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PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS
“The more the local population Christmas Bird Count
learns and understands the natural This annual activity is part of a global bird count and a national bird count
history of our local Salish Sea, the (organized by the Pender Harbour Wildlife Society) and carried out by boat and
more likely they are to be advocates by land during the week before Christmas. The Lagoon Society’s community
for conservation efforts that are citizen scientists serve as the core group for this long-running survey.
dearly needed during these times of
increasing environmental stress.” Sunshine Coast Wildlife Project Workshop
Participants get busy building duck, owl, swallow nesting boxes and bat roost
- Rand Rudland, President, Sargeant boxes from pre-cut and pre-drilled cedar. They also learn skills involved in
Bay Society mason bee cocoon cleaning! This annual workshop is hosted at the Iris Griffith
Nature Centre.
Strongstart Field Trips
One of our most joyous outings is with our friends at the Sunshine Coast School
District (SD46) Strongstart Program. We transport Parent and Tot participants
on the Wood Duck Bus to the Iris Griffith Nature Centre for field trips. The
Wonderwheels Literacy Bus joins us on these fun outings for snack and
storytime after our hike and pond dipping sessions. Parachute playtime and sea
creature puppets outdoors is also a favorite activity with the little ones.
Cultural Awareness Field Trips
Visiting Smuggler Cove Provincial Parks with school groups, we identify native
plant species and talk about the traditional fishing methods that used fish traps
and fish weirs. A shíshálh Nation educator joins us with drumming, singing, and
storytelling.
Social Responsibility Class Field Trips
Secondary students practice social responsibility, taking on the not-so-pretty
job of beach clean ups on Thormanby Island and Sargeant Bay, cleaning
campsites and firepits. Students haul garbage items, including large billets of
styrofoam and other marine debris – this year saw the removal of a washed-up
refrigerator!
Coastal Stewardship Summer Camp
Every year, students with the Glenwood Christian Camp arrive to the coast,
ready to do much-needed service work. Lagoon Society staff collaborate with
Glenwood leaders to map out tasks for the students, who perform 4 hours
of service per day for 5 days at several parks and nature reserves stewarded
by the Lagoon Society. Their hard work includes trail maintenance, invasive
species removal, installation of nesting boxes, sanding and staining of public
benches, and more. This year students also assisted us in our forage fish beach
spawning surveys at Thormanby Island and did a beach cleanup. Through this
collaboration, the students gain valuable experience in both coastal stewardship
and social responsibility.
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