The Cercles des Jeunes Naturalistes were founded in 1931 on the initiative of Brother Adrien Rivard, who presented the idea to the Société Canadienne d’Histoire Naturelle, headed by Brother Marie-Victorin. The association, whose mission was to introduce young people in Quebec to knowledge of flora and fauna, was a great success with religious congregations. In Charlesbourg, the Marist Brothers led the association.