Look below to learn about some great BC activities that you can get involved in.
- Catching the Spirit (http://catchingthespirit.com/)- Are you interested in a green summer experience, filled with hikes, camping and eco-activities? If so, you can register for Catching the Spirit this year! Catching the Spirit, or commonly known as CtS, is a fun, opportunity-filled program that is big on green initiatives. Several activities include pulling invasive species, camping and active games that will be sure to keep your summer up. Not only do you learn about the environment and meet new people, you also receive volunteer hours for your time. If you are 12 to 18 years of age, you can register as a Spirit Ranger or a Spirit Steward. A Spirit Ranger takes on the job of patrolling and monitoring the park. They answer questions, monitor the park and report any issues. Spirit Stewards are the ones who do the camping and games in the program. Both are great opportunities, but if you’re looking for something more challenging, you might want to undertake the job of a Peer Leader. Peer Leaders, aged 15 to 18, are part of the leadership, and act as a role model for younger participants.
- FUN Camps (http://funcamps.ca/Home.html) – FUN Camps is an environmental day camp in Vancouver and Victoria. Here, you’ll have a fun and memorable experience where you’ll learn about the environment and meet other green kids. Activities include green games, learning about the Earth, eco crafts, renewable energy experiments, calculating your eco footprint and finding how far your food traveled from. Each week has a different theme, such as water, energy, food, transportation and nature. If you’re aged 6-12, you can be a FUN Camps participant and if you’re aged 13-16, you can be a peer leader to help lead the camps.
- UBC Farm (http://www.landfood.ubc.ca/ubcfarm/) – UBC Farm i s a 24 hectare learning and research farm located on UBC’s campus. During the growing season, the farm grows a variety of vegetables, herbs and fruit including carrots, radishes, beats, beans, peas, baby lettuce and more. The farm provides the community with fresh, local, organic and minimally packaged produce. On Saturdays, throughout the summer, they hold markets where you can purchase their produce. As well, people of all ages can volunteer at the farm (on their own schedule – you can come as often as 4 times a week or as little as once during the whole summer) to learn some gardening experience, get involved in your community and help out the farm by weeding, harvesting and packaging fresh vegetables. The farm is also used as a research facility for the university. Volunteering at the farm or going to the farmer’s markets are great ways to get involved in a more sustainable community!
- Lower Mainland Green Team (http://www.meetup.com/The-Lower-Mainland-Green-Team) – The Lower Mainland Green Team is an environmental group that meets all over BC’s Lower Mainland a few times a month to help work on an environmental issue, such as pulling invasive species, planting native trees, restoring areas along streams, rivers or marches, beach clenups, harvesting organic produce and restoring wildlife sites. People of all ages are welcome and will be able to meet like-minded people, get involved in an environmental project, get educated about natural spaces and environmental problems, get experience, explore natural spaces and have fun! This is a great group and a great way to get involved!
