Behind the Scenes of Outdoor Adventures

Dear Families,

Observe, listen, explore… Nature offers us so many opportunities to learn and create wonderful memories together.

Sometimes all it takes is a walk to have an adventure. A bird spotted near a lake, a song heard in the trees, or a feather found on a trail can spark curiosity in young and old alike.

This month, we will look back on the bird-watching morning that was organized at Fielding Park. We will then suggest a few ways to enjoy this kind of experience as a family. You will discover how to record your observations with eBird, how to more easily identify certain birds and their songs using the Merlin app, and a fun activity to download to help your children on their discoveries.

We will also share some of the adventures we’ve had at our early childhood centres. Finally, we will present a wonderful invitation to enjoy the last days of summer at Camp Ongrandi, with activities centered on the outdoors, culture, and Francophone gatherings.

I hope you enjoy reading this issue and, above all, have wonderful nature discoveries with your children!

 

Mathieu Lambert
CPE Forest Project Coordinator and Outdoor Education Advisor, Carrefour francophone.

When a walk teaches us to observe more closely

About thirty of us gathered at Fielding Park for a morning dedicated to learning about the birds in our region.

This activity was organized by Jacques Fanche, the community coordinator at the Carrefour francophone, in partnership with the Centre de santé communautaire du Grand Sudbury and the Réseau du Nord, and brought together both newly arrived families and families already settled in the region.

To make it easier for those without cars to participate, a meeting and carpooling point was set up at Place des Arts. It was a great way to make the event more accessible and eco-friendly.

Once we arrived at the park, our group explored the trails with Jean-Marie, a birdwatching enthusiast.

Our first stop, at the observatory, gave us the chance to admire a magnificent heron. A little further on, at the lakeshore, we also spotted several waterfowl, including ducks, Canada geese, and a splendid swan well known to the park’s regulars.

At the end of the walk, Jean-Marie took out his photo album. He took the time to introduce us to different species, discuss their distinctive features, and share a few anecdotes about their behavior. This moment allowed us to learn more about the birds that live around us.

In addition to the species we observed, this morning encouraged us to slow down and look at our surroundings in a new light. We realized that when we start paying attention to shapes, colors, movements, and songs, every walk can become a game of observation.

This outing was also a wonderful opportunity for families from different backgrounds to come together. Once again, nature showed us that it can be a place where we discover, share, and build connections.

Thank you to everyone who participated in this activity with such curiosity and enthusiasm!

A big thank you also to Jean-Marie for his generosity, expertise, and infectious passion, as well as to our partners, whose collaboration made this wonderful morning possible.

Why not take some time to observe things as a family?

Organized outings are a great opportunity to explore nature, but you don’t have to go very far to start birdwatching.

A walk around your neighborhood, some time in a park, or even just a few minutes in your backyard can already hold some wonderful surprises.

Sometimes all it takes is to stop, listen carefully, and look around.

For example, you might ask yourself:

  • How many birds do we see?
  • Are they alone or in a group?
  • What colors do we notice?
  • Are they on the ground, in a tree, in the sky, or near the water?
  • What are they doing?
  • Do we hear several different songs?

Children can participate by counting birds, describing what they see, imitating the birds’ movements, or drawing the one that intrigued them the most.

It is not necessary to know the name of every species right away. The important thing is to learn to observe, ask questions, and enjoy exploring together.

Take part in the bird count with eBird

Families who want to continue the experience can also record their observations on eBird.

The process is quite simple. During a walk, you note the species you recognize, the number of birds you see, your location, and the time spent observing. You can then submit your list on the website or directly through the eBird app.

Over time, this also allows you to keep a record of the birds you’ve spotted as a family.

But these observations aren’t just for adding to your own list. They’re combined with those of thousands of other people and help experts better understand where birds live, how they move throughout the seasons, and how certain populations are changing.

This is what is known as citizen science: anyone can contribute to research simply by sharing what they observe around them.

I think it is a wonderful way to show children that their discoveries are valuable. Even a short walk around the neighborhood can help us learn more about the birds in our region.

Identify Birds and Their Songs with Merlin

Sometimes it is much easier to hear a bird than to actually spot it!

That is where the free Merlin Bird ID app can come in handy. It lets you try to identify a bird based on its appearance, a photo, or even its song.

To use the sound recognition feature, simply start a recording and let the app listen for a few moments. Merlin will then suggest species that might match the songs it hears.

All that is left is to continue the investigation as a family:

  • “Where is that song coming from?”
  • “Can we see the bird? ”
  • “Do its colors match those of the suggested species?”

You can also compare your observations with the photos, descriptions, and songs available in the app.

