On August 24th at 12:00 pm the Youth and Ecological Restoration Program (YER) will host the third and final 2014 youth led public tour at Bear Creek Nature Park. This is a YER, Phase II project funded by the Ministry of Children and Family Development and the Comox Valley Regional District, Grant in Aid funds (CVRD).
Bear Creek Nature Park has been a CVRD managed public park since 2010. The 161 acre park was a combined donation and purchase from the previous owner and is certified as an ecological gift with Environment Canada, Ecological Gifts Program. CVRD and Ducks Unlimited Canada are jointly required to maintain and protect the park significant ecological values and promote public awareness.
Since 1983, the Oyster River Enhancement Society (ORES) has been conserving wild Pacific salmon stocks and their habitat in the Oyster River watershed. ORES has a fish hatchery operation on the lower floodplain of the park, which includes a side channel network for salmon spawning and juvenile rearing habitat. About thirty dedicated volunteers meet on Tuesday mornings to contribute to salmon enhancement in the river.
YER provides work experience, training and support for youth through restoring local watersheds with community members. Most YER, Phase I participants are involved with ORES conservation work. This YERII project will involve two youth in completing an ecological inventory in Channel #1 and conclude with them leading the tour.
Please join us at Bear Creek Nature Park on August 24th at 12:00 pm. Follow the old Island Highway north, go left on Hamm Road, then right on Macauley Road to the park entrance on the right and drive to the upper parking area. See you there. FMI contact Wendy Kotilla at wkotilla@shaw.ca or 250-336-8487.