Hikes, Education & Events
YCS has long been active in promoting greater environmental awareness and understanding in the Yukon.
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Hey Kids! Take a Virtual Adventure at www.MagicalThread.com. The Magical Thread tells a story of Matt and Carly, two 10 year olds who lost their way in the Yukon wilderness and undergo exciting adventures as they find their way home. The Magical Thread is an educational resource that teaches students (grade 4 – 6) about the magnificence of the natural world.
- Annual programs and events such as our Free Guided Interpretive Nature Hikes. the Kids Edventures Series and the Bird-a-thon (even though's it come and gone for 2009 here's the 2009 Bird-a-thon Pamphlet And Pledge Form for information purposes plus there's information here about the 2009 Featured Birder) offer people the opportunity to enjoy and explore the Yukon environment.
- We host various environmental focus groups, workshops, and meetings on diverse topics like forestry, mining, oil and gas developments, and stewardship. Also see our Issues section for more information about education related to any of our main campaign areas.
Click on one of the following for more information about:
Interpretive Nature Hikes (All Ages)
Free Interpretive Guided Nature Hikes are offered through July and August. YCS hires summer staff as Trail Guides and also has many volunteer special guests who lead hikes in the Whitehorse area and other communities around the territory. Interpretive Nature Hikes are now over for 2009. Similiar, but not identical, Interpretive Nature Hikes will be offered in 2010. See you then!
Ed-Ventures for Kids (Ages 4 – 10)
This fun outdoor education program is offered two hours each week through July and August. Tuesdays for Ages 4 – 6. Thursdays Ages 7 – 10. Ed-Ventures are now over for 2009. Similiar, but not identical, Ed-Ventures will be offered in 2010. See you then!
Climate Change North
The Yukon Conservation Society (YCS) and its partners in NWT, Nunavut and the Yukon developed climatechangenorth.ca. This educational website was created for northerners by northerners, and is focused on understanding the effects of climate change, and what people can do about it. The site provides a multitude of resources for teachers, including background information, lesson plans, curriculum links, and resources. Materials cover all subject areas for K-12 students.
Leave No Trace Outdoor Ethics
Leave No Trace is a program designed to assist outdoor enthusiasts with their decisions about how to reduce their impacts when they explore the outdoors. The program provides awareness about impacts related to outdoor recreation and techniques to prevent and minimize such impacts. Scientific research is the foundation of the Leave No Trace program. YCS now offers Leave No Trace Awareness Workshops and Trainer Courses periodically throughout the year. Contact YCS for the training schedule or for more information click here.
Other Research/ Education Programs
On a case by case basis, we take on research projects in partnership with researchers. Depending on funding this can include the Albert Creek and Teslin bird banding stations, and research in conjunction with university graduate students. We also participate in important research into areas like forestry best practices, mining reclamation standards, contaminants, etc.
- Northern Contaminants Program. YCS has participated in the Yukon Contaminants Committee since 1993. This committee oversees the contaminant monitoring and research programs. This usually involves 2 to 3 meetings per year to review proposals for the next year’s monitoring and get updated on results of the previous year’s work. For the past 9 years some of the project funding has been administrated through YCS. This will continue in 2008. The Yukon programs have been well received and some of the education work as well as the temporal trend monitoring program have received national and international recognition.
- “Stories for Change” Interactive on-line Environmental Storybook for children ages 6 – 9 years – currently under development
- Bird Studies – Ben Schoenewille & Ted Murphy-Kelly run migratory bird banding stations in Teslin and Watson Lake.
