There is a certain time of the year when murmurs of excitement resonate throughout the schools in Squamish, not just heralding the approach of summer vacation, but in anticipation of a unique outdoor learning experience. Within 48 hours from the time the Squamish River Watershed Society (SRWS) puts out the call for its annual program field days, 90 per cent of the spots are snatched up. That's the normal reaction, according to DG Blair, SRWS education co-ordinator.
And this year is no exception.
Already 24 classes have signed up for the sessions to be held at the end of May, which equals more than 500 students, said Blair.
What's all the excitement about? It's the sixth annual Squamish River Estuary Program field days, an initiative launched by SRWS in 2006. It entails a series of field activities held over the course of six days. Each year the program concentrates on different areas and Blair said she is particularly excited about this year's focus.
"There are new ephemeral wetlands created just north of the Adventure Centre, so our focus this year is wetlands and floodplains," she said.
Four stations are set up, manned by volunteers and parents, and two classes participate at the same time. Each class is split in two and then the groups rotate through the stations.
Blair, along with environmental educator Kimberley Amour, will oversee the activities and this year they have students ranging from Kindergarten to Grade 5 who are signed up to take part in the program.
The program's origins date to 2003, said Edith Tobe, SRWS project manager.
"The SWRS recognized that we were doing lots of restoration work but we weren't doing an education component with it other than the occasional sign and media release," Tobe said.
Blair developed a strategic plan for outreach and education around watershed issues for SRWS. It concluded that there was not a focused effort to bring schools into the picture. SRWS then applied for funding and launched a pilot program in 2006.
"I developed a number of activities in a teacher's guide and then designed some field days to bring the students to a field site where they could see firsthand and learn about habitats and participate in restoration activities such as planting riparian vegetation," Blair said.
The pilot project saw 250 students participate - a number that has been rising year after year.
Blair said that for her, it's always been about connecting work in the watershed with the community.
She said she loves working with the students and seeing their enthusiasm for learning about the natural world, and their receptiveness.
"I think it's that and working with the wonderful group of teachers - making that connection between the valuable work that's happening in the community and making that connection to the school."
Tobe agreed.
"It's a great way to generate an appreciation for nature and get kids out of the classroom," she said, adding that digging in the mud is something they'll always remember.
And the feedback SRWS receives from the teachers, parents and from the volunteer community is overwhelmingly supportive, Tobe said.
They share how much they've learned and how they see the town in a different light.
"They get a full understanding of our native plants and know how important our riparian zones are and the concerns about invasive plants or wildlife management."
Teacher Linda Kelly-Smith from Squamish Elementary echoed those sentiments.
"The program has benefits for both the students and the teachers," she said. "It is a wonderful chance for children to explore their environment and to learn about the importance of rivers and watersheds with scientists and other well-trained people. The teachers involved are also learners and have opportunities to expand their own repertoire of skills both through the teacher training sessions."
Kelly-Smith said that every year she hears her students say, "That was the best day of school ever!" and they always ask, "When can we go again?"
The two funding partners this year are the VanCity Community Grant and the RBC Blue Water Project, without which the programs would not be able to run, Tobe said. For more information, visit www.squamishwatershed.com/education.html.
