Delta BC, November 7th 2012 – The Burns Bog Conservation Society has partnered with the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation Delta Chapter to give 63 copies of For Peat's Sake: A Classroom Study of Burns Bog and Other Peatlands to the Delta School District.
Every school will receive two copies of the book, a teacher resource guide to peatlands education at the K-7 grade level. President Eliza Olson presented the books to the Delta Board of Education on Tuesday night.
The Society worked closely with authors Karla Olson and Corinne Issel to create a curriculum-focused resource guide which addresses British Columbia's Prescribed Learning Outcomes. Drawing upon the Society's 24 years of experience protecting and sustaining Burns Bog, the resource guide is rich with information on the importance of peatlands ecosystems to the global environment, and beautifully illustrated by Nicole Skutelnik.
The trustees of the Delta Board of Education spoke Tuesday recognizing the value of the Burns Bog Conservation Society's work in the community to build awareness of the need to conserve Burns Bog to minimize Delta's carbon footprint and maintain quality of life. Trustees Laura Dixon and Val Windsor thanked the Society for its tireless efforts in defending Burns Bog. Nick Kanakos affirmed the strength of the Society's educational materials, stating "When I was a teacher, I actually used one of their brochures as a teaching resource, because there simply wasn't anything else out there on wetlands ecology."
For Peat's Sake was developed with the help of several scientists, including Dr. Marcus Collier, University College, Dublin, Ireland; Dr. Richard Hebda, Royal Museum, Victoria; and Dr. John Jeglum, retired professor from the Department of Forest Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umea, Sweden.
The Society is committed to improving awareness of and education on wetlands ecology, and thanks TD Friends of the Environment Foundation Delta Chapter for funding the teacher's guides for the Delta School District elementary schools.
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For more information, contact Nicholas Ellan at communications@burnsbog.org or Eliza Olson at 604 572 0373.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Burns Bog is the southernmost and largest raised peat bog on the west coast of North America. It is located in the municipality of Delta, and is the largest wilderness area in Metro Vancouver.
Burns Bog and surrounding wetlands were recognized as the South Fraser Delta Ramsar Site in September 2012. The designation recognizes Burns Bog as a wetland of international importance.
Karla Olson and Nicole Skutelnik are graduates of the Douglas College Print Futures program. Corrine Issel is a certified BC teacher who runs her own tutoring business in White Rock, BC.
Eliza Olson has served as the president of the Burns Bog Conservation Society since its formation in 1988. She has received numerous awards over the years for her work to promote the conservation of Burns Bog. She lives and works in Delta, BC.