About Wellchild Niagara

Wellchild Niagara is a startup not-for-profit organization in St. Catharines dedicated to nurturing the holistic wellbeing of children, youth, and families across the Niagara Region.

Through nature-based, play-centered, and mindfulness-aligned programs, we empower young people to grow with confidence, calm, curiosity, and connection.

But we are more than the programs we offer today — we are building a long-term vision for community wellbeing.

Our Growth Journey

Wellchild Niagara is in a meaningful stage of early growth. As we establish ourselves in the Niagara Region, we are building strong foundations—robust governance, high-quality programs, sustainable partnerships, and a commitment to community wellbeing.

Over time, we will continue expanding our offerings for children and youth, including nature and forest programs, school-based mindfulness, family programming, and youth leadership pathways.

Our long-term vision includes creating a community hub where children, youth, and families can access holistic wellness programs, resources, and community connections all in one place.

We are growing intentionally—guided by our values, shaped by community needs, and rooted in a long-term vision of accessible, nature-rich wellbeing for all children and families in Niagara.

Vision Statement

Our vision is a thriving, inclusive Niagara Region where every child and youth feels supported, connected and empowered to live a healthy, balanced and meaningful life.

Mission Statement

Our mission is to foster the holistic development of Niagara's youth by providing high-quality programs rooted in mindfulness, movement, nature and play - supporting the social, emotional and physical wellbeing of children and youth in Niagara.

Our Values

Play Well

We honour the power of play to spark joy, creativity, exploration and growth.

Be Well

We nurture lifelong wellbeing through mindfulness, movement and connection.

Do Well

We empower youth to lead, contribute and create positive change within their communities.

Our Pillars

Mindfulness

Our programs cultivate presence, emotional regulation, resilience and compassion.

Sustainability

We make responsible, community-minded choices that honour the environment and promote long-term stewardship.

Community

Strong relationships are the heart of our work. We build belonging through collaboration, inclusion and shared experiences.

Why We Exist

Children today are growing up in a fast-paced world filled with pressure, expectations, and limited opportunities to slow down, play, connect, and breathe. Too often, support only becomes available once a child is already overwhelmed, anxious, or in crisis.

We are here to change that.

At Wellchild Niagara, we focus on prevention, early support, and lifelong skills. Our programs are intentionally designed to reach children before challenges escalate — giving them fun, accessible, and developmentally-appropriate tools that strengthen emotional regulation, confidence, self-awareness, and resilience.

But we also know that life doesn’t always wait.

Sometimes challenges have already surfaced.

And when that happens, we meet children exactly where they are — with compassion, patience, and a gentle, strengths-based approach that helps them feel safe, seen, and supported.

Through mindful movement, nature exploration, creative play, and warm relationship-building, we give children tools they can use for the rest of their lives:

the ability to notice and understand their feelings
the confidence to trust themselves
the resilience to navigate hard moments
the sense of belonging that comes from being part of a caring community

We exist because early support matters.

Because every child deserves to grow up feeling capable, grounded, and connected.
And because wellbeing shouldn’t wait until crisis — and neither should care.

Our Commitment to Niagara

We are deeply rooted in the Niagara community. Our commitment is to provide inclusive, accessible, culturally aware, and relationship-based programs that honour the diverse strengths of children and families.

We collaborate with schools, recreation centres, community partners and local organizations to create pathways for wellbeing, leadership and belonging.

We invite you to be part of our journey.

Join a program, volunteer, support our work or partner with us to build a healthier, more connected future for children and youth across Niagara.