WILD Outside inspires more than 400 young conservation champions during first year
Canadian Wildlife Federation’s innovative program combines virtual and hands-on activities
2020 has been a challenging year for all Canadians, including the organizers of WILD Outside, a new program launched in January by the Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) to inspire conservation leadership in Canadian youth ages 15 to 18. But working within the regional restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic, the program leveraged both virtual and hands-on wildlife experience to engage more than 400 young participants so far this year.
From cleaning up shorelines to planting trees, building turtle nests, counting monarch butterflies, installing bird and bat boxes, removing invasive plant species and cultivating pollinator gardens, it’s been a busy and productive year for WILD Outside participants from coast to coast. The program joins CWF’S successful Canadian Conservation Corps which engages Canadian young people ages 18 to 30. Although CWF is a national supporter-based conservation charity, these programs are funded under the federal government’s Canada Service Corps initiative.
In addition to outdoor adventure journeys, the WILD Outside program engages young people in their own communities with each participant committing 120 volunteer service hours or more. This includes completion of a community-based action project that provides measurable benefit to conservation efforts or the environment.
WILD Outside program manager Tirian Eynon had just hired and trained new program staff when COVID-19 restrictions began to limit in-person gatherings.
“We had scheduled an extensive speaker series as part of the program and we quickly transformed those opportunities to webinars on topics ranging from raptors to bees and career opportunities in conservation — whatever participants wanted to learn more about,” she said. “That allowed us to not only reach the participants in each community, but also young people across Canada.”
However, CWF believes that participants benefit from doing as much as learning. When gathering restrictions eased in July, WILD Outside outdoor activities hit the ground running in 14 major cities across the country from Vancouver to St. John’s. Young participants engaged in rock climbing, cycling, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, hiking and nature walks while learning how to care for the ecosystems they found themselves exploring.
Aarushi Gupta was a toddler when she moved with her family from India to Canada. She and her sister, Abhita joined the Calgary WILD Outside program after her father read an article about the program. She particularly enjoyed webinars about invasive plant species, which really hit home after a hike in a local park. She’s now quick to recognize and carefully remove the pesty nodding thistle wherever she sees it. Water activities such as canoeing and paddle boarding also top her list of favourites.
Gupta’s current community service project involves working with the Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation to collect branches, berries and even pumpkins used to feed injured and orphaned moose being rehabilitated for return to the wild.
“But as much as the great activities, it’s the people who make the program,” said Gupta. “They make it so much fun. They’re unique and amazing and everyone’s inclusive and so easy to talk to. Even the program leaders are more like friends.”
Shannon Sherk was one of the first to sign up for the Regina chapter of WILD Outside. She learned about the program on Facebook while searching for information about hiking trails.
Following the early webinars, she’s been kayaking twice, gone on hikes, worked at an edible landscaping site, and joined a team to pick up trash from a local park.
“It’s awesome to find a group like this, and get your hands dirty,” she said. “The people you meet are motivated because they’re willing to take time out of their day to participate in events with you. Our group leader is really amazing as well.”
Sherk hopes to one day become a leader at a WILD Outside branch. As she finishes her final year in high school, she’s looking forward to a university program combining environmental studies and sociology.
“I’m not reaching to say that WILD Outside inspired me to make that educational choice,” she said.
WILD Outside is already planning for its winter sessions. Eynon said she’s hoping more youth in the 14 cities where the program is currently available will take advantage of this free opportunity given the positive impact it’s having on both youth and conservation in Canada.
“There’s no doubt that meeting like- minded young people in nature activities and getting urban youth into the nature in their own backyards is building conservation communities,” said Eynon. “Our participants continue to engage with each other and are establishing themselves as the champions of conservation of tomorrow.”
To register and learn more visit Wildoutside.ca.