Reading and environmental awareness program
Institutions participating in 2025-2026
0
Children aged 3 to 5 reached in 2025-2026
0
What is the Lecteurs en herbe program?
Since 2014, the mission of the Lecteurs en herbe program has been to offer free reading and eco-citizenship awareness workshops to children in CPEs, daycares, community centers and, since 2024, to kindergarten students.
In addition to promoting educational success from an early age and fostering a love of reading, the program exposes toddlers and young children to the natural environments around them. It also raises awareness among children and their families about respecting the environment.
How it works
Once registration is complete, here's what educators and parents can expect from the budding readers program:
45 minutes
Once a month
For 12 months
Outdoor workshops
The program includes one workshop per month. Each workshop features an outdoor outing—such as to a community garden, a vegetable garden, or a park—where the facilitator introduces the children to the topics covered, such as fruits and vegetables or pollinators. The environment serves as a teaching tool: the children learn about the environment. All workshops include one or two readings, educational activities, and a nursery rhyme.
Educational fact sheets
Families whose children participate in the program also receive one educational sheet per month, on different themes. These sheets include reading suggestions and coloring pages.
This project is made possible by financial contributions from :
Meet Clima
Clima is a friendly raccoon who helps GRAME’s facilitators guide the little ones through various themes and storytime sessions. Clima is also an expert on environmental issues and can answer all kinds of questions.
Topics covered
Fruits and
vegetables from the garden
Sharing
Seedlings and seeds
Energy
The colors of
nature
Waste sorting
Planet Earth
Rain and
drinking water
Biodiversity
The trees
The air
The world of bees
Need more information about the program?
Ask Clima!
Workshops often raise a lot of questions among children (or even their parents). And that's just as well, because Clima is there to answer them!
some of the questions Clima is often asked
Why do we recycle so little #6 plastic in Quebec?
It’s simply not cost-effective to recycle it, given its composition. Composed of 98% air, polystyrene (an expanded form of plastic #6) is expensive to transport and process. However, some Quebec cities, such as Matane and Rimouski, do recycle plastic #6!
Is my natural Christmas tree harmful to forests?
No. Trees intended for the sale of Christmas trees are grown for this purpose. Plantations are mainly located in the southwest of the province. The most popular species are balsam and Fraser fir.
What is climate change?
We are currently experiencing global warming. Global temperatures are rising. The causes of climate change may be natural or linked to human activity. Greenhouse gases (e.g. CO2 released by cars, or methane emitted by cattle flatulence) trap the Sun’s energy in the atmosphere and contribute to global warming. When climate warming persists over several years, we speak of climate change.
Frequently asked questions about the program
What organizations are behind the budding readers program?
It was J’apprends avec mon enfant(JAME) and the GRAME who set up Lecteurs en herbe in 2014. Drawing on their respective expertise in family literacy and the environment, the two organizations came up with this reading and environmental awareness program to foster educational success and a connection with nature.
How do I register my group?
The program is currently offered in Lachine, Ville St-Laurent and the Sud-Ouest. If you would like more information or to register, send us an email. Stay informed about our activities by subscribing to GRAME’s newsletter!
Is the program reserved for daycare centers?
Lecteurs en herbe is a program for children aged 3 to 5. Whether you’re a group from a community center, a drop-in daycare or a family group with children aged 3 to 5, you’re welcome!
I'm a home educator with a multi-age group. Can I bring my baby to the workshop?
Yes, if your group consists mainly of children aged 3 to 5, we can accommodate you with a baby.
What happens if it rains?
As Lecteur en herbe includes the reading of two books and we don’t want to damage them, in the event of heavy rain or extreme temperatures, workshops are postponed to a later date or cancelled, depending on group availability. In the event of cancellation, children will still receive the educational sheet for the month’s theme, with suggestions for reading and coloring.