Spreading the word
Parks Canada outreach team aims to connect with youth and families
A team of students is hitting the road this summer to encourage people to take advantage of all that Parks Canada has to offer.
The outreach team is traveling to community events and celebrations across Cape Breton, and the Canso area of the mainland, to encourage youth and families to visit the island’s national historic sites, experience the outdoors and learn about the conservation efforts in the Highlands National Park.
“By encouraging young Canadians to visit these national treasures, we will help inspire the next generation of stewards for Canada’s protected places,” said Parks Canada’s Cape Breton field unit superintendent Blair Pardy, in a written release.
“Parks Canada manages one of the finest and most extensive systems of protected natural and cultural heritage areas in the world – if you see the Parks Canada Outreach Team out and about, stop by for a chat, they look forward to meeting you in 2018.”
The team is part of an ongoing initiative that celebrates families with free admission for youth aged 17 and under at all Parks Canada places. This summer it will be attending events across Cape Breton, including the Sydney Harbourfront Festival, the Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq Summer Games, the Sydney Pride Parade and local farmers’ markets.
Members of the outreach squad will be available to give visitors the inside scoop on the opportunities available at sites such as the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site, Cape Breton Highlands National Park and the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site in Baddeck.
Among the activities being promoted are kite flying at the Bell museum, 18th-century camping at the Fortress, and beach days at Ingonish.
Parks Canada’s Cape Breton Field Unit includes the Highlands National Park and five national historic
sites – the Fortress, the Bell museum, the St. Peters
Canal, the Marconi wireless transmission site in Glace
Bay and the Canso Islands.