YNC Leaders’ Manual or everything you want to know about being a Family Club Leader
Young Naturalists’ Club of BC, 2012 1620 Mt. Seymour Road, North Vancouver, BC V7G 2R9
Phone: 604.985.3059 Email: info@ync.ca • www.ync.ca
Copyright (c) 2013 This manual may be reproduced for educational and capacity building purposes only. Reproduction for any other purposes is strictly prohibited without written permission from the Young Naturalists’ Club of BC Society. If you have questions about this manual, its development and use or about family nature clubs, please contact us! Young Naturalists’ Club of BC Society 1620 Mt. Seymour Road, North Vancouver, BC, V7G 2R9 Email: info@ync.ca • Phone: 604.985.3059 Acknowledgements A number of people dedicated their time contributing ideas and helping to write, edit and design this manual. They worked together with the shared goal of developing a comprehensive, friendly manual to support new and experienced YNC Family Club Leaders, assisting them to get more children outside having fun and exploring nearby nature. Thank you to everyone who contributed to the process. Special thanks and recognition are due to: Daphne Solecki, YNC Founder and Honorary President; Tammy Keetch, YNC Clubs Coordinator; Kristine Webber, YNC Executive Director; Ruth Foster, YNC Director and Alison Garrad, Graphic Design. The production of this manual was also made possible through the funding support provided by: Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, TD Friends of the Environment Foundation and Vancouver Foundation.
Young Naturalists’ Club of BC
www.ync.ca
Young Naturalists’ Club of BC
YOUNG NATURALISTS’www.ync.ca CLUB OF BRITISH COLUMBIA Our motto ‘Young Naturalists Observe and Conserve’
Dear YNC Leader
Welcome! Thank you so much for volunteering to lead a Young Naturalists’ Club to serve the children of British Columbia and through them, the future wellbeing of our province.
As noted in our Constitution, the purpose of the YNC is to “encourage and assist young people to develop a love of nature and a feeling of respect and responsibility for the unique ecosystems, flora and fauna of British Columbia”.
As eminent biologist E.O. Wilson has said, “We can only care about what we know about.” Thus it is necessary that children learn about nature, starting with their own neighbourhood and province, before they can feel that sense of caring and responsibility.
As Leaders you have undertaken to encourage that love of nature among the children who join your club. Leaders are the most vital component of our organization - without you there would be no YNC. The rest of the YNC team - the Directors, Executive Director, Clubs Coordinator, Membership and Office Coordinator - are here to support you and the YNC families in your Club.
I hope you enjoy this new challenge and I know you will have a great time with the kids and parents - they are all so eager to explore and discover the world around them.
Thank you again, Yours sincerely
Daphne Solecki YNC Founder & Honorary President Young Naturalists’ Club of BC
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Table of Contents Introduction
5
YNC Program - Overview YNC Vision, Mission, Values Themes and Principles Key Components Summary Table - Who Does What and Who to Contact
6 8 9 11
The Details - What do Leaders and Clubs do? 15 Organizing your Club Co-Leadership- why it’s a good idea 15 Explorer Day Field trips 15 Minimum Attendance 16 Planning your Explorer Days / Leaders’ Area of the Website 16 Nature Mentors (Guest Leaders) 17 Tell your members about the Explorer Day 18 Inform the YNC Office and Register your Explorer Day 18 Explorer Day Details 18 Communication and Outreach Publicizing YNC in the Community 19 Passports and Action Awards 19 Volunteer Leader Hours – Recording 20 Safety and Risk Management Insurance and Informed Consent Forms 20 Club First Aid Kits and First Aid Certification 20 Reporting Incidents 21 Final Points Nature Clubs in Schools 21 Changing Club Leadership 21 When is a Club no Longer a YNC Club? 21 Club Membership How Does My Club Get Members? Club Brochure / Explorer Day Poster Template Outreach at Community Events Local papers / Community Websites Annual Membership Drive How do Families join YNC? What do Members Get? Membership for YNC Leaders Member Activities- Passports and Action Awards Passport to Nature Action Awards Quest
22 22 22 22 22 22 23 23 24 24 25
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Leaders’ Resources Leaders’ Area of the YNC Website Leaders’ Blog Leader E-Blasts Leader Meetings AGM/FGM YNC and BC Nature
26 26 26 27 27
Important Information about the YNC Where does YNC Get its Funding? Donations Leader Volunteer Hours Long Term Planning Other ways to Raise Funds Finances The YNC Model YNC History YNC Constitution Special Relationship with BC Nature
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Appendix YNC Volunteer Club Leaders Agreement - Role and responsibilities What YNC Provides Clubs Explorer Day Field Trip Ideas Calendar of Nature Days and YNC Events Explorer Day Checklist
35 36 37 38 39
Forms: Informed Consent Incident Report Samples: i. Sample Explorer Day Communication to Club Members ii. Customized YNC Club Brochure iii. YNC Explorer Day Poster Template iv. YNC ‘Guest for the Day’ Coupon v. YNC Passport to Nature
41 43 45 46 48 49 50
Some of our Favourite References - Benefits of Time Spent in Nature
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YNC Family Clubs across BC
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YNC Introduction The Young Naturalists’ Club of British Columbia was launched in 2000 to meet a perceived need – that of the majority of children who nowadays live in urban surroundings and are largely denied the opportunity to explore the outdoors and discover nature for themselves. “To invest in connecting children with nature today will pay untold dividends for the wellbeing of both society and the environment in the future.” Lorrie Schrader, Member, North Shuswap Naturalists, Liaison Young Naturalists School Club “Bugs R Us”
