CONNECT AND PROTECT – OCEAN TOOLKIT
June 2
Here’s to Healthy Habitats
https://howesoundguide.ca/
World Oceans Day is an annual global event. That means that people from around the world, celebrate every year, on June 8th. That makes it special, like a birthday. A day marked in calendars, called World Oceans Day; for everyone to celebrate. We are all connected by water.
The focus for World Oceans Day 2020 is Conservation.
Definition of Conservation.
1 : a careful preservation and protection of something especially : planned management of a natural resource to prevent exploitation, destruction, or neglect water conservation wildlife conservation.
2 : the preservation of a physical quantity during transformations or reactions.
Source: Merriam-Webster Dictionary
The team at World Oceans Day has been working hard on delivering this globally promoted event since 2002.
Super Awesome Fact – In 1992, it was Canada that proposed the concept of World Oceans Day at an Earth Day Summit in Rio de Janeiro.
https://worldoceansday.org/about/mission-and-history/
And Do You Know Which Country Has The Longest Coastline in the World – Yep, You Got It.
Canada
P: Chris Christie
Worth Protecting – You Bet.
From Coast, To Coast, To Coast.
And every waterway, in between.
The World Oceans Team is asking all of us, around the globe, to share our voices in protecting this blue planet.
To ask our global leaders to protect 30% of our ocean by the Year 2030.
It’s a Big Job. That Requires a Lot of Commitment and Action.
For 2020 World Oceans Day is growing the global movement to call on world leaders to protect 30% of our blue planet by 2030. This critical need is called 30x30. By safeguarding at least 30% of our ocean through a network of highly protected areas we can help ensure a healthy home for all!
AND WHAT ABOUT OUR BACKYARD
Here in the Sea to Sky, we are so fortunate to live by Howe Sound Atl’kitsem, the Salish Sea.
We know that this place is special.
Find yourself at a river’s edge or by the ocean, and you just know. You feel it.
And sometimes we pause. Breathe in this air. Have a look around. And say, WOW.
It truly is amazing. This place that we live in.
And so are the people, capturing the beauty and wonder of it.
ESTUARY
An estuary is a special place, where fresh and saltwater mingle.
Where the rivers meet the sea.
Full of life and biodiversity.
Here is a look at a local organization working hard for protection.
“The Squamish River Watershed Society (SRWS), formed in 1998, takes a holistic approach towards watershed management, examining the headwaters down to the estuary and into Howe Sound. We are committed to enhancing and preserving the integrity of the Squamish Watershed, focusing on key environmental factors and human influences.
We are a projects-based organization that engages in watershed restoration, education and outreach, community stewardship, and monitoring programs.
We are a registered, charitable, environmental non-profit.”
Source: Squamish River Watershed Society
DIVE DEEPER
https://www.squamishwatershed.com/
https://www.squamishwatershed.com/about-the-estuary.html
https://www.squamishwatershed.com/mamquam-river-reunion.html
https://www.squamishwatershed.com/eelgrass-restoration.html
UPCOMING ACTIVITY FOR WORLD OCEANS DAY – MONDAY JUNE 8TH
WE ARE EXCITED FOR SQUAMISH RIVER WATERSHED SOCIETY TO HOST, A 2020 WONDER WALK
Welcome to the "Celebrate Howe Sound / Átl'ḵa7tsem" World Ocean's Day 2020 Wonder Walk Activity presented by: The Squamish River Watershed Society.
The Squamish River Watershed Society would like to express our gratitude for the Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) Nation.
For thousands of years, Skwxwú7mesh people lived with this land in a respectful and honourable way harvesting foods and medicines, holding sacred ceremonies and raising their families. The abundance and beauty of Howe Sound/ Átl'ḵa7tsem is due to the reciprocal relationships by which Skwxwú7mesh people lived, and live, with our natural world today.
Please find attached an interactive, place-based activity that will help get your students and/or children (and you) outside connecting and wondering about this amazing place we call, Howe Sound/Átl'ḵa7tsem. Whenever you are out on the trails or anywhere in nature please be mindful and respectful of all living things (plants included) and practise appropriate distancing from others, so we may all stay safe and healthy.
There are two pages to this activity. One is a quick explanation and instructions and the other is the scavenger hunt to take with you for this activity titled: Ocean's Day Wonder Walk.
Wonder Walk Activity - pdf
Wonder Walk Colour - pdf
Wonder Walk Instructions - pdf
Chelem Trail Map
Central Estuary Trail Map
What to Bring:
Pencil/pen or colouring pencils,
notebook or paper and something stiff to draw on (clipboard or book etc.),
water and snack,
hand sanitizer
and the appropriate clothing for the weather.
A camera or phone (yours) is also needed to document your adventures and hopefully share some of your students'/children's special moments with us.
We would use these photos for our website, Facebook etc. but would not use any names. Please make sure any photos you share have permission to be used. Thank you.
On World Ocean's Day (June 8th) we will have naturalists wondering around two of the trails (the Chelem trail, off of Spit Rd. (parking lot before yellow gate) and the Central Estuary trail (Bailey St. West).
