Milestones

Tina Singh (Photo by Brianna Roye)

Digital content creator Tina Singh believes you don’t have to totally unplug to enjoy the outdoors.

The great outdoors wasn’t a big part of my childhood nor my thing after I grew up. I didn’t fall in love with nature until adulthood when I had kids of my own. It wasn’t until my three boys (now nine, seven and six years old) got older that I saw nature as they saw, felt and explored it. And I always had my trusty cellphone camera by my side to capture it all.

The most amazing aspect is seeing my boys’ perspectives and watching their confidence grow in nature. Caledon Trailway, a multi-use trail, has been a favourite family destination for years. From the first visit at this scenic tract that cuts through rolling hills and farm fields, I witnessed my kids’ fondness for nature grow. They once needed to be convinced to enjoy a hilly dirt path with toy cars. Now, they can’t wait to get on their bikes and pedal downhill. It is definitely a  transformation and a proud parent moment for me, watching my children mature and play there through the seasons.

While some see technology as a distraction to enjoying nature, for me, it enhances my family’s experience. The photos and videos I take are mementos that I and my kids can look back on and enjoy. Plus, with nature apps like iNaturalist, I can explore the plants and animals that I photograph in more depth with my family in real-time. Most recently, my youngest baby, Hudson (a one-year-old mini labradoodle), has joined our family and our love for this dirt path too, and I have the photos to prove it.

This story originally appeared in the fall 2021 issue of the Nature Conservancy of Canada Magazine. To learn more about how you can receive the magazine, click here.

Explore additional content from our fall issue here >