Posted: March 30, 2023

A look back on the last months of the Youth Water Leaders Program

Fall and winter are a busy time for the Youth Water Leaders, but even after their return to school and work, the group has stayed committed to maintaining a healthy watershed.

Written by Youth Water Leader Lydia Kropp.

In the last months of the 2022/2023 Youth Water Leaders cohort, the group helped with conservation efforts in the city, learned about science communication and enjoyed a craft workshop before the holidays.

In September, the youth were given a tour around the pond at Brewer Park by volunteers with the Environmental Crew of Old Ottawa South (ECOS). ECOS have been working to renaturalize the park which is a popular spot for families and dog-walkers. Through the work of ECOS, Brewer Park has undergone some changes which have resulted in more diversity in the flora and fauna. Once separated from the Rideau River, Brewer Pond used to be stagnant and was inhospitable to most aquatic animals. Since a channel was constructed to connect the pond to the river, flow in and out of the pond now allows it to support a variety of aquatic life. ECOS has also been working to remove many invasive species, like dog-strangling vine, that threaten the native species.

Later in the fall, the youth had a chance to visit the Fletcher Wildlife Gardens. The gardens are a great place to visit with a wide range of things to see and do — there’s a butterfly meadow as well as the remnants of an old woodlot and rose garden, now populated by a variety of native trees and shrubs which are very popular among migratory birds.

During their tour the Youth Water Leaders also visited a wet meadow which was once full of invasive species. However, the meadow has been restored, and you can now find it covered in native sedges and other wetland plants. After their tour, the youth did some work to help conserve the state of the gardens by removing invasive species as well as repairing the paths around the wet meadow and the amphibian pond.

In November, the youth had the opportunity to learn about science communication from Sean Landsman, a professor at Carleton University with a background in fisheries science and communication. Sean shared some of his amazing photography with the youth and taught them about the power of visual storytelling. At the end of the workshop, Sean left the group thinking about how they can use visual storytelling to raise awareness of issues in the watershed.

Finally, to take a break from school and exams before the winter holidays, the youth attended a workshop where they learned about silk screening. Everyone got to try it out on clothing or tote bags that they brought from home. Textiles are a big contributor to a person’s “virtual” water use, so upcycling old garments is a good way to reduce your water footprint… plus it’s fun! It was a great way to end the year, meet Ottawa Riverkeeper staff, and chat with fellow Youth Water Leaders.

Learn more at Canada.ca/CanadaServiceCorps.

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