The YNC’S province-wide network of nature clubs provides a much-needed bridge between children, their families and nearby nature. The YNC is part of a larger movement that aims to achieve a fundamental change in our relationship with the natural world within the next generation. As a YNC Leader you will play a critical role in achieving this goal. Your primary task will be organizing opportunities for children and their families to personally explore nearby nature. These opportunities are provided through YNC Explorer Days - field trips with invited experts (or Nature Mentors). You yourself are also an important role model, sharing your enthusiasm, knowledge and passion for nature as well as demonstrating appropriate outdoor etiquette and having fun outside. “I have been a leader of a Young Naturalists’ Club for 7 years, and I believe it is a very worthwhile organization. I commit more than 194 volunteer hours a year as a YNC leader because I believe that connecting children with nature is of utmost importance.” Anthea Farr, YNC Nicomekl
This Leaders’ Guide details your role and describes the expectations and responsibilities of being a YNC Leader. Overall, the process tries to be as simple as possible for local YNC leaders, so they can enjoy being with the kids and their parents and leave most of the paperwork to the office. The Guide outlines the support you can expect to receive from the YNC, such as the YNC program components which are coordinated by the office (Action Awards, Passport to Nature, NatureWILD, Citizen Science Projects and more); some essential administrative details; and answers to some of the more commonly asked questions. We’ve tried to include everything you need and more in this package. However, do not hesitate to contact the Clubs Coordinator if you have any further questions or suggestions. Thank you for choosing to volunteer your valuable time with the YNC and helping to inspire a new generation of naturalists! “Spending time with kids is a great way to stay young. Kids make you laugh and bring out your playful side. It also creates an opportunity for you as a leader to spend time outdoors learning about nature, getting to know local parks and trails, and being involved in the community” Elke Wind, YNC Nanaimo on the perks of being a YNC Leader.
YNC Leaders’ Manual | Introduction 5
YNC Program Overview “Most children today grow up in big cities where it’s easy to think we don’t need nature. But how will we know the wonder and beauty of the natural world or learn where our clean air, water and food come from? More than ever, children need to be connected with the natural world. The Young Naturalists’ Club is a wonderful way to make those connections.” ~ Dr. David Suzuki The Young Naturalists’ Club of BC is an exciting nature discovery and environmental action program that invites young people ages 5-12 years to discover nearby nature on Explorer Day field trips with local experts, learn about native wildlife and plants in NatureWILD Magazine and take part in environmental actions to protect their habitat through the Action Awards Quest, Citizen Science Projects and Stewardship Activities. YNC 2013 Snapshot: There are thirty Young Naturalists’ Family Clubs, located in every region of the province, with more in the planning stage. These family-based nature clubs currently serve over 600 families, representing more than 1 040 children plus their parents. In addition, a number of libraries and schools subscribe to the YNC magazine. Since 2000 we estimate that the YNC has reached over 15,000 children. The Young Naturalists’ Club of BC bases its work on the following understandings:
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Children benefit physically, socially and academically from time spent outdoors; Today’s children spend less time outside than ever before; For a child, time freely spent in the natural environment has proved to be linked to the development of a strong environmental ethic and positive conservation behaviour as an adult. “Laura’s participation in the YNC has broadened her view of the natural world and invigorated her love for it. Incidentally, it also turned me into a bird lover.” YNC Parent YNC Nicomekl
YNC Activities, which are informative, inspiring and fun, encourage children and families to go out, explore their neighbourhoods, learn from local naturalists, discover nature as it exists around them, and initiate personal actions to protect the environment. The YNC provides opportunities for hands-on exploration of nature, social interaction and group activities through family field trips and other events. Other activities are home-based, allowing children to develop knowledge and skills on their own, without having to be dependent on groups, adults or transportation. “My son used to come home from school and flip on the TV or play video games. Since joining the YNC ... he heads for the yard to poke around to see what he can find” YNC Parent, Bugs R Us school nature club. “What I like about the Young Naturalists’ Club is seeing new places and learning new things. I also enjoy interacting with new people.” Sara, age 13, Gold level Action Award Recipient, member, YNC North Okanagan
YNC Leaders’ Manual | Introduction 6
YNC has been recognized as an excellent way to connect children and nature by BC Nature, Nature Canada, Metro Vancouver Parks and many others. In 2012 the YNC was awarded the Canadian Wildlife Federation’s National Youth Conservation award. A number of YNC members have also been recognized for their individual conservation achievements. “Nature Canada’s mission is to protect and conserve wildlife and habitats in Canada by engaging people and advocating on behalf of nature. Nature Canada is the national voice of naturalists in Canada, representing more than forty thousand individual members and supporters in every province and territory. We have been fortunate over the past few years to work directly with the Young Naturalists’ Club of BC to help support their efforts to connect children and their families with nature. We believe that the Young Naturalists’ Club of BC is an effective model for connecting children and their families with nature. Without a doubt, we will continue to provide both financial and in kind support to assist the Young Naturalists’ Club of BC in fulfilling their valuable role in connecting people with nature.” Ruth Catana, Director of Public Affairs, Nature Canada.
