From forest waste to farm resource
The Youth Climate Corps (YCC) East and West Kootenay crews launched their season by joining forces on a wildfire risk reduction project that combined on-the-ground training with climate resilience work.
Wildsight news : Youth Climate Corps
Plastic-free pond builds biodiversity and water security on West Kootenay farm
At the confluence of the West Kootenay's Slocan and Little Slocan rivers, there's a patch of land taking shape under the careful guidance of a conservation-minded organization. Elk Root Conservation Farm Society's (ERC) vision is to…
From trails to streams: Ecosystem health in Lois Creek
The churned-up dirt is dusted with autumn leaves and the air is heavy with the scent of decaying foliage as fall transitions to winter. Along the winding trails of Kimberley's Lois Creek, Wildsight's Youth Climate Corps (YCC…
A future forester’s vision for sustainable forestry in B.C.
At a time when B.C.’s forestry sector is struggling to attract young people, 30 year-old Castlegar resident Taylor Sand is an anomaly. Now in her final year of Selkirk College’s two-year forest technology diploma program…
A path to protecting native pollinator species
Elk Root Conservation Society in the West Kootenay's Slocan Valley is creating a pollinator highway. Pollinator highways are tracts of land dedicated to supporting pollinators (bees, hummingbirds, bats and more) by growing food sources such as native wildflowers, connecting…
Testing the waters: Water monitoring puts career options top of mind
Emma Watson and Oliver Gatzke sit alongside a wooden dock that cordons off the end of a popular recreational lake near Skookumchuk, BC, a softshell black zippered bag opened between them. Emma grasps a tubular silver and black wand about…
Beloved local ski hill gains wildfire protection thanks to Youth Climate Corps
It's little more than a ski lift and a couple of runs, but the Salmo Ski Hill is a treasured local gem. Run by a small and dedicated volunteer board, the ski hill has operated for decades on a…
Small actions for big change
How can one person make a difference to the climate crisis? For Kaslo resident Kenya Blouin, the answer lies in bringing sustainability and climate solutions to local communities. Kenya decided early on that she was going to dedicate her career…
What’s lurking in the water at Lois Creek?
Lois Creek is a much loved little stream that trickles its way through Kimberley. This humble waterway holds a surprisingly rich history of local innovation and human expansion. But years of human interference have left its mark on this small…
Decolonizing the landscape with fire
Western science is slowly catching up with Indigenous knowledge as our understanding of fire ecology grows. Through fire, Indigenous peoples are decolonizing the land, one hectare at a time. Fires have always been a part of forest life cycles.