Youth and Ecological Restoration

YER provides youth aged twelve to eighteen with one-on-one work experience through ecological restoration methods, ecotherapy practices and mentoring support.

BC Ministry of Children and Family Development has funded YER since 2004.

Through restoring local watersheds with community members,
youth gain a sense of worth, belonging and place.

NEWS and Events

Elders Guiding Youth

Elders Guiding Youth

Oyster River Enhancement Society (ORES) has been a dedicated supporter of Youth and Ecological Restoration (YER) since the program began in 2004. Youth #6 was the first to come and help ORES volunteers with restoring salmon stocks to the river. In 2005, Youth #20 said that “ORES is a birthplace that brings life to the world. It is a place for fish to mate and we can help them.”

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Goose Spit Park Yellow Sand-verbena Inventory 2021

Goose Spit Park Yellow Sand-verbena Inventory 2021

The ecological inventory project was completed in CVRD’s Goose Spit Park during 2021. The work was done by youth participants of the Youth and Ecological Restoration (YER) Program , YER program leader (Wendy Kotilla), and a biologist.

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Cumberland Forest Youth Led Public Tour August 20th AT 12:00 pm

Cumberland Forest Youth Led Public Tour August 20th AT 12:00 pm

Cumberland Community Forest Society (CCFS) and Youth and Ecological Restoration (YER) are excited to invite the public to a youth led tour of the Perseverance Creek corridor on Friday, August 20th at 12:00 pm. This section of forest was purchased in 2020 and is 225 acres in size.

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Goose Spit Park Yellow Sand-verbena Inventory 2020

Goose Spit Park Yellow Sand-verbena Inventory 2020

The ecological inventory project was completed in CVRD’s Goose Spit Park from July 20-24,2020. The work was done by youth participants of the Youth and Ecological Restoration (YER) Program (Iain Petersen and Madelynn Boschman), YER program leader (Wendy Kotilla), and
biologist (Carrina Maslovat).

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YER Transitioning to New Blood

YER Transitioning to New Blood

The Youth and Ecological Restoration Program (YER) is going through changes this fall. After sixteen years of YER being operated by one person, it is time to introduce someone else into the program leadership. This transitioning to new blood has been ongoing for a couple of years with the main goal of ensuring YER continue with its integrity intact.

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Fall Start-up 2020 and Covid Plan Notice

Fall Start-up 2020 and Covid Plan Notice

The year of 2020 has been challenging for everyone. Youth and Ecological Restoration (YER) suspended operations when the COVID pandemic was first realized around the middle of March.

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COVID Plan 2020

COVID Plan 2020

YER will commence the fall program during the third week of September 2020 with the YER COVID Plan in place.

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FUNDING FOR YER GENEROUSLY PROVIDED BY: