Toronto, ON, April 03, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Building on the success of the mandate to connect kids to nature and create vibrant, sustainable, play-friendly communities across Canada, Earth Day Canada is challenging people in Canada to Consume Less, Play More as the focus of Earth Day 2018. This year’s campaign features a crowdfunding platform, social media and school contests, and an Adventure Play event all designed to showcase the benefits of outdoor play for everyone.
“Outdoor play is vital to the healthy development, education and well-being of our children and to the sustainability of the planet,” says Deborah Doncaster, President of Earth Day Canada. “Consuming less is a moral imperative. Buying things and acquiring wealth does not create lasting happiness. Connecting to others and our natural environment is the key. This is the mindset of sustainability. Our children gain these values through spontaneous, unstructured outdoor play.”
Crowdfunding Platform
The foundation of this year’s campaign is the Pledge4PLAY crowdfunding platform. Earth Day Canada hopes to raise $25,000 for EarthPLAY programs that bring enriched play opportunities into schools, parks, streets and community green spaces. The goal for 2018 is to support everyday outdoor play for 20,000 kids. Those who donate have a chance to win trips, tickets to the Jungle Book, one of 12 Springfree Trampolines, and more.
Social Media Contest
A social media contest supported by Mowgli, the hero of Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book stories and star of Kidoons’ upcoming play featuring Mowgli in the urban jungle, encourages people to show Mowgli how they get outside and play in the urban jungle – using hashtags #EarthPLAY, #ConsumeLess #EarthDay2018 and #Kidoons to tag Earth Day Canada on Facebook and Twitter @EarthDayCanada, and on Instagram @EarthDayCan. Those who participate have a chance to win four front row tickets to see the Jungle Book on May 25, 2018 in Toronto.
EarthPLAY for Earth Day for Schools
Earth Day Canada has created a campaign especially for schools. EarthPLAY for Earth Day challenges schools to reclaim recess and outdoor play – either with an extra or extended recess, or by hosting a full day of Adventure Play. A free toolkit is available to guide them through this process. Participating schools are invited to send a photo or video of their EarthPLAY event to the Sony EarthPLAY for Earth Day Contest for a chance to win one of 10 Sony Action Cameras.
Springfree for Earth Day POP-UP Adventure Playground
The highlight of Earth Day 2018 celebrations is a POP-UP Adventure Playground on Sunday, April 22 from 11am-4pm at Trinity Bellwoods Park in Toronto. The event, hosted by Earth Day Canada and Springfree Trampoline, is designed to engage Torontonians in outdoor play.
Earth Day Canada thanks the following corporations and foundations for their contributions: Air Canada Foundation, Kidoons, Lowe’s Canada, Springfree Trampoline, TD Friends of the Environment Foundation and Sony Canada.
About Earth Day Canada
Founded in 1990, Earth Day Canada is a national charity that inspires and supports people across the country to connect with nature and build resilient communities. We lead an annual Earth Day campaign every year on April 22nd, in conjunction with free, year-round, award-winning programs that get people of all ages outside, interacting with the environment — this, in turn, fosters an intrinsically motivated, enduring commitment to stewardship and conservation.
We work closely with school-aged children and youth through our renowned EcoKids and EarthPLAY programs, focused on putting self-directed outdoor play back into the lives of children by addressing play provision in schools, parks, streets and community green spaces. We engage diverse communities and help our corporate partners achieve their sustainability goals with our employee engagement platform. Learn more at earthday.ca.
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A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1ff02df1-edc6-4854-9362-83ef42d41daf