Summer-Fall 2022: Paddles up! Youth Come Together to Canoe the Nechako
Aug 30, 2022
The second annual Nechako Watershed Roundtable (NWR) Youth Canoe Trip was a roaring success!
The NWR Youth Engagement Working Group thanks everyone who came out to participate, paddle and help out on August 13 and 14 for two days of paddling on the Nechako River.
A total of 18 youth from the communities of Saik’uz First Nation, Vanderhoof, Fort St. James, Prince George and Lheidli T'enneh First Nation joined over the course of the weekend. The trip was separated into two groups, each group paddling a day for 25 kilometres from the Braeside Road Boat launch to Riverside Park in Vanderhoof.
Youth were guided in voyageur canoes down the river by Kevin Moutray and Vanessa Elton for Leave No Trace lessons, paddling lessons, river water quality testing, freshwater invertebrate sampling and many conversations about Nechako Watershed history, conservation and health. Throughout the trip youth received information about the NWR Youth Engagement Working Group and had opportunities to express their interest in being part of the working group to help amplify youth voices within the NWR and to plan events like the canoe trip.
The NWR Youth Engagement working group extends a heartfelt thank-you to all our funders, partners and contributors that made this trip possible. This year the youth canoe trip was in partnership with Integris Credit Union, Rivershed Society of BC, Koh Learning in Our Watersheds, Fraser Basin Council and the Nechako Environment and Water Stewardship Society.
