The Program

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.

Youth work with community members to restore the environmental health of local watersheds. Worksite transportation, homemade lunch, work tools and wet weather gear are all supplied.

Ecological restoration activities include salmon enhancement, habitat restoration, watershed assessment and monitoring, and community environmental education. Youth gain employment experience, build personal confidence, and improve communication and life skills, while learning about local watersheds and ecosystems.

YER I can be used to fulfill school work experience programs and complete community service hours. On completion, each youth gives an oral presentation for a community group about their experience. Youth are awarded with a YER I certificate, sticker and crest; a letter of reference; and receive fifty dollars.

YER II entry requirement is that youth have graduated from YER I, and they are genuinely motivated to build on skills gained in the original program. Two YER I graduates, the YER coordinator and an environmental professional all work together to further instill teamwork and cooperation practices.

The focus is on a specific environmental project for advanced learning about ecological information, research techniques, and collaboration and communication skills. Examples of YER II projects include: radio tracking summer chinook salmon in the Puntledge River; conducting salmon population estimates in Millard Creek rearing channel; mapping the Oyster River side channel; performing ecological inventories in Comox Valley Regional District parks; and establishing surface and groundwater monitoring stations in the headwaters of Millard Creek.

YERII completion involves two youth guiding a public tour of the project site. On conclusion the youth achieve a YER II personal photo certificate; YER hooded jacket; a letter of reference for their specific work project; and fifty dollars.

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.

One youth was trained in salt marsh grass ecosystems and restoration methods, and then helped teach planting techniques to four groups of one hundred and forty Royston Elementary School children.

On completion of YER III, the youth gave Project Watershed, Estuary Working Group a power point presentation about the employment experience. A higher payment of two hundred dollars; a personalized certificate and custom letter of reference are awarded on completion.