Contributed by Parks Canada
This past long week-end, eleven RSS students participated in the Glacier Adventure Stewardship Program (GASP) in Glacier National Park. 2013 marks the third year for GASP, a program that provides opportunities for local youth to connect with their natural and cultural heritage.
The Glacier Adventure Stewardship Program (GASP) provides local youth the opportunity to build teamwork and leadership skills through photography, music, backcountry and hiking experiences in Glacier National Park.
The program also facilitates volunteer stewardship opportunities for youth to demonstrate leadership by giving back to their community. Stewardship activities vary from year to year but may include invasive species weed pulls, flora and fauna restoration or helping at cultural or environmental festivals in and around the community.
Skilled professionals, some volunteers, provide mentoring in a variety of areas such as photography, music and backcountry skill development. Photographers Natalie Harris and Kip Wiley of Revelstoke BC volunteered to mentor the students in photography this year. Photos taken by the students will be on display at the Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre Nov. 8–Dec. 6 in Gallery 2, and at the Modern Bakeshop & Cafe for the month of December.
GASP is a partner program led by Parks Canada (Alice Weber) with the North Columbia Environmental Society (Matt Keeler), Revelstoke Community Connections (Laura Kanik) and Revelstoke Secondary School. GASP also receives support from Canadian Pacific, the City of Revelstoke (Megan Shandro), Alpine Club of Canada, Mountain Equipment Co-op, NorthFace, Columbia Basin Trust, Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre and volunteers.
GASP invites volunteers and local grade 9/10 students to participate in next year’s adventure week-end, September 12º14, 2014. In addition, the program welcomes recommendations for volunteer stewardship activities for GASP students over the next year. Please contact Parks Canada at 250-837-7500 or Laura Kanik at Community Connections at 250-837-2920 for more information.