See maps below.
These wonderful people will be around to help you with your "Wonder Walk" and will be available to any questions, help with directions, and give clues to those who need them.
If any of the designated trails are too far for you to go, just adapt the "Wonder Walk" list to your needs and any nature trail, path or even school/back yard will do fine.
There will be special World Ocean Day 2020 Certificates available for print out for those students/families who get out and participate and prizes for those who complete all the tasks. Woohoo!
"Children should be wild and free just like the Sea!"
P: Bob Turner
EELGRASS
Ever wonder about those grasses by the sea.
What they do.
Who lives there?
What role they play.
Fiona Beaty, Project Director of The Howe Sound/Átl’ḵa7tsem Marine Reference Guide, is here to tell us a little about this area that she is studying and is passionate about.
https://howesoundguide.ca/
Fiona is a marine ecologist who attributes her life’s direction to growing up in Howe Sound/Átl’ḵa7tsem. Having spent her childhood flipping rocks to search for crabs on Bowen’s beaches, it’s not surprising that she is now pursuing graduate studies in coastal ecology at the University of British Columbia. Fiona is absolutely thrilled to be leading the marine reference guide. She is especially inspired by building community relationships, stewardship, and capacity to understand and protect Átl’ḵa7tsem’s beautiful marine world.
Change Maker Fiona – On Eelgrass
Feel the mud squelch through your toes.
Can you spot, where eelgrass grows?
It’s like a meadow, underwater.
You may see fish or even, an otter.
DIVE DEEPER
Eelgrass Survey Report - pdf
We know that there are things, BIG and small, that live in our oceans.
Each of them important.
“Phytoplankton and copepods are the first two steps in the plankton food chain”
Photo and Source: Blue Planet Society
CHANGE MAKER BRIDGET – ON PLANKTON
Bridget John received her BSc. at UBC in Biology and Oceanography before diving into her passion of the conservation and stewardship in Howe Sound. She has volunteered with a variety of non-for-profit organizations, as a cetacean research intern, field technician and wildlife image classifier and science educator. Living at the head of the Sound, in Squamish, her love of its wilderness and flourishing community continues to grow daily. When she isn’t working or volunteering she enjoys hiking, windsurfing, ski touring, climbing and running. Bridget is truly excited to see the Marine Reference Guide project grow and the outcome it will have on community education.
BRIDGET VIDEO - PLANKTON
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1D5f5EvJeihbOS1fht6ULBPAYkLOOJa-v/view
DIVE DEEPER
https://blueplanetsociety.org/2015/03/the-importance-of-plankton/
https://oceanwatch.ca/howesound/species-habitats/plankton/
ORCAS & DOLPHIN READERS – SOME JOKES FOR YOU
(Thanks to Rhonda and our Friends at Squamish River Watershed Society)
Who cleans the oceans?
Mermaids.
Where does a killer whale go for braces?
The Orca-dontist.
What did one tidal pool say to the other tidal pool?
"Show me your mussels".
What did the octopus say to his son?
"Keep your friends close and you anemones closer."
Ha! Try them out.
Orca Readers
Plastic Soup – An Atlas of Ocean Pollution by Michiel Abbing https://www.ubcpress.ca/plastic-soup
Dolphin Readers
The Snail and the Whale
https://www.whistlerbooks.com/?q=h
NO MATTER HOW BIG OR small.
Plankton or Whale.
WE ALL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
We Can All Tell a Tale.
One of clean oceans.
And happy bright seas.
Where Orcas and Starfish do play happily.
WHEN OUR HEARTS AND MINDS ARE OPEN TO IT.
Fiona and Bridget are Change Makers for Howe Sound and The Salish Sea.
They have followed their passion and are making a difference for our oceans and our planet.
BE INSPIRED. BE EMPOWERED.
You Too, Can Create Meaningful Change.
CLICK AND LISTEN LOUD TO THESE YOUNG CHANGE MAKERS
Fiona Beaty, Howe Sound/Átl’ḵa7tsem Marine Reference Guide
Bridget John, Howe Sound/Átl’ḵa7tsem Marine Reference Guide
Heart of Howe Sound Videos
CONNECT TO THE OCEAN
Homes, Habitats and Hiding Places – A Scavenger Hunt
Source: Shaw Centre for The Salish Sea
CONNECT TO THE OCEAN
How’s Your World Ocean’s Day Music Mix Going?
Here’s the song of the day:
Holly Arntzen @Unite! Protect the Inlet
PS. REALLY CONNECT TO THE OCEAN – AND STEP OUTSIDE
Wherever you are.
Please step out in air.
It needn’t be far.
But you must take good care.
Soak up the sun.
Splash in the rain.
Be sure to repeat.
Again and Again.
If you can visit a river or a stream, that is fab. Look all around, and see what is rad.
If the ocean does call, and you really can go.
Please go there and breathe. Saltwater for your Soul.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, IN A SQUAMISH WAVE OF CHANGE.