Goal | What You Can Do | Media | Resources
Background
WILD Generations promotes intergenerational mentorship through meaningful outdoor activities that connect people of all ages with nature. The program supports organizations working with youth and seniors by providing connections and resources to encourage shared experiences in conservation, knowloage transfer and nature appeciation.
Through shared activites such as bird watching, hiking, fishing, iNaturalist exploration & citizen science, gardening and outdoor exporation and more. These activities foster a deep appreciation for biodiversity, contribute to citizen science, and help build a robust and united society.
Why Participate in WILD Generations?
In the face of biodiversity changes, habitat loss, climate change, and other environmental issues, connecting generations through nature is more important than ever to pass down knowledge and keep passion for conserving habitats alive. Intergenerational outdoor programs offer opportunities to build friendships, share knowledge, and inspire a lifelong love of the environment and create strong and connected communites.
If you have questions about the Wild Gnerations Prorgam please email cwfeducation@cwf-fcf.org.
Goal of the Program
The program encourages intergenerational knowledge sharing, social inclusion and service-learning/civic engagment through outdoor activities and conservation actions which serves as a legacy projects to raise a generation of young conservationists mentored by elders that will make an impact on wildlife habitat going forward.
What You Can Do
Choose an area from this list that interst you and your group for your intergenerational activities:
Birding
Create or maintain a pollinator garden
Hiking
Crafting (Build a bird house)
Fishing
Wildflower identification
Indigenous knowledge learning
Learn about iNaturalist
Sign up to share your expertise on a specific subject
Did You Know?
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Approximately 7.6 million Canadians were aged 65 and older on July 1, 2023, accounting for almost one-fifth (18.9%) of the total population.
73%
In 2023 Close to three in four people (73%) ages 15+ volunteered their time in Canada.
231
Young Canadians aged 15 to 19 have the highest volunteer rate, with 66% of youth volunteering (youth give the least: 110 hours per year). Despite the lower volunteer rate among Canadian volunteers aged 65 to 74, they give the most hours annually, at 231 hours.
A recent report from the Canadian government highlights the importance of nature for seniors' well-being. The report emphasizes the benefits of nature for seniors' physical and mental health.
Benefits of Intergenerational engagement: individuals of all ages benefit from the shared experiences that foster understanding, respect, and support.
Younger people: Improved mental health and wellbeing, increased self-esteem and empathy, and better school performance and attendance.
Older adults: Reduced isolation and loneliness, improved health and wellbeing, increased confidence, and a stronger sense of worth.
Families and communities: Increased social cohesion and community trust, greater participation in volunteering, increased sense of belonging and a reduction in ageism, fostering a more inclusive environment.
Videos
In the News
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Canada’s Wild Classrooms
March 24, 2026 - Canada’s wildlife and wild spaces are full of stories worth discovering — from tiny pollinators to iconic mammals and the diverse ecosystems that sustain them.
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Canada’s Wild Classrooms
March 24, 2026 - Canada’s wildlife and wild spaces are full of stories worth discovering — from tiny pollinators to iconic mammals and the diverse ecosystems that sustain them.
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CWF develops new tool to predict impact of ship strikes on whales
March 9, 2026 - The Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) has helped update a new tool to measure the likelihood that a vessel strike will cause a lethal injury to a large whale.
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U.S. considers changing regulations designed to protect North Atlantic right whales
March 8, 2026 - The United States is proposing to change regulations designed to prevent ships from striking the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale along the East Coast.
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Catharine Parr Traill
March 4, 2026 - <strong>By April Overall</strong></p> <p>A tribute to Canada’s floral godmother
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CWF Announces Winners of National Photo Contest
March 3, 2026 - The Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) is proud to announce the winners of its 2025 Reflections of Nature photo contest. With 10,600 entries received in a three-month period, the popular program demonstrates the deep connection Canadians feel towards wildlife and habitat conservation.
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