March Member Feature: Ryan van der Marel

Ryan’s passion for freshwater systems has taken him from the Okavango’s “Every River has its People” project in sub-Saharan Africa to guiding canoe trips across Canada. After moving back to the West Kootenays, Ryan began chairing the multi-agency Kootenay Lake Partnership and consults for Living Lakes Canada to develop sound science on which to base lake management planning. Since Ryan believes that awareness is the precursor to stewardship, he supports several other initiatives in the Columbia Basin to grow an ethic around delight and responsibility for water and the natural environment. Some of these include the Friends of Kootenay Lake, the Columbia Basin Watershed Network, and Canada Water Week. Among several new initiatives, one new project is based on his desire to get back into youth outdoor leadership and experiential education. Ryan received an Honours Bachelor of Global Development Studies and Geography from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, and a Masters of Resource and Environmental Management from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Grow for It!  Local Food & Garden Forum in Kimberley

Grow For It: Local Food & Garden Forum
March 15-17, 2013 @ Centre 64

Join us in Kimberley for an event celebrating the coming of spring and the beginning of another season of gardening and fresh, local food.  We’re fired up about the amazing initiatives taking place in our region, and think this is the start of something wonderful.
Whether you’re a new gardener, seasoned green thumb, or passionate foodie, there’s plenty of inspiration and information to be gleaned.
Click here to register now! 
We’ll be talking about:
•Permaculture - David Suzuki says: “What permaculturalists are doing is the most important activity that any group is doing on the planet.”
•Community Gardening & Greenhouses - What if we had a space to learn to grow cold-hardy crops well into the winter?
•Local Food Systems - “With food occupying such a significant part of our lives, understanding the implications of our food choices can create a real sense of empowerment and self-determination.” Deconstructing Dinner
•Composting - Learn the secrets of getting life into your soil
•Urban Livestock - Chickens, Rabbits, Bees…. and Bears?
•Landsharing - Landless? Help someone.  Too busy?  Share with someone.
Schedule of Events:
•Friday, March 15 @ 7:30pm - Foodie Film Night (Entrance by donation)
•Saturday, March 16 from 9:00am - 5:00pm - Speakers, breakout discussions & lunch $30
•Saturday, March 16 7:00pm - Networking Feast @ The Old Bauernhaus $32.50
•Sunday, March 17 - Full Day Permaculture Workshop with Toby Hemenway $60
All events will take place at Centre 64 in Kimberley. 

Member Feature: Darcee O’Hearn

I was born in Lethbridge Alberta but my family and I quickly moved to the Okanogan soon after. When I was 6, we moved from the Okanogan to Trail where I would live until I was 17. After graduation, I left for the coast vowing never to return. As the years passed, each time I visited my parents in Trail, I would find myself wanting to stay to enjoy the wonderful recreational opportunities and slower pace.  So after 13 years, many adventures, and finding myself a husband, I decided to move to Rossland, where I live now with my husband, 3 kids, 1 dog, a handful of chickens, 1 turtle, and 2 bunnies.

Some of the adventures I enjoyed when I left home included joining the provincial team for Whitewater Kayaking. I spent 8 years trying to make the National team so I could represent Canada in the Olympics. While working as a safety kayaker for a rafting company in Chile, I ended up plummeting 27 feet over a very dangerous waterfall and landed upside down on a rock that hid just under the water’s surface. Unfortunately I broke my neck and had to undergo emergency surgery to save me from a lifetime of paralysis.

I made a full recovery after the surgery so I decided to cycle across Canada on my own to raise money and awareness for Spinal Cord Injuries. I was successful in cycling across Canada but I would never return to the water.

After I finished my tour across Canada I earned my diploma in Forestry and for the next decade I worked in the forest industry, regional parks, Science World, and as a forest educator travelling all over BC. While working in Northern BC, I was stalked by wolves and black bears. But my most memorable encounter was being chased by a grizzly bear. It was the most terrifying but exciting time in my life!

I learn and teach through story telling. So when I visit schools I share my stories/legends to help kids learn how to identify trees. The stories were always well received and I was encouraged by teachers, kids, and parents to write them down. That is how I began my “Legends of the Forest” book series.

Today, I am an award-winning author, with many books yet to come! After I finished the Legends of the Forest book series, I will then publish “Edibles of the Forest”, “Protecting our Watersheds”, “Nature Journaling”, and “How to Live with Bears”. I work for the Trail and District Public Library as a Children’s Programmer and am honored to be part of the CBEEN team.

