Education Program Update - June 2023:
Spring Activity!
We’ve had a bustling Spring season filled with outdoor educational outings and stewardship activities in the Estuary. From kindergarten classes learning the importance of mutual support from nurse logs, to a grade 12 class participating in restoration by planting native plants, there was an abundance of opportunities to learn from the Estuary and show gratitude for its gifts through reciprocity.
In Partnership with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and Tenderfoot Creek Hatchery, we were able to run our Salmon Heroes program for about 350 students and community members. This place-based program was run in local parks containing streams and focused on experiential learning to discover the gifts of salmon. The students immersed themselves in an obstacle course to experience the incredible yet challenging life journey of salmon, conducted stream surveys to better understand their natural habitat, and contributed to the release of 100,000 Coho Salmon fry, which were raised by Tenderfoot Creek Hatchery. This program, which provided memorable connections and memories for so many, was supported by DFO and the Squamish Community Foundation.
We also had the pleasure of participating in the Cheakamus Centre Open House on May 7th. As part of the event, we organized a self-guided walk along Fuzzy's Trail to engage visitors with their surroundings on their way to the longhouse. We also shared our collection of nature curiosities with visitors and had a great time exploring the wonders of the natural world with them through handheld microscopes and binoculars.
In Partnership with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and Tenderfoot Creek Hatchery, we were able to run our Salmon Heroes program for about 350 students and community members. This place-based program was run in local parks containing streams and focused on experiential learning to discover the gifts of salmon. The students immersed themselves in an obstacle course to experience the incredible yet challenging life journey of salmon, conducted stream surveys to better understand their natural habitat, and contributed to the release of 100,000 Coho Salmon fry, which were raised by Tenderfoot Creek Hatchery. This program, which provided memorable connections and memories for so many, was supported by DFO and the Squamish Community Foundation.
We also had the pleasure of participating in the Cheakamus Centre Open House on May 7th. As part of the event, we organized a self-guided walk along Fuzzy's Trail to engage visitors with their surroundings on their way to the longhouse. We also shared our collection of nature curiosities with visitors and had a great time exploring the wonders of the natural world with them through handheld microscopes and binoculars.
Photos: Top left & middle and bottom left taken by Jordan Uittenbogaard, bottom middle taken by Davina Dubé
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To promote environmental stewardship, we organized two community events. For Earth Day, we partnered with the Sea to Sky Invasive Species Council (SSICS) to host a community invasive species pull, targeting Lamium and English Ivy. It was wonderful to see the community come out with so much heart to help remove these invasive species (12 bags of them) and support our native ecosystems. We also collaborated with the Marine Stewardship Initiative (MSI) and the Squamish Terminals to conduct a community shoreline cleanup in celebration of World Ocean Day. While scattered along 3rd Avenue with their buckets and garbage pickers, the volunteers were united in their commitment to preserving the beauty and health of our coastal spaces and worked diligently removing debris - some as large as a tarp, but most as small as a cigarette butt.
Photos: top right and bottom left taken by SSISC
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Photos: Middle right taken by Kim Stanley and the rest were taken by Melany Sanchez.
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We love connecting people with nature and cultivating a sense of stewardship for our environment, so we’re extremely grateful for the continued support of our community, passionate volunteers, and dedicated partners, without whom none of this would be possible. Thank you!
What's next?
We’re thrilled to announce our ‘Community Conservation Corner’ schedule for this July and August. This Summer outreach program is meant to help connect our community to our natural spaces and local conservation groups, and to promote community engagement through citizen-science and stewardship activities. We’ve mindfully curated a series of enriching events and workshops aimed at fostering a deeper appreciation of nature and its stewardship. Stay tuned here for more information.