Of course, Merlin isn’t a substitute for actual birdwatching. I see it more as a little nudge that makes you want to explore, listen a little longer, and look more closely at your surroundings.

A little game to help you identify the birds in our region

To enhance your upcoming walks, we’ve also prepared a free downloadable activity featuring six birds you might encounter in northern Ontario.

The game includes two identical images for each species: one with the bird’s name and one without.

Younger children can simply find and match the two images. Children who are just learning to read can use the labeled card to gradually learn the birds’ names.

You can then take the cards with you outdoors. Before heading out, choose a bird to look for, then try to identify it by its silhouette and colors.

The cards can also be used to:

  • play a memory game;
  • compare birds and spot their differences;
  • match a card to a song heard with Merlin.

A short observation sheet will also be included with the game. Families can use it to note the bird they saw, the location and time of the sighting, and the number of birds observed.

The idea is to help children pay a little more attention to the birds around them. Little by little, “the little bird in the tree” might turn out to be a chickadee, a jay, or a blackbird—and they will be proud to have recognized it.

And above all, don’t hesitate to share your discoveries with us! Whether it is a bird spotted in your backyard, a lovely family walk, a photo, a drawing by your children, or a funny story, we would love to hear about them. You can send them to us by replying to this email—we would be delighted to experience nature through your eyes.

When discoveries come to life in our centres

Birdwatching during a walk is a wonderful way to spark children’s curiosity. But opportunities to discover, experiment, and learn also abound every day in our early childhood centres.

An outing to a new environment, a recipe prepared together, or some water play may seem like simple moments. Yet each one allows children to explore, gain independence, and share special moments with others.

An Introduction to Indigenous Culture

The children at the Noëlville Summer Camp recently took part in an outing organized by the Rivière des Français Public Library, which also arranged for bus transportation.

The group visited the Enaahtig Healing Lodge and Learning Center, a place dedicated to sharing knowledge, culture, and an Indigenous approach to well-being.

This excursion allowed the children to explore a new environment and learn about a culture that plays an important role in our region. Outings like this fuel their curiosity and gradually help them better understand the world and the different communities around them.

Learning Together - It is That Simple

At Foyer des tout-petits, the children also had a wonderful time this summer.

In particular, they made granola bars. Everyone got to help mix the ingredients before enjoying the results during afternoon snack time. There is always a special sense of pride in eating something you’ve made yourself!

The children also enjoyed a wonderful day dedicated to water play. Between the small pool and the various water features set up on the grounds, everyone had a great time.

These experiences remind us that children learn a great deal through everyday activities. When cooking, they handle ingredients, work together, and become more independent. When playing in the water, they experiment, move around, interact with others, and simply enjoy the summer.

It is often these simple moments, shared together, that most naturally nurture their confidence, curiosity, and joy of learning.

A great way to end the summer with the family

To wrap up this newsletter, I would like to share a wonderful invitation with you.

From August 28 to 30, 2026, the CFA of Ontario’s Northern Corridor invites you to participate in the latest edition of “Chez nous, c’est chez vous!”—a free event taking place at Camp Ongrandi in Moonbeam.

Over the course of an entire weekend, families will be able to enjoy the great outdoors, take part in various activities, explore cultural workshops, and create wonderful memories in a friendly atmosphere. Both children and adults will find plenty of opportunities to have fun, learn, and meet new people.

Singer YAO will also be there to put on a show that will add a festive touch to the event.

Beyond the program, this is above all a wonderful opportunity to take the time to be together, discover a new place, and meet other French-speaking families in the region. It is often these shared moments that become the fondest memories of the summer.

After birdwatching, exploring the trails, and discovering the activities offered at our centres, why not wrap up the season with a new adventure in nature?

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Until our next discoveries…

I hope this newsletter inspires you to spend some time outdoors with your children before summer ends.

You don’t have to go very far. Just a few minutes in your backyard can already hold some wonderful surprises. Children have this extraordinary ability to marvel at things we sometimes no longer even notice—this could be an opportunity for you to share moments of wonder with them.

I also hope that the resources and activities featured in this newsletter will inspire you to look at birds in a new light and set out together to discover the birds living right near your home.

I wish you a wonderful end to the summer, and I’m already looking forward to seeing you again in our next newsletter to share new discoveries in nature.

See you soon,

 

Mathieu Lambert
CPE Forest Project Coordinator and Outdoor Education Advisor, Carrefour francophone.

Discover a FrancoFact every month

FrancoFacts: Findings from research on vocabulary and language in minority contexts, presented by Chantal Mayer-Crittenden, speech-language pathologist and professor at Laurentian University

Le Carrefour francophone souhaite offrir ses remerciements

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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