Children and adults are encouraged to learn, get involved, and have fun during a series of events designed to educate the public about the environment and the need to conserve vital natural resources.
WaterWeeks is being hosted by Langley Environmental Partners Society and the Township from Sept. 25 to Oct. 15, and activities and events have been planned to show people of all ages how they can take action and make a difference when it comes to caring for our water.
WaterWeeks began Sept. 25 with the B.C. Rivers Day festival. It continues with a series of environmental activities will be presented by local community groups to teach residents about the Langley’s groundwater, watersheds, watercourses, air quality, and wildlife habitats.
Events being held to celebrate the natural environment include:
• Voyageur Canoe Paddle Saturday, Oct. 1, 9 a.m.; Meet at the Rowing and Paddling Centre in Fort Langley: paddle in a 10-person Voyageur canoe guided by the Fort Langley Canoe Club. Pre-register by Sept. 28 at 604 532-3511 or waterweeks@tol.ca.
• Farm Fresh Bus Tour Sunday, Oct. 2, 10 a.m.; Park and ride from the Township’s Civic Facility, visit community gardens, organic farms, and wineries, and enjoy a locally-sourced lunch.
• Familiar Five Nature Walks Walk with interpreters to learn about five familiar plants or animals in your watershed: Trees, Sept. 27, 11 a.m., Derby Reach; Ferns, Oct. 4, 11 a.m., Campbell Valley; and Birds, Oct. 11, 11 a.m, Aldergrove Lake. West Creek Wetland Walk – Saturday, Oct. 8, at 9 a.m.; and West Creek Wetlands: free, guided tour through a not-yet-publicly accessible parkland.
• Streamside Clean Up Sunday, Oct. 9, 10 a.m., meet in Walnut Grove, exact location to be announced. Head to Yorkson Creek to remove garbage, enhance fish habitat, and enjoy refreshments.
• Dig In! Tree Planting Saturday, Oct. 15, 10 a.m., Historic Dixon Property: dress for the weather and learn how trees and plants encourage healthy wildlife habitats.
For the above events, register at 604 532-3511 or e-mail waterweeks@tol.ca.
• How to Boil a Frog Film Screening Wednesday, Oct. 12, 7 p.m., Kwantlen Polytechnic University Auditorium. Free screening of the humorous documentary about too many people using up too little planet much too fast. Register at 604 599-3311 or e-mail gary.jones@kwantlen.ca.
Students will get an extra dose of environmental information during WaterWeeks, as free classroom workshops on water, watersheds, and our changing climate will be offered. The annual Global Warming Poster Contest will be held to give Langley school children a chance to win a sleepover at the Vancouver Aquarium. As well, Stream of Dreams will offer watershed education through public art at local elementary schools, and LEPS will initiate the Idling Gets You Nowhere school project, funded by Environment Canada.