Written by Niall Clancy Imagine someone has sneezed over all the rocks in your local stream. If you’ve ever seen Didymosphenia geminata, it shouldn’t be too difficult to imagine what that looks like. In fact, that’s exactly what the people who decided to call this unfortunate algae ‘rock snot’ thought it looked like. Yes, not …
Written by Crystal Mason In 2019 my partner and I volunteered for the BC Parks Citizen Science Wildlife Monitoring Program to install and monitor a trail camera in the Coquihalla area. The program is a BC Parks initiative and data gathered from the program is available to other researchers, including biologists from Canada and the …
As I approached the Swan Lake Provincial Park day use area, my senses were awakened. Colourful tapestries were hanging from the trees, a fire smoldered in the central gathering place, rhythmic drumming blended with the rustling trees, and smells of traditional foods wafted towards me, making my stomach growl. Before I knew it, I was …
For many British Columbians, getting out into nature is as simple as strolling around a local park, driving a short distance out of town for a day hike, or planning a weekend of camping with friends. For those who experience physical barriers to mobility, adventuring in the great outdoors can be more challenging. In the …
Do you remember the first camping experience you ever had? The excitement and nervousness you felt falling asleep in a tent, wrapped up warm in your sleeping bag, with light from your lantern flickering off the tent walls? What about gathering around your first crackling campfire, only to gaze up to the night sky to …
Written by Natasha Ewing The energy in the room was electric. All of us were excited to touch, try and experience the new device sitting in the right corner of the room. The device – a TrailRider – looked a bit odd – almost like a hybrid between a stroller and a wheelbarrow. It had …
Written by Abby Koning Parks Day is coming up, and we are really, really excited. Each year on the third Saturday in July, parks across Canada take a day to recognize and celebrate the important role that parks play in preserving our environment, strengthening our communities, and enriching our lives. Read on for some reasons …
Each of BC Parks’ five regions have been allocated $20,000 to support conservation projects, and $20,000 to support recreation projects. To access this funding for a specific park, please contact your local BC Parks staff or email BCParks.Volunteers@gov.bc.ca to find out who you should contact. Application deadline is June 7, 2019 for all BC Parks regions (West Coast, …
Written by Jessica Bodnar Since the spring of 2017, I have been a volunteer ecological reserve (ER) warden for Chilliwack River. As an ER warden, we are the eyes and ears for BC Parks staff. Each volunteer has their own protected area where we contribute our knowledge and enthusiasm for conservation. Together, we manage the …
Guest post by Ocean Wise Every year, thousands of Canadians volunteer their time to protect our aquatic ecosystems from litter, and in turn, it is important for us to protect the volunteers on the shorelines and make their safety our priority. Before you head out to a shoreline near you, here are some tips to …