is important to choose the right equipment:
As with any winter activity, clothing is essential. For a comfortable outing, you can use:
Progress is slower on snowshoes than on foot. It is important to bear in mind that children tire more quickly in deep snow. It is therefore best to:
The goal is not to perform, but to explore with pleasure!
And of course, in addition to choosing a suitable route, don’t forget to check the weather conditions and avoid overly long outings in extreme cold or when the snow is heavy.
Where can you borrow snowshoes?
Several libraries in Greater Sudbury offer snowshoe rentals:
For adults, you can find them at: Azilda, Capreol, Central, Chelmsford, Coniston, Copper Cliff, Dowling, Garson, Levack/Onaping, Lively, South, Valley East
Family packs (2 adults + 2 children) are also available at: Azilda, Chelmsford, Garson, Levack/Onaping, Lively, Valley East
And for children: Capreol, Central, Chelmsford, Coniston, Copper Cliff, Dowling, Garson, Lively, South, Valley East
Which trails are accessible?
We are fortunate to live in a region with access to beautiful trails. For example, you could try the one at 52 Garson Coniston Road, which is a 1 km loop, or head to Lake Laurentian Conservation Area (also accessible by public transit).
The children discovered the sensation of walking with snowshoes. To help them get used to it, we started on a short flat area. Everyone had a lot of fun, the teaching staff shared in their joy, and it really made all the difference! The children are already eager to repeat the experience in the forest.
Winter weather can sometimes force us to stay indoors. But that doesn’t stop us, and we continue to create and innovate despite the conditions.
One day when it was too cold to go outside, we cut out cardboard snowshoe models. The children wore them in the hallways of Collège Boréal. They explored, tested their balance, laughed… and, without knowing it, they trained for their future outings with real snowshoes.
Learning continues, even when conditions change!
The children explored an area untouched by humans, covered with a thick layer of fresh snow, without showing the slightest apprehension about this vast expanse.
They wandered through this silent landscape, some in groups, others alone, and all seemed amazed. At our invitation, they gathered near several snow-covered trees.
Érick shook a snow-covered tree, and the falling snow triggered bursts of laughter, demonstrating their enthusiasm for this sensory and playful experience.
What if cold weather became a scientific ally?
On a day when the temperature is -10°C or below, it is possible to turn a simple sweet cream into ice cream, thanks to snow and salt!
To do this, place a stainless steel bowl in a hole dug in the snow, pour in cream, a little sugar, and vanilla. Pack the snow around the bowl and add coarse salt. The children can now take turns mixing the contents of the bowl. Little by little, you will see the magic happen and the liquid thicken. The transformation takes place before their eyes.
It will take a few minutes of patience and observation. You can take advantage of this moment to develop their vocabulary and use words related to what they are experiencing:
“It’s cold,” “it’s changing,” “the mixture is thickening,” “solidifying,” “becoming more consistent,” etc.
This activity is not only fun and delicious, it also allows children to:
The tasting that follows becomes a moment of sharing and pride!
This activity touches on the four essential foundations found in How Do We Learn? Educational staff use these principles to guide their daily practice and provide support to children and families. Below is a brief description of the four foundations and how the activity allows children to experience them:
Belonging: Children experience a collective moment, wait their turn, and share. This helps them feel connected to others and their environment.
Well-being: They explore the cold in a safe environment. Well-being includes physical and emotional health (feeling safe, managing emotions). Children who feel good physically and emotionally are ready to explore, learn, and connect with others.
Engagement: Children observe and take part in a concrete transformation and can even taste the recipe at the end! Through engagement, children develop critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills.
Expression: In this activity, children can put their feelings into words. Expression includes verbal language, but also gestures, movements, art, dramatic play, music, etc. By encouraging various forms of expression, we enable children to strengthen their confidence, communication skills, and understanding of the world.
As the light returns and the snow begins to melt, we can already ask ourselves a few questions:
In the next newsletter, we will take the time to explore these questions together and see how snowmelt can become a learning ground as rich as the snow itself. In the meantime, you can always share your thoughts on these questions with us. We will be happy to read them!
Winter isn’t over yet. Whether it’s snowshoeing, playing in fresh snow, or enjoying a bowl of ice cream, every experience is an opportunity to learn. Let’s make the most of it.
Thank you to the educational teams for their creativity and commitment, and thank you to you, families, for supporting these moments of exploration.
We look forward to seeing you again in March, when the light will continue to gain ground.
Mathieu Lambert
CPE Forest Project Coordinator and Outdoor Education Advisor, Carrefour francophone.
FrancoFacts : facts from research on vocabulary and language in minority contexts, presented by Chantal Mayer-Crittenden, speech-language pathologist and professor at Laurentian University
Nos partenaires de projet : PLAYLearnThink, Collège Boréal, Centre éducatif des Premières Nations, Métis et Inuit et la Pavillon Shkode (Cœur du feu);
nos partenaires de recherche : Centre d’innovation sociale pour l’enfant et la famille et notre bailleur de fonds : Emploi et Développement social Canada.
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