Youth and Ecological Restoration
Since 2004 YER has provided youth aged twelve to eighteen with one-on-one work experience through ecological restoration methods, ecotherapy practices and mentoring support.
YER is funded by Ministry of Children and Family Development, Comox Valley Regional District and Comox Valley School District.
Through restoring local watersheds with community members, youth gain a sense of worth, belonging and place.
The YER film “Ecology Transforms Youth” follows eight youth as they explore the rivers and estuaries of the Comox Valley. Created by filmmaker Ed Carswell, the film was shown at the World Community Film Festival on February 2nd, 2020.
Vision
The YER vision is to engage youth in a wider circle of community relationships, in both the human and natural worlds. Involving them with meaningful work and caring adults supports them in building self-esteem and has the ability to transform their lives. In YER, youth travel a journey together with their community and experience a better relationship with the people and place called home.
Photo by Ed Carswell.
YER GOALS
Building Healthy Community Relationships
Cooperation, Support and Compassion; Positive Role Models and Mentoring; Increased Community Capacity and Caring.
“This program helped me to be a citizen, helped me to work with the community. It was a good experience for me. I loved helping the community and it’s something I’ll never forget. I hope I can give the knowledge to other people.”
Gaining Valued Work Experience
Data Collection Methods; Working with Tools; Worksite Safety; Job Variety; Good Work Ethics.
“Skills and experience I gained that I can add to my job resume are: teamwork, communication skills, knowing that I will do the best I can no matter how hard it is going to be and not giving up.”
Improving Ecological Knowledge
Ecosystem Cycles and Interconnections; Identification Techniques for Plants, Animals and Fish; Understanding Environmental Impacts
“Trees depend on the fish and the fish depend on the trees. It’s all a circle, an ecosystem. Fish help the trees with nutrients, the trees grow big and it helps the fish because they give them shade and it keeps the water from heating up.”
Increasing Personal And Social Skills
Meaningful Participation and Empowerment; Commitment, Respect and Responsibility; Patience and Endurance; Accomplishment, Self-confidence and Success
“I found this experience rewarding in the sense that I feel I have been helpful and gained confidence and also can do anything I set my mind to. I feel like a leader in my community.”
Enhancing Communication
Public Speaking and Leadership; Active Listening and Engagement; Interpersonal Relationships.
“I think that it is something you feel good about because you are giving back to your community. The presentation gives you confidence because when a group of people respond in a positive way it gives you courage and confidence.”
One of the highlights of my term as Area B Director on the Comox Valley Regional District was getting a tour of Goose Spit and learning about the yellow sand verbena and its associated sand verbena moth. The youth that led the tour were engaging and had obviously collected some incredibly valuable data that are helping our staff better manage the area to protect this endangered species. YER is such a fantastic program. Youth benefit from learning leadership and ecological data collection skills. The community benefits from this youth engagement and the information they collect. It has been an honour to support YER.
The YER program is unique in bringing young people together with the elders of the community to learn and develop appreciation for our natural environment. Youth work hand in hand with people who have demonstrated a lifetime of care and responsibility for our natural systems. They have much wisdom and such a fine example of service to impart, and these are transformative experiences for the young people who have been involved. Congratulations on all the accomplishments of ten years and all the best for the continuing success of the program.
Background photo by Ed Brooks, Backdoor Gallery.
YER PROGRAMS
YER Phase I
YER I is a 20-hour program providing one-on-one work experience, training and support for youth aged twelve to eighteen who are experiencing challenges connecting with school, community and employment.
YER Phase II
The focus is on a specific environmental project for advanced learning about ecological information, research techniques, and collaboration and communication skills.
YER Phase III
YER III is more advanced with an increased teaching responsibility. The initial YER III project occurred in 2015 with Comox Valley Project Watershed Society to restore salt marsh grass ecosystems in the K’omoks Estuary.
You will learn about
Salmon enhancement
Wildlife rehabilitation
Forest restoration
Research techniques
YER News
Comox Valley Project Watershed Society Restoration and Reconnection 2022 Video
YER Founder, Wendy Kotilla, was featured in the 2022 Project Watershed video, Restoration and Reconnection. She was a founding director of PW in 1993. Wendy shared her perspectives on stewardship, and the value of traditional ecological knowledge and western science. Both are valid sources of data required to care for the Earth and other species we share this planet with.
Clayoquot Biosphere Trust – UNESCO Biosphere Region – Project Research Highlights 2022
From 1993 to 1998, Wendy Kotilla was involved with Clayoquot Biosphere Project as one of hundreds of people documenting the natural history of the Clayoquot River watershed. She was one of eight researchers highlighted in the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust Storymap. Her work focussed on longitudinal salmon distribution in the river. Due to this collective database, the watershed remains unlogged today.
Second Shamanistic Gathering and Conference In Finland from August 11 to 14, 2022
“ECOLOGY TRANSFORMS YOUTH”
Mielikki Kotilainen (Wendy Kotilla) has been drawn to nature for shamanistic healing and guidance throughout her life in Canada. Since the age of four, she has gone to rivers for solace. Nature rituals include witnessing eagles bathing and listening to ancient forest wisdom. Mielikki has engaged in Native American sweat lodge, bathing and Sundance ceremonies for over twenty years. Her ancestors came from Kivijarvi and Tampere in Central Finland.
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.”
Comox Valley Project Watershed Society Restoration and Reconnection 2022 Video
YER Founder, Wendy Kotilla, was featured in the 2022 Project Watershed video, Restoration and Reconnection. She was a founding director of PW in 1993. Wendy shared her perspectives on stewardship, and the value of traditional ecological knowledge and western science. Both are valid sources of data required to care for the Earth and other species we share this planet with.
Clayoquot Biosphere Trust – UNESCO Biosphere Region – Project Research Highlights 2022
From 1993 to 1998, Wendy Kotilla was involved with Clayoquot Biosphere Project as one of hundreds of people documenting the natural history of the Clayoquot River watershed. She was one of eight researchers highlighted in the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust Storymap. Her work focussed on longitudinal salmon distribution in the river. Due to this collective database, the watershed remains unlogged today.
Second Shamanistic Gathering and Conference In Finland from August 11 to 14, 2022
“ECOLOGY TRANSFORMS YOUTH”
Mielikki Kotilainen (Wendy Kotilla) has been drawn to nature for shamanistic healing and guidance throughout her life in Canada. Since the age of four, she has gone to rivers for solace. Nature rituals include witnessing eagles bathing and listening to ancient forest wisdom. Mielikki has engaged in Native American sweat lodge, bathing and Sundance ceremonies for over twenty years. Her ancestors came from Kivijarvi and Tampere in Central Finland.
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.”
FUNDING FOR YER
GENEROUSLY
PROVIDED BY:
