Contributed by the North Columbia Environmental Society
The North Columbia Environmental Society is excited to announce that it will be reviving the popular Junior Naturalists Program this summer. NCES is very grateful for the support from Parks Canada and funding from the TD Friends of the Environment Fund, as well as supplies and files handed-over by the Friends of Mount Revelstoke and Glacier before they ceased operations.
The NCES has hired contractor Matt Kieller to deliver the program over the summer. Kieller has an honours degree in geography and has extensive experience running programs for youth and children in the outdoors, including instructing the all mountain program through the Revelstoke Ski Club and leading junior mountain bike rides through Skookum Cycle and Ski.
The Junior Naturalists program has been very popular over the past five years, and the NCES is happy to have the opportunity to ensure that it continues to connect children to nature in our local ecosystems.
The program will run for five weeks in July and three weeks in August on weekday mornings from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The program will cost $5 per child. It is open to children ages 5–10. Pre-schoolers may attend with older siblings if accompanied by a parent. The program topics have yet to be finalized but will likely include such programs as Going Batty, Mountain Caribou, and Bear Aware. Mornings are a fun-filled combination of hands on outdoor learning activities and games that bring children closer to nature.
Pre-registration is required and spaces fill quickly. Payment can be made the day of each program. Please contact juniornaturalist@gmail.com in order to register your child or gather further information on programming.
Matt Kieller will is also working for the NCES to support the Glacier Adventure Stewardship Program (GASP) which will be running on August 30, 31 and Sept 1st, in partnership with Parks Canada, Community Connections, the Stoke Youth Network and Revelstoke Secondary School.