Salmonids In and Out of the Classroom | |
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Year
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 |
2009 |
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Proponent
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Kamloops/Thompson School District |
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Project type
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Engagement |
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FSWP funding source
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Living Rivers |
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Grant amount
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$29,060 |
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Total project value
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$66,662 |
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ID number
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09-LR38-E |
Location:
Thompson
Project Summary
Overview
This project is divided into four sub-projects:
Project #1 would involve secondary students working with the Simpcw Nation on a 3 day retreat with the focus on Streamkeeper training (Mods. 1.2.3 & 4) combined with cultural learning and career information. The Simpcw Nation will be responsible for providing the cultural training, while we will work collaboratively to plan the retreat and the careers section. Gord Stewart and Joanne Nicklas will deliver the Streamkeepers training.
Project #2 has a similar focus, but would involve elementary students. Each class of elementary students would have training in ethnobotony, aquatic and terrestrial invasive species, technology, modified Streamkeepers course, (Modules 1,2,3 & 4) and historical and cultural components. Classes would visit each others school twice; sharing this information and exploring the surrounding territory as it relates to the topics.
#3; the Angling Ambassadors program is a pilot project of Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC where the local BC Wildlife Federation Club works with the general public to promote fishing and provide information and advice at various lakes in the region. High school students would get Angling Ambassador training, as well as Pleasure Craft Operation Certification, fly-tieing, and aquatic insect training. This training would all go towards their Career and Personal Planning program hours, which is a graduation requirement.
#4: The final project is linking community groups, First Nations groups, and individuals together to not only learn from one another, but to provide the community at large with learning opportunities which will encourage behaviour change. Examples: each year over 1 000 students and parents visit the salmon fry release site. Developing an active game that teaches about habitat issues in the Interior of BC is a needed activity. Last year the City purchased a city model to show water intake, output and usage. Developing charts, graphs, etc. to discuss these issues would be very valuable not only in the schools, but with public events such as Rivers Day, Earth Day and Open Houses. Providing information via workshops, guest speakers, etc. would all help to avoid ‘nature-deficit disorder’ with audiences, and would encourage knowledge, and skills, which will lead to positive action.
Objectives
1. Streamkeepers training (Modules 1,2,3, and 4) to high school students (C.A.P.P. hours) from Barriere Sec. delivered by Gord Stewart from the BIG Little Science Centre. This 3 day training session would also have a cultural and career training component delivered by the Simpcw First Nations Band.
2. Elementary students from BEST and Chief Ataham would have a Jr. Streamkeeper course and F. N. studies, and invasive species delivered by teachers and support staff from the schools. Students would then visit each other’s schools, and learn about cultural topics as part of their school curriculum.
3. High school students would get training to be Angling Ambassadors, as well as training and certificate on Pleasure Craft Operation and fly-tying. Students would then help the local club members to teach families and individuals about safe and fun fishing at local lakes, while getting graduation CAPP hours.
4. Work with BIG L.S.C., City of Kamloops, Wildlife Federation, Fish and Game Clubs, First Nations and other groups to provide resources to visitors, students, teachers, etc. who attend events such as fry release, Earth Day, Rivers Day, and Open Houses. Goal would be a minimum of 25 events.
Methods
The high school Streamkeepers course would be a modification of the Pacific Steamkeepers methodology. The approx. 25 students will be bussed to a local lake with accommodations and have some in-class lessons before the hands-on work at a local creek. Elders and band members from Simpcw will help to plan and deliver the cultural and career component throughout the training. Deb Draney, Aboriginal Principal will work with all groups to deliver a quality program. Students will be housed at the site and will be involved from morning to night. They will leave with a locally developed Streamkeepers Certificate as well as 30 C.A.P.P. hours, which are needed to graduate.
The elementary program will have a modified version of Mapping, Aquatic Insects, and Water Quality taught in the classroom before visiting the river. Technology will allow for communication and sharing information before the students meet. Invasive species will have a guest speaker for the Aquatic component and the TNRD staff will lead the noxious weeds lessons and the weed-pull. This will all be a part of the school curriculum so student assessment will measure the objectives. Staff at each school will help deliver the cultural component and students will learn much from each other and from visiting schools.
The Angling Ambassador Program will work with students from NorKam and will also have a classroom component for the Angling Ambassador Program, the Pleasurecraft Operator Program, fly-tieing, and aquatic insect study. Once the students have participated in the classroom portion, they become Angling Ambassadors and work with local BCWF club members at local lakes. The students will count these hours towards their C.A.P.P. graduation requirement. The students will benefit from this training, and the clubs will benefit from having younger people to mentor.
Working and sharing knowledge with community groups, government representatives, First Nations Bands, Schools and individuals from the community is very rewarding for all involved. As District Resource Teacher for Environmental Education Programs for a number of years, connections have already been established for many community groups (Forestry, Min.of Envir., Fisheries, Ducks Unlimited, Science Centre, City, TNRD, First Nations etc) and most groups have an education mandate. Events such as Rivers Day and Earth Day requires communication and co-ordination between these groups. Big Little Science Centre open houses requires developing and setting up displays and activities, and fry release days involve planning with school groups.
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