A new program in Victoria looks to help youth ages 15-18 get in touch with nature, through outdoor and conservation activities.
“The Wild Outside program has the goal of inspiring youth to develop a passion for conservation work as well as to build awareness of local environments and wildlife species,” said Mack Ross with Canadian Wildlife Federation.
The program was developed by the federation and funded by the Canada Service Corps grant program, according to Ross.
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It started in 2020 with 14 cities across Canada, and now includes 17, Victoria starting this year. The program has engaged over 1,600 youth participants, totalling almost 49,000 hours of volunteer service, according to Ross.
“Throughout my time with this program, I was able to contribute to the conservation of ecosystems and help keep the capital of Canada green. I also had the chance to learn new skills and new knowledge, meet new people as well as try new activities. But most of all, I had so much fun that completing service hours was the last thing on my mind,” said Ottawa WILD Outside program participant Roxana Gorodnichy, 17, in a news release.
Wild Outside runs events that go year-round where the focus is on outdoor recreation events and also conservation-based events, according to Ross.
“Youth are given an opportunity to grow and to learn in a supportive and safe environment,” he said.
The program is focused on the summer events that will be going on in Victoria. Sea kayaking, invasive species removal, high ropes course and composting are a few examples.
All of the programming that comes with Wild Outside is offered at no cost in order to remove any barriers people might face when accessing nature.
“We work to offer events that are accessible and inclusive as possible,” said Ross.
For more information and to register go to WildOutside.ca