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The renowned painter attended the school during his own formative years - the first painting he ever sold was to his eighth grade science teacher - making the Toronto school an ideal launching ground for the program, which Bateman helped design.

The Get To Know Your Wild Neighbours program includes an interactive CD to help youngsters learn about the environment in which they live and the wildlife that can be found even in urban settings.

Bateman said he hopes the CD reintroduces kids to the great outdoors by piquing their interest in flora and fauna through interactive virtual nature walks, quizzes and other features.

"There's an alien invader invading the brains of young people all across North America, and it goes by the name 'electronics,'" he said. "My nightmare vision for the future is that all human beings will view all art, nature and human relations on a screen."

While he acknowledged that the CD is no substitute for experiencing nature first-hand, Bateman said he hoped to see the program serve as a springboard for more intensive enjoyment of the outside world and all it has to offer.

"It's easy to get into nature, even in Toronto," he said. "Getting out into nature brings about an absolute transformation in kids."

He pointed to the nearby Belt Line ravine as one naturalized area that he enjoyed as a child and where local youth can still go to get a taste of nature.

The artist cited decreases in obesity, attention deficit disorders, depression, drug and alcohol abuse and bullying as well as better grades in school as some of the benefits that students can achieve through regular interaction with the wilderness.

"My dream wish for Ontario is that every school kid could get a week out in nature every year," he told the students who attended the program's launch.

Forest Hill students were thrilled to have the artist stop by their school, and several of the school's visual arts students got a chance to spend some time with the famous painter.

"It's a really exciting feeling getting to talk to a very well-known artist in Canada," said Grade 7 student Gilad K. Bentov. "He's definitely the most famous artist we've ever had a chance to meet."

Fellow seventh grader Rachel Simon said she hopes to see the CD have a real impact on students and their interest level in nature.

"I'm afraid nobody in Toronto these days gets enough time outside," she said. "I'd like to see more of this kind of thing in school, and outside of school as well."

Forest Hill principal Bill Waldman said he hoped to use the Get To Know program to impress upon students the importance of enjoying life away from the usual television and video game-driven world to which many students are accustomed.

"We do a fair bit here at school, with trips to outdoor education centres, films about the environment and natural walking tours around the neighbourhood," he said. "But the more kids are exposed to nature, the better it will be for everyone."

Education Minister Kathleen Wynne (Don Valley West) attended the program launch and said the Get To Know CDs would become a staple in classrooms, with content that could apply across in curriculum in such diverse fields as science, civics and an environmental studies class currently in development.

"We're in the process of developing curriculum materials so that we can offer (environmental studies) to Grade 11 students and (the Get To Know program) is one resource that teachers have access to now and will have going forward," she said. "It's definitely a great resource to have."

The CD is being distributed to all Ontario schools, with a limited number going on sale to the public on Dec. 1. Visit www.gettoknow.ca for details.