Make your summer count

Make your love of nature count by joining a growing movement of Canadians taking action to safeguard nature. Count yourself in at wwf.ca/countfornature.
For many Canadians, being in nature is a way of life during the summer. From camping trips that take us deep into the wilderness to holidays that expose us to new kinds of wildlife, the season has a way of deepening our connection to nature and making us think about the part we  play in conserving it. With only a few weeks of summer left, we challenge you to channel your passion for the outdoors to help nature thrive. Here are five things you can do to make your summer count for nature:

1. Show your shoreline some love

Canada is home to the longest coastline in the world. Each year tens of thousands of Canadians proudly get their feet wet to protect our water and aquatic species as part of the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup. Gather your friends, family and colleagues and find a cleanup near you or organize your own.

2. Snap photos for our summer photo contest

Whether you’re enjoying the beach or volunteering for a Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup, snap some photos and share the action with us. Your WWF-Canada’s Photo Contest picture could be featured in our next e-newsletter.

Killarney Provincial Park Hiking Trail: "The Crack." © Sam Ngo
Killarney Provincial Park Hiking Trail: “The Crack.” © Sam Ngo

3. Make a splash for freshwater

Make a splash to keep our freshwater in good health. Our team took the plunge in support of healthy rivers and lakes and shared the video here. You can too, or make a different kind of splash for freshwater by exploring your watershed with a game of Water Bingo, reducing your water footprint or becoming a citizen scientist. Count yourself in with other Canadians who want to see Canada’s freshwater in good health.

WWF-Canada freshwater staff at the Peel Children's Festival © WWF-Canada
WWF-Canada freshwater staff at the Peel Children’s Festival © WWF-Canada

4. Go Wild for nature

Do you have an idea that will help nature thrive in your community? Bring it to life with support from our Go Wild Community Grants, presented by TELUS. Applications are being accepted until Sept. 23, 2016. Past and ongoing projects include building nesting boxes for species at risk, restoring fish habitat and planting pollinator-friendly gardens. Learn how you can Go Wild.

© STRAWBERRY ISLE MARINE RESEARCH SOCIETY
© STRAWBERRY ISLE MARINE RESEARCH SOCIETY

5. Count yourself in

Conservation isn’t reserved for scientists, wildlife experts or professional environmentalists. It’s up to all of us. Count yourself in with a growing number of Canadians who are taking their love of nature one step further by protecting and promoting nature in Canada.
Whatever you do, spread the word by sharing a photo of yourself in nature with the phrase “I #CountForNature by [your personal statement]. Count yourself in at: wwf.ca/countfornature @WWFCanada.”