This hands-on workshop will present activities and resources to enhance students' knowledge of invasive species and biodiversity in parks, their local community and native gardens. There will be a focus on growing native plants as well as respecting and maintaining threatened Garry Oak meadow areas. Resources to engage students in knowledge and appropriate removal of invasive species in their local communities and natural areas will also be shared. There will be an opportunity to share ideas and resources within our learning circle.
6-12
Please bring your own mug/water bottle and snacks.
This session will run completely outside so dress for the weather.
Room: This session is meeting in Room 113.
Come early Lunch Hour Info Tables set up
Presenters for the day and RRU's Masters of Environmental Education and Communication will have some info during the lunch hour (11:45-12:45) so you are welcome to come and have your lunch in the room and find some takeaways and resources.
Parking: As the Sherman Jen Building only has a small lot, we recommend, if you can, to park in the large Central Parking lot below the castle and walk to Sherman Jen Building. It is about 8 minutes to walk and you get to pass through lovely bits of gardens and forests on the way! If you are coming for the afternoon only, need to zip away quickly or have accessibility issues you can park in the lot next to the Sherman Jen building and there is a meter there ( both lots are pay parking).
Food: Bring your own snacks. There may be coffee provided. In addition to the central Habitat Cafe, there is a mini-cafe (Sherman Jen Kiosk) in the lower part of the Sherman Jen Building that has sandwiches, treats & beverages and it is open until 2 pm.
This session is full.
Amelita Kucher is a settler on unceded Lekwungen and W̱SÁNEĆ Territories with a background in plant ecology and forest protection. She teaches Science and Environmental Leadership at Mount Douglas Secondary where she has developed both a food and native garden learning facility. She has been creating resources for over 25 years focused on connecting students with the amazing biodiversity of Vancouver Island and in particular Garry Oak ecosystems. She is also a lead steward for Mount Tolmie as part of Saanich’s Pulling Together program. Contact her by email at agkucher@sd61.bc.ca if you would like some native plants or can volunteer and learn about removing invasive plants with her on weekends.
Chloe is a 5th generation settler on Lekwungen, W̱SÁNEĆ and Halq’emeylem lands who has a deep love for this place and is grateful every day for being able to live on these lands and learn. She is a secondary science and social studies teacher in the Saanich School District and the current president of the Salish Sea Environmental Educators Provincial Specialist Association (SSEEPSA).