Introduction
The people of Hope, Agassiz, Harrison Hot Springs and Boston Bar have long had excellent water quality. Fraser Cascade communities are in a position to maintain our greatest resource--healthy waterways--by working together on joint educational efforts. Fraser Cascade School District and Hope Mountain Centre for Outdoor Learning, in partnership with Fraser Valley Regional District Parks, are developing and following through with water resources programs for our youth. These bright young people promise to be the future stewards of our waterways.
Thacker Regional Park, including Sucker’s Creek wetlands, is a nine hectare regional park in the Hope community. The park area includes crucial spawning and rearing channels for coho, pink, and chum salmon, a one kilometre-long trail for all ages, interpretive signage and toilet facilities. Cheam Lake Wetlands is a 93 hectare regional park located near the towns of Agassiz and Harrison. Approximately 2 kilometres of trails, with raised walkways and an elevated viewing platform, are ideal learning stages for youth of all ages. Facilities in the Cheam Lake area include an information shelter, toilets, seasonal running water and an information kiosk. Both wetland areas host a multitude of flora and fauna, including birds, insects, amphibians, mammals and wetland plants.
Hope, Agassiz and Boston Bar are all communities located on the Fraser River which drains the largest watershed in British Columbia. Other key watershed systems in our area include the Skagit and Chehalis Rivers. These rivers, lakes, ponds and wetlands will provide the classrooms for our students as they explore and come to understand the value of healthy waterways.
As a joint project between Fraser Cascade School District and Hope Mountain Centre for Outdoor Learning, a Wetlands Program has been implemented starting in October 2009 for Grade 4 students that works toward maintaining our valuable waterways well into the future. In May of 2010 Grade 5 students will participate in developing a watersheds educational program. In all, these programs will reach over 300 students each year. Using a hands-on learning approach, our students, through an experienced naturalist, adult volunteers and teachers, are gaining an interest and personal connection with our local wetlands and watersheds. Hope Mountain Centre volunteers will continue to be the cornerstone of these school and community programs.
The Young Stewards Programs are made possible through financial and resource development support of Nestle Waters Canada, which operate facilities in Hope.
Naturalist, Kelly Pearce, provides water ecology instruction to Fraser Cascade School District Grade 4 students.
Programs
1. Young Stewards of the Wetlands Program
Location: Wetlands of Sucker’s Creek, Cheam Lake and Miami River in Harrison.
Grade: 4
2. Young Stewards of our Watersheds Program
Location: Watersheds of the Fraser, Skagit and Chehalis Rivers.
Grade: 5
Banner photo: Nestle Waters Canada
Sep 03, 2010