A Year in Review
When they say time flies, they really weren’t lying! 2023 flew by and was here and gone in the blink of an eye (or a flash of a camera if you will). This year was filled with so many memorable moments, astounding achievements, but most importantly, countless interactions between children, cameras and the environment.
Lets begin with a recap of the accomplishments and successes that 2023 brought Focus on Nature and the community.
In 2023 we…
Completed 337 workshops in 6 different regions.
Allowed 7,848 students the opportunity to operate a camera and explore their natural environments
Had a wonderful Garden Party with 300 people in attendance, raising $17,741 dollars!
Hired some wonderful staff who ran awesome, engaging workshops and helped contribute to the overall success of of Focus on Nature
Provided 23 free workshops to low income schools
Expanded to the Niagara region AND London and Oxford County areas!
Were able to have our first international workshop in Barbados
Got a new set of 30 Lumix cameras and a new set of 30 Kodak cameras
Held summer camps in 5 regions
Offered our summer camp programs in a whole new way with newly designed programming which allowed for authentic, exciting summer camp fun
Showcased some stellar student shots at the Exhibit at Guelph City Hall
Were able to connect with city representatives such as Cam Guthrie, Pam Damoff and Mike Morrice
Ran some awesome contests, challenges and promotions on our socials that allowed community members to win some awesome prizes!
We are so proud of these accomplishments, and are grateful for all of the parents, sponsors, board members, volunteers, teachers, students, school boards and community members who made this all possible!
This year the students who participated in our in school workshops, along with our summer campers really brought their ‘A’ game when out taking photos. The photos that were captured this year are arguably some of the best! Take a look below to see some photographs taken by talented young people. We continue to be blown away by the talent children have in the art of nature photography.
When we look forward to 2024, we are excited for what is to come! We have numerous workshops booked in various regions and cannot wait to continue connecting children with nature! In 2024 we will be bringing a new look to our “Testimonial Tuesday” posts, and may just be posting them more frequently. But keep your eyes peeled! We promise that our social media platforms are something you don't want to miss in the upcoming year! Check us out on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter
In the new year, we will be saying goodbye to our Executive Director, Simon Bell. We are wishing him a happy retirement filled with lots of time for photo taking! Your contributions over the past 13 years are extremely appreciated and have truly made an impact on the organization that Focus on Nature is today. Thank you & Happy Retirement Simon!
Again, we want to extend our gratitude and thankfulness for all those who made this year one for the books. We are looking forward to what 2024 will bring!
May you all have a safe and Happy New Year!