Learn more about Darcee’s ‘Legends of the Forest’ Wild Voices for Kids program here. 

Winter Adventure Skills Training at Blue Lake!

Winter BLAST! (Blue Lake Adventure Skills Training)- March 17 - 23, 2013
Develop Winter Technical and Leadership Skills!
During March break, Blue Lake is running a new winter technical skills and leadership program for youth aged 14 to 19. This course will take participants on a journey of adventure, leadership development, and personal growth. Throughout this 7 day program, participants will experience what it`s like to be part of a dynamic and energetic team. They will develop winter outdoor technical and safety skills, and receive training and workshops taught in an experiential manner onsite at the Blue Lake Centre, and gain practical back-country experience. Lessons will include: winter camping and survival, back-country safety, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snow shelter building, risk management, and more! All participants will receive certification in Avalanche Skills Training Level 1 from the Canadian Avalanche Association. Winter BLAST will teach participants new ways to approach problems, and overcome challenges through participation in various initiatives and recreation activities. Through this program, participants will also be able to develop their leadership and teamwork skills including communication, problem solving, motivation, group management, critical thinking, self esteem building, teamwork, reflection, and conflict resolution.

During this 7-day winter technical skill and leadership development program you will gain:
· Certification in Avalanche Skills Training Level 1 from the Canadian Avalanche Association
· Trip preparation and winter camping skills
· Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing experience
· Back-country safety skills
· Snow Shelter building skills

· Risk Management skills
· And more!

A challenging and rewarding experience,   
Winter BLAST will help you develop skills in:

· Advanced Leadership

· Team-building
· Group management
· Communication
· Problem Solving

· Critical thinking
· Confidence

· Independence
This winter youth leadership program involves 5 days of intense training at the Blue Lake Centre, followed by a 2 day trip into the back country to stay in a ‘Base Camp’ of snow shelters built by the group. The back-country portion of this program will take place on a pre-determined route which is classified as Low-Risk, making it a safe and stable winter camping environment. Instructors of this program possess a high level of training and experience. 
SCHEDULE:
Days 1 to 4: These days will be spent at the Blue Lake Centre where you will learn necessary technical and safety skills required for winter camping in the back country. You will become part of a tight-knit group through participation in various team-building exercises and lessons.
Days 2 and 3: Participants will receive certification in Avalanche Skills Training Level 1 from the Canadian Avalanche Association

Days 5 and 6: The group will leave the Blue Lake Centre and ski and snowshoe to a back-country destination. You and your group will set up camp, construct a snow shelter and settle into winter camping.

During the 2 days spent in the back-country, you will have the opportunity to apply the skills learned earlier in the week, and gain valuable leadership skills.

Day 7: Break camp and travelling back to the trailhead where you will participate in a final wrap-up before leaving the centre and heading back to Cranbrook.

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE! Apply Now! Space is limited.
(For eligible participants, scholarships covering up to 85% of the program cost are available).

Participants will be selected based on their interest in developing their leadership and winter back-country safety skills, as well as their drive to have a positive impact on their communities. All interested participants must submit an application to Blue Lake by Tuesday February 26th, 2013. Applications may be submitted by Email, Fax, or Mail.
Email:  .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Fax:  250-426-3933
Phone:    250-426-3676

Toll Free:  1-888-328-9998
Mailing Address:                                                                                                                          P.O. Box 759
Cranbrook, BC, V1C 4J5

Redfish School of Change Deadline Extended!

Redfish School of Change
Semester in the field, May 4 – June 2, 2013

Application Deadline Extended!  Now accepting applications until February 20, 2013.

Bursaries available for all students with financial need.
Join this extraordinary field school designed for people who want to lead the way in creating positive social and environmental change. Travel by bicycle, canoe, and foot through the beautiful Slocan Valley of the West Kootenays.  Live and learn while you explore BC’s wilderness, engage with a diversity of experts, and visit innovative communities working for change.
Students receive credit for two environmental studies courses from the University of Victoria, and six months support on their environmental and social justice action projects.

Check out what past participants have to say at “the buzz” http://www.schoolofchange.ca/about-program/buzz
To apply: http://www.schoolofchange.ca/registration/application-process

Ryan Hilperts

Director, Redfish School of Change

E: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
T:  250.858.7231