Pine Project: Inspiring a love of nature.
The Pine Project is a Toronto-based charitable organization dedicated to helping children and youth build strong, lasting relationships with nature.
Since 2008, Pine has grown into a trusted leader in outdoor education, offering year-round programs in parks and wild spaces across Toronto and beyond. Through school-year programs, day camps, overnight camps, and adult learning experiences, our unique mentorship approach supports confidence, resilience, and meaningful connection through time spent outdoors.
Each year, Pine reaches more than 2,500 participants across over 230 days outside, creating experiences that shape how people relate to nature, their communities, and themselves.
What is nature connection?
Nature connection is an approach to outdoor education that focuses on building meaningful relationships to nature, community, and self. It weaves together mental, physical, social, and emotional experiences to promote personal growth, well-being and connection to nature.
By helping children connect to nature, and supporting adults to do the same, Pine nurtures happier, healthier children who care deeply for the Earth and for one another. We’re empowering the next generation of environmental stewards, problem solvers and leaders.
If we want children to flourish, to become truly empowered, then let us allow them to love the earth before we ask them to save it.
— David Sobel
Our Mission
The Pine Project fosters confidence, resilience, learning and connection to nature through transformative outdoor experiences for children and youth in Toronto and beyond.
Our Vision
We envision a world where all people are deeply connected to and care for nature, themselves, and their community.
Our Values
Nature: We know the transformative power of nature to shape lives and are passionate about connecting young people to the natural world.
Belonging: We are committed to the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We strive to create programs where children of all races, backgrounds, genders and identities can feel a sense of belonging.
Connection: We believe building meaningful, long-term relationships drives lasting impact. Our approach to mentoring children and working with community partners is grounded in connection and reciprocity.
Gratitude: We weave gratitude into everything we do, fostering interconnectedness, inspiring awe and appreciation, and spreading positivity!
Stewardship: Gratitude and connection guide us to act with care, making intentional choices that nurture people and the Earth.
Simplicity: Embracing our mantra “be more, need less,” we value simplicity as a path to deeper meaning, presence, and joy. Simplicity means making space to slow down and learn through unstructured play, hands-on experiences, and meaningful discovery.
Growing with purpose
The Pine Project’s 2026-2030 Strategic Plan, Building Resilience for Lasting Impact, lays out a bold roadmap for deepening our impact, strengthening resilience, and living more fully into our mission of connecting children with nature.