FieldFinders Impact Overview


A snapshot of how exploration, sustainability, and environmental learning are growing through the FieldFinders community.

  • 10,000+ nature discoveries encouraged

    Children observe wildlife, plants, landscapes, and ecosystems while exploring outdoors.

  • 30+ parks featured across British Columbia

    The Explorer Map highlights parks and natural destinations families can explore together.

  • 500+ families exploring outdoors

    Families using FieldFinders tools to discover nature and learn through outdoor adventures.

  • 12,000+ plastic bottles avoided

    Reusable bottles encourage refill habits and help reduce disposable plastic waste.

  • Up to 90% lower travel emissions

    Exploring nearby parks can significantly reduce transportation emissions compared with long-distance recreation.

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How These Numbers Are Estimated

Nature Discoveries

Assumption used:

• around 10 discoveries per outdoor outing

(plants, birds, insects, landscapes, water features, tracks)

Example estimate:

1,000 outings × 10 discoveries

= 10,000 nature discoveries

Parks featured

This number comes directly from the current FieldFinders Explorer Map, which includes 30+ parks and natural destinations across British Columbia.

Families Exploring Outdoors

This estimate reflects early participation including:

• product users

• community followers

• presale interest

• family participation

Rounded estimate:

500+ exploring families

Plastic Bottles Avoided

This estimate assumes each refill replaces one disposable bottle.

Example estimate:

12,000 refill events

= 12,000 plastic bottles avoided

Travel Emissions Comparison

Exploring nearby parks instead of traveling long distances can reduce travel emissions by about 22.6 kg CO₂ per trip — roughly 90% lower emissions, based on vehicle emission estimates from Natural Resources Canada.

Impact Pillars

  • 🌍 Climate Awareness

    Encouraging nearby outdoor adventures that reduce travel emissions.

  • 🌲 Nature Discovery

    Encouraging curiosity and observation in ecosystems.

  • 🏞 Local Exploration

    Helping families discover parks and natural destinations close to home.

  • 💧 Water Awareness

    Promoting refill culture and reducing single-use plastic bottles.

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Water footprint impact

Reducing the Water Footprint of Outdoor Adventures

Disposable plastic bottles require both water and energy during production.

Research suggests producing a single plastic bottle can require about 5.3 liters of water across its manufacturing footprint.

Encouraging refill culture helps reduce both plastic waste and water consumption during outdoor trips.

Estimated Water Savings

FieldFinders water-impact estimate uses:

12,000 bottles avoided × 5.3 L per bottle

≈ 63,600 liters of water saved

That’s roughly 318 household bathtubs of water.

Why this matters:
Refillable bottles reduce the water and resources required to produce disposable plastic bottles.

Carbon footprint impact

Lower-Carbon Outdoor Exploration

Transportation is one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions.

Choosing nearby parks instead of traveling long distances can significantly reduce travel-related emissions.

According to Natural Resources Canada, a typical passenger vehicle emits approximately:

206 g CO₂ per kilometer

Emissions Comparison

Long-distance trip (120 km): ≈ 24.7 kg CO₂

Local park visit (10 km): ≈ 2.1 kg CO₂

Choosing nearby parks can reduce travel emissions by about 22.6 kg CO₂ per trip — roughly 90% lower emissions.

Why this matters:
Local exploration supports climate-conscious recreation while helping families discover nearby nature.

Learning through nature

Environmental Learning Through Exploration

Outdoor exploration is one of the most powerful ways children learn about the environment.

By observing plants, wildlife, water systems, and landscapes, children develop curiosity and environmental awareness.

FieldFinders tools support these discoveries.

Explorer tools include:

• Explorer bottles and discovery stickers

• Trail ring cards

• Explorer neck gaiters

• The FieldFinders Explorer Map

Research from the Children & Nature Network shows that learning outdoors improves focus, wellbeing, and connection with nature.

Learning Through Nature

These categories reflect common experiences observed in:

• forest school programs

• outdoor environmental education

• nature interpretation programs

Why This Matters
Outdoor exploration turns everyday observations into learning moments. Discovering plants, wildlife, and ecosystems helps children develop curiosity, environmental awareness, and a lasting connection with nature.

Methodology

FieldFinders impact estimates combine:

• Real map and location data

• Early community participation

• Environmental research

• Simplified calculations designed to help families understand environmental impact.

These figures are intended as educational illustrations showing how everyday outdoor habits can contribute to environmental awareness and sustainability.

Our Approach to Technology

At FieldFinders, we use digital tools—including AI—in a thoughtful and limited way.

These tools help us:

• Reduce physical waste from prototyping and printing

• Operate as a small, efficient team

• Focus more resources on outdoor education and experiences

We recognize that all technology has an environmental footprint, and we are committed to continuously improving how we use it.

Environmental context on this page references publicly available research, including sources:

Environment and Climate Change Canada

National greenhouse gas emissions statistics and climate context for Canada.

Natural Resources Canada

Average passenger vehicle emissions data used to estimate transportation-related CO₂ emissions.

Water Footprint Network

Research on water use in manufacturing and the water footprint associated with plastic bottle production.


Children and Nature Network

Research on the benefits of outdoor learning and how time in nature supports children's wellbeing and environmental awareness.