Mentor moment

Okay to get dirty

RETA HORAN, Woodstock, Ont.’s, parks We promoted the Come Alive Passbook and forestry supervisor, directs boundless Challenge, guiding families to do activities on energy toward getting kids and families active their own. I have never seen so many people outdoors. She is the spark plug behind the city’s on the trails as I have this summer. There is participation in the Green Streets Challenge — a real hunger for green spaces. People had an idea from Come Alive Outside to dramatize been so involved with electronics, work and outdoor play by actually paving streets with sod. schedules, and I saw families gain hours in their Horan was dealing with a vandalized concession day, and use the time to step back to enjoy the stand the morning of this interview, disappointed outdoors. More family time has been a good that bored kids had ransacked park property. Her change, from my perspective. mission is to inspire kids with purpose, through green spaces. RETA HORAN Is certification important? Woodstock hosts Canada’s second longest-running College and earned my Certified Landscape Technician Green Streets Challenge. Why did that idea click designation. I am working on credentials as a landscape architect. with you? I see so many families that are so busy, and they just don’t think What is your take on attracting employees about going outside for unstructured time. When I heard about the to the green professions? challenge, I said, “Yes, let’s do it!” My department wanted to get I don’t think young people understand the vast number of jobs our name out, and it paired well with our goal to help families enjoy available in our trades, so I went into our high school to talk about green space and get educated about its value. opportunities. Co-op placements are great. Even in my own case, Do you have a favourite Green Streets story? helped. I find young people trying out a green job will either love I do. Our Challenges happen during Woodstock’s Streetfest, where it or hate it. Those with passion will succeed, and some will excel stores bring merchandise onto the street along with activities as doers; they love to work in the dirt with their hands. Others are such as bouncy castles, pony rides and face painting. Parents were thinkers, and some want to do both. It’s our job to find out what asked to pay for many of the activities, and we saw families look inspires them. at our Challenge a little cautiously. “Should we stay off the grass?” Yes, I studied landscape design at Fanshawe I knew I wanted a job outdoors, and my co-op experience really “How much does it cost?” It is so fun to invite them to come and Why does green appeal to young people? play, because it’s free. From my experience, I always wanted to be outdoors, so I gravitated toward design. Now I have spent 10 years in the parks Did you see benefits beyond the Green Streets events? system! We have the green spaces, and I am constantly thinking We offer a range of programs with the city, everything from sports about how we can get people outdoors, and what we can offer the to physical literacy. We see young kids often sign up for outdoor community. It seems most parents are looking for experiences that physical activities who are not so keen on organized sports. We are clean, safe and cautious. I want to promote risky play and get definitely saw Green Streets drive enrollment. the message out that it’s okay to explore. LT

Since Green Streets, like so many events, was postponed due to pandemic concerns this summer, how did you fill the gap?

If you have a mentor to recommend, or a question to suggest, please write to editor@landscapetrades.com.

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