By Stephanie Stevens

District of Invermere council Dec. 11 said good luck and farewell to Lake Windermere Ambassadors (LWA) Program Coordinator Thea Rodgers.

Rodgers, who has been with the LWA for a year and half, announced her contract ends this month as she delivered a report on the group’s activities for 2018.

Among the highlights of the LWA activities this year, Rodgers said the new youth program this past summer was a great success.

The free program ran over four days, with each day themed.

“We did things like where our water comes from, invasive species, bugs/birds/fish and then on the fourth day, we did a connect-the-drops, which brought it all together,” Rogers said.

Many of the youth that attended came to all four days, and Rodgers said the split was about 50-50 local youth and youth whose families have second homes in the Columbia Valley.

“There were 38 kids who attended, with about 12-15 at each session,” she said.

While the LWA does make efforts to get to schools and into the community, the summer program was so successful she hopes it continues next year.

“It is really important to involve and educate kids as they are the ones who, as adults, will be depending on and working with the watershed,” she said.

Incoming program coordinator Shannon McGinty echoed Rodgers’ sentiments regarding educating youth on watershed issues, and said she plans to keep the program going. McGinty takes the coordinator reins later this month.

Originally from Ontario, McGinty has been in B.C. for eight years, and moved to the valley last January for another position. When the LWA program coordinator came up, she jumped on it.

“I am really excited to be part of this,” said McGinty, adding she has no interest in leaving the Columbia Valley.

The council thanked Rodgers for her time with the LWA and said they looked forward to continuing relations with the LWA.

e-KNOW

Article Share