Nature Conservancy of Canada launches #NaturalHappyPlace campaign

Whether it's one of our country's many lakes, mountains, forests, or any other natural feature the Nature Conservancy of Canada is encouraging people, in a new campaign, toshare images of their natural happy places.

Until Sept. 12, the national land conservation organization is asking people to upload their photographs on their website or Facebook page, or to share them on Twitter or Instagramwith the hashtag #NaturalHappyPlace.

"We are trying to encourage Canadians and British Columbians to get out of the house, get out of the office, get into nature," said Michael Curnes, director of development with the Nature Conservancy of Canada in B.C.

"Certainly in British Columbia It's very easy to take the mountains and the waterways and the kayaking spots for granted, because we know they're out there, but we need to make conscious efforts to get our bodies into those places and then when we get there to spend time just paying attention to nature."

Curnes told B.C. Almanac that the photographs will form part of an interactive map that is already live on the organization's website and Facebook page.

He said the Nature Conservancy of Canada has protected over 980,000 acres in B.C. since 1974, and hasa goal to reach one million acres by Earth Day 2020.

"We encourage all British Columbians to become part of this history-making moment and help us put away and protect and conserve even more happy places for the future."

As for Curnes' natural happy place?

"My happy place honestly is anywhere in the forest that I can lay down and sink my nose into the moss and just smell in the thousands of years of forest history.

"That's my happy place."

With files from CBC's B.C. Almanac

To hear the full story listen to the audio labelled: Nature Conservancy of Canada wants people to share their 'natural happy places'