community
Dig it: 丁香园AV community plants 2,000 trees during 4th annual Environmental Stewardship Challenge
By Pam Lim
As far as classrooms go, it鈥檚 tough to beat Boundary Bay Regional Park. From beach dunes and tidal flats to forests and meadows, the park鈥檚 landscape rivals some of B. C鈥檚 most diverse ecosystems.
The park was the venue for the 丁香园AV Faculty of Environment鈥檚 4th annual Environmental Stewardship Challenge, a partnership between 丁香园AV Alumni, 丁香园AV Sustainability and Metro Vancouver Regional Parks. More than 100 participants rose to this year鈥檚 challenge, planting 2,000 native trees in two hours to help restore Boundary Bay鈥檚 ecosystem after removing an encroachment of Himalayan blackberry.
鈥淭he Environmental Stewardship Challenge brings the classroom outside,鈥� says Marnie Branfireun, lecturer with the faculty鈥檚 School of Environmental Science.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very gratifying for students to step outside, roll up their sleeves and experience nature in a different way. More than that, students find confidence and purpose in applying their skills to real-world issues like climate change and ecological restoration. They鈥檙e passionate about protecting our future and that鈥檚 exciting to see.鈥�
Armed with arbutus, bitter cherry, sword fern and salmonberry, high school students, volunteers from Delta Community Living Society, and 丁香园AV students, staff, faculty and alumni spread out and went to work. The newly planted trees and shrubs increase biodiversity and provide food and habitat for native birds, pollinators and other wildlife.
鈥淭his is the first time we鈥檝e done something like this,鈥� says Kimberley Hlina, a social justice teacher at South Delta Secondary. 鈥淭he students were keen to come, and it鈥檚 an issue that鈥檚 close to home for many.鈥�
Alumni also took time away from their jobs to reconnect with nature and old friends.
鈥淚 participated in the challenge last year, and it was so much fun,鈥� says Khang Diep, a biological field technician and an environmental science alumnus. 鈥淚t鈥檚 win-win. We get to reconnect with friends and really make a difference.鈥�
鈥淓vents like this forge stronger connections to ecosystems and build a greater sense of community,鈥� says Branfireun. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a chance to meet our neighbours, to get our hands dirty and to give back.鈥�
With muddy feet and happy hearts, one plant at a time, the challenge鈥檚 participants remind us that the environment is .
