Canadian Conservation Corps Youth in Action at Cross Conservation Area
We welcome Allehea Bowen and Tyler Hergott who are volunteers from the Canadian Conservation Corps (CCC), a program run through the Canadian Wildlife Federation! This program follows three stages; an expedition, work placement, and volunteer/research project. Their Stage 1 expedition was a sea kayaking trip in late July in the Broughton Archipelago area, north of Vancouver Island, BC. Following the expedition, they were paired up and put into a field placement at the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area (ASCCA). With her passion for the outdoors, Allehea will be supporting education programs and events. Tyler, a graduate from the Faculty of Forestry (UBC), enjoys monitoring local wildlife and loves working with youth. Both are looking to organize guided hikes through the coming months.
Introduction from Tyler: “Hello my name is Tyler (he/him) , I’m from the unceded territories of the xwməθkwəy’əm (Musqueam) and Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) Nations, which we call Vancouver. A highlight of my expedition was experiencing the sea, an area I’m unfamiliar with. My stage 3 project may include; how youth recreationally experience the outdoors or wildlife safety education and will either be back in BC or in Calgary. While volunteering at ASCCA I hope to learn about improvements that can be made to the way we impact and interact with our environment. Being new to this area, I’m hoping to work alongside experts in this area and utilize my knowledge of forests to aid in our management strategies. I’m hoping to contribute to the mapping of the area, and study the wildlife with motion-sensing cameras.”
Introduction from Allehea: “My name is Allehea (she/her) and I am a recent graduate from the University of Victoria, where I studied cultural influences on the ongoing climate crisis. I am passionate about being outdoors and sharing environmental education, and so looking forward to learning from your community during the engaging hikes and activities we will be offering at the ASCCA. I am always keen to discuss my research and gratitude for the life changing experiences I’ve been supported in through the CCC program.”
Allehea and Tyler are excited to be involved with organizing events and activities over the next couple of months. On September 11th, Tyler led our first guided ‘Nature Adventure Hike’ with the theme of discovering forests, and hopes to plan more in the future. We will be hosting a Star Night, Halloween Howl and more guided hikes in October, so please follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook (@ASCConservation) and visit our website www.crossconservation.org to stay updated on what we have planned.
The Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area is a 4800-acre day use nature preserve located just SW of Calgary with aspen forest and foothills habitat. The area is open to hiking by registration year-round, and is a registered charitable organization.
Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area
