Visitors to Mount Douglas Park this summer will be greeted by park ambassadors.
The new pilot project is to educate park goers about the diverse but sensitive nature of Mount Doug Park, which is threatened by rogue trails, disappearing plants and dump sites. TheyB次元官网网址檙e all misuses of the park that the new ambassador pilot project hopes to end.
With 400,000 annual visits, the park ambassador project has been on the mind of Darrell Wick, president of the Friends of Mount Douglas Society, for some time.
, trees, cedar boughs (for wreaths), beach material (driftwood, sand, shells, clams), mushrooms, young plants and saplings, firewood,B次元官网网址� Wick said. B次元官网网址淲e also have issues of rogue trails, people are going off-trail into sensitive areas and itB次元官网网址檚 a problem.B次元官网网址�
Ambassadors will walk the park and engage park goers, educating them while also being a presence against any illegal activity, though ambassadors are not expected to enforce bylaws.
Recruiting will begin soon.
B次元官网网址淲e want people who are able to travel the park, who are enthusiastic about the park, and who can speak to the park,B次元官网网址� said Eva Riccius, Saanich Parks senior manager.
From May to September the ambassadors would spend a few hours each week greeting visitors, offering information and answering questions about the park and trails.
Saanich Parks staff worked with the Friends of Mount Doug to develop the pilot project, which was approved earlier this week. Saanich made $30,000 available for program development, volunteer recruitment, supervision, support, supporting materials and honararia.
The money is for experts who are brought in to train ambassadors, whether itB次元官网网址檚 about identifying plants and birds, or if itB次元官网网址檚 some First Nations elders who are able to share their knowledge, Riccius said.
If the summer 2018 pilot project proves successful, Saanich staff will explore the potential expansion of the park ambassador project into other Saanich parks.
Saanich Parks will soon release more information on the parks ambassador pilot project and volunteer recruitment at saanich.ca.
