Ninety Grade 6 students from Yorkson Creek Middle School got their feet wet in Yorkson Creek on Monday, Jan. 25 as an introduction to a project which will address water quality in Langley.
The General Motors Global Rivers Environmental Education Network (GM GREEN), encourages a community-wide approach to help youth better understand their impact on local watersheds.
Employees from General Motors Langley Parts Distribution Centre, Langley Environmental Partners Society (LEPS) and Earth Force help young people conduct water quality testing in local streams and develop a sustainable action plan addressing water quality issues in Langley.
“It’s critical that today’s youth are connected to their local watersheds and the environment,” said Sarah Atherton, Education Program Coordinator at LEPS.
“We work closely with School District 35 students to build that connection and help young people see the role they can play in protecting and adapting the environment for the next generation.”
This year the program expands from Yorkson Creek Middle School to HD Stafford Middle School.
“Access to clean water is essential to all communities, and this program encourages students to be leaders in advancing water quality and conservation,” said Adria MacKenzie, of GM corporate communications.
The government of B.C. is contributing $23,773 toward the Langley Environmental Partners Society so two people can receive 26 weeks of work experience in sustainable agriculture and watershed stewardship.
“This is a terrific job creation partnership that is giving two people valuable work experience in environmental stewardship in their community, while developing programs for middle school students,” said Mary Polak, B.C.’s environment minister and MLA for Langley.
“This project will also benefit the community.”
GM GREEN celebrated its 25th anniversary last year.
It is the longest-running conservation education program by any automaker.
For more information about Earth Force and the GM GREEN program, visit the website www.earthforce.org/GMGREEN.