By: Yassine Bourenane
Winter is a wonderful season, but sometimes it can be quite difficult to find something to do with friends, especially with the pandemic. That’s why the recent event by The Net was an amazing adventure.
In January, The Net joined with the Young Environmental Science Alliance, called the YES Alliance, to have an outdoor hike at the Royal Botanical Gardens’ Arboretum in Cootes Paradise. It had recently snowed, making the reserve look like the ideal winter wonderland. The sun was shining, the sky was clear, and the whole area was covered in snow.
About twenty people came to the event. We did some ice breakers, got to know each other, and we headed off on our journey. As we trekked through the forest, we learned more about the environment around us and the plants and animals that call it home. During our walk, we were lucky enough to see a bald eagle flying overhead.
Probably the coolest thing we did was crossing the frozen marsh to explore the different areas of this reserve. According to the YES Alliance guide, we were walking on nearly ten inches of solid ice. Jumping on the ice made for an amazing picture!
Before I joined this event, I wasn’t sure how it would go but I really enjoyed it! Personally, spending time in nature helps me relax. I also find that it is a great time to catch up with friends. So spending a day hiking can have a huge impact!
Overall, it was an amazing event. I really enjoyed it and I hope that The Net will be able to host more outdoor activities!