The Youth and Ecological Restoration project (YER) was established in the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island, and involves youth with community environmental groups to restore the health of local watersheds and ecosystems.
by Wendy Kotilla
When I was young, nature was a big part of my life. My memories include fishing with my father on the northern end of Vancouver Island, family outings to remote beaches and spending a huge amount of time outside. Nature has taught me respect, patience and acceptance, and been a source of fascination, inspiration, spirituality and wisdom. What has resulted is a lifelong relationship with the natural world that is as important to me as any human relationship.
This lifelong relationship with nature inspired me to develop the Youth and Ecological Restoration project (YER). YER involves youth with community environmental groups to restore the health of local watersheds and ecosystems. Established in the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island, the program was funded by the Queen Alexandra Foundation for Children from July 2004 to March 2006. Stan Hagen, Comox Valley MLA and BC Minister of Children and Family Development, was instrumental in securing funds for YER to continue to March 2007.
To be referred to YER, youth need to fit an “at risk” criterion that is broadly defined as having social or learning difficulties. Completion of the 20-hour program requires an oral presentation to a community group, after which the youth are awarded a certificate, a letter of reference, and a YER crest. YER completion is an accomplishment and youth cannot fail the program, so they all leave feeling proud of themselves and their ability to finish something.
Forty-four youth have been involved since it was initiated in July 2004, and forty have completed the program. This 91% completion rate is a high level of success for youth who often struggle to accomplish goals. All of them benefit significantly from the YER experiential style of learning. One youth said:
“It is a relaxed way of learning. It feels tingly sometimes when you learn something after and you find out what it means and is cool. It was actually good discussion learning, a good way of learning. You didn’t nag, you asked me something and reviewed it a bit later – it is a more patient and gentler way.”
YER has a vision of offering support for troubled youth by broadening their perspective of the Comox Valley community, and its natural and social resources. Working with the ecological and human communities gives them the ability to see beyond their daily struggles.
“It feels pretty good, knowing that you are doing things for the good of the Earth instead of just for yourself. It takes you outside yourself.”
Initially, YER formed partnerships with four environmental organizations that have expanded to twenty. Three groups have been especially supportive and provided the most work experience opportunities: Millard/Piercy Watershed Stewards, Oyster River Enhancement Society and Tsolum River Restoration Society.
Youth participants were engaged in ecological restoration activities such as salmon enhancement, habitat restoration, watershed assessment and monitoring, and community environmental education. Many of the youth had never seen salmon spawning in a stream or a black bear walking in the forest, and others didn’t know the names of common trees. The youth acquired knowledge of ecosystem and watershed functions; learned native plant, fish, animal and bird species; and the interconnections of the natural world.
“What I learned during this experience was the cycle which the trees help the fish providing shade and how the bears take the fish to the forest and provide the trees with nutrients that they need to grow. And that’s the way the salmon connect the ocean to the land.”
“I learned the different kinds of trees…I smelt them and felt the needles of hemlock, fir, cedar.”
It is inspiring to witness the youths’ transformation from rebellious teenager to excited participant as they contribute to the environmental well being of our community. Even if the program doesn’t prompt immediate changes, it gives the youth a light at the end of the tunnel and plants seeds for future reference. Seeds of change were also planted to raise community awareness and positive perspectives of youth and their issues. By connecting youth and community members, both viewed each other as people working together in a good way for the greater purpose of making our community a better place. Common goals bring common people together for a common future.
YER goals include: building healthy community relationships, gaining valued work experience, improving knowledge of ecological restoration, increasing social skill development and enhancing communication skills. Gaining valued work experience is important, but is also a method for youth to learn better social, communication and community building skills. These skills will assist them in problem solving, conflict resolution, leadership, analytical, strategic thinking and working cooperatively with others. They will go a long way in supporting the youth to become decent, respectful and productive members of our society.
“The skills I learned were to use a shovel, use my brains, public speaking, honesty, and working cooperatively with others.”
“People can have different opinions, but we need to listen to each other, go around our differences, find things to agree on and then work together.”
“When you give your energy to help your community, it makes you feel good inside and warms your heart.”
I have come to realize that we have some amazing youth in our community, who struggle like the rest of us to be the best person that we can be. Sometimes I am sure that it is I, not them, that is doing the most learning. I have learned much as I endeavour to understand and help the youth on the early stages of their life path. As I am more at the middle of mine, I have much life experience to share with them, both from my mistakes and successes. For me to admit to them that I am not perfect either is one of the best ways to tell them it is part of being human.
YER is a program that goes to the heart of community and strives to restore ecological and social connections for youth who are struggling. Each of the youth participants is a special person who deserves to feel a sense of belonging in our community. They usually want to be good people, often only needing guidance and support from caring community members. Assisting them is a huge investment in our common future. By giving youth opportunities to succeed and honouring their contributions, they learn to value their accomplishments and feel pride in themselves. Encouraging and trusting youth to take responsibility empowers them to be the next generation of leaders.
YER links Ecological Restoration and Restorative Justice, providing an approach for healing and restoring relationships with both the ecological and human communities. Ecological Restoration requires connecting with the Earth and taking responsibility for helping the land to heal. Restorative Justice involves transforming and strengthening relationships between individuals, families and communities. Combining them for YER involves taking responsibility for our relationships with each other, with our communities and as stewards of the Earth. The collective health of these relationships will determine what kind of a world we provide for this and future generations.
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For more information on the Youth and Ecological Restoration project contact Wendy Kotilla at wkotilla@mars.ark.com or 250-336-8487.