YNC Leaders’ Manual | Introduction 7
Young Naturalists’ Club of British Columbia VISION Inspiring Children Naturally By providing children of British Columbia with outdoor experiences in natural surroundings at an early age, the YNC will inspire them with a love of nature and lead them to make ecologically responsible decisions as they grow older. Mission The purpose of the Young Naturalists Club of British Columbia (YNC), embedded within our Constitution, is to encourage and assist young people to develop a love of nature, and a feeling of respect and responsibility for the unique ecosystems, flora and fauna of British Columbia. VALUES These reflect widely-held beliefs among people associated with the YNC. These beliefs constitute the essence of our organisational culture, and provide motivation, stability, and strategic direction: Respect for Nature – the YNC strives for a better understanding of natural history through human respect for nature, which has values beyond its immediate or practical value to humans. The study of nature is fascinating in itself, and the YNC will share the fascination and joy of working in nature with others. Nature Enhances Learning and Health – personal exploration of nature is an effective way to educate and broaden childhood well-being, to enhance child development and to assist young people in reaching their full potential. Regularly spending time in nature provides health benefits to all ages; Inter-generational Responsibility - parents and educators want the best personal learning outcomes for their children; they want children to be well informed about nature and the environment, accepting their responsibility as active participants of the world in which they live. Willingness to act on behalf of nature – the YNC encourages children and families to take part in stewardship activities and other actions to protect the natural environment; Commitment to People – the YNC is committed to the honest, transparent, and respectful treatment of all individuals, across all cultures, including staff, volunteers, members, funders, partners, and the wider public. YNC believes that informed children and their families have important roles to play in developing an environmentally-literate and concerned public. September 2013
YNC Leaders’ Manual | Introduction 8
YNC Themes and Principles The program content which shapes all the activities of the Young Naturalists’ Club of BC - the YNC magazine NatureWILD, the Action Award Quest, the Explorer Day field trips and other nature experiences/activities – is consistent with the following guiding principles and themes important to becoming a naturalist and conservationist and reflects the values of the YNC. You may wish to refer to this when considering your Explorer Day topics. A special note on Community Connections A goal of the YNC program is to foster a life-long passion for the natural world. Activities that make connections in the community – by involving a variety of local mentors/experts or partnering with other community groups on projects – will ensure that YNC members build strong nature networks in which they can participate and which will provide continuing opportunities to explore nature after they ‘age-out’ of our organization.
Awareness
In-Nature Experiences & Adventures Principle
Themes/characteristics
YNC Program Components
Experiencing and learning about nature while in nature.
• Emphasis on outdoor activities
• Explorer Days
• Hands-on, experiential learning
• Action Awards
Experiences and adventures in nature foster a love of the outdoors. Leaders and nature mentors share the wonder of the natural world with children through a variety of activities from exploration to recreation. YNC members make personal connections with the natural world and learn about local species, habitat and ecosystems.
• Exploration of nearby nature
• Passport to Nature
• Comfort in the outdoors • Connect with local nature mentors, experts and groups in your community • Outdoor safety, etiquette, orienteering • Not getting lost in the wild (safety rules, orienteering) • Outdoor etiquette (keeping nature safe while observing)
Explorer Day Examples: wetland prowl, animal track identification, family fishing day, bizarre creatures such as barnacles, orienteering, outdoor First Aid, tree/fungus interrelationship.
YNC Leaders’ Manual | Introduction 9
Knowledge
Nature Study & Environmental Literacy Principle
Themes/characteristics
YNC Program Components
Learning about nature whether outdoors, inside or online.
• Species identification and ecosystems
• Explorer Days
Honing nature observation skills learning the names and studying the lives of our wild neighbours; understanding basic environmental concepts, systems and conservation issues.
• Nature observation and journaling
• NatureWILD
• Citizen science activities
• Action Awards • Citizen Science Projects
• Research projects
Explorer Day Examples: NatureWatch Programs (plant watch, frog watch etc.), nature journaling through the seasons, owl pellet dissection, coyote, bear and cougar awareness, raising butterflies for release, great backyard bird count (GBBC).
Action
Stepping up for Nature Principle
Themes/characteristics
YNC Program Components
A consequence of participating in environmental appreciation and awareness activities and making a deep connection to the natural world is a desire to act on behalf of nature.
Give Nature a Hand through stewardship. Activities may be club-based (Explorer Days) or individual (Action Awards).
• Explorer Days
YNC members are given opportunities to ‘step up for nature’ with stewardship projects, to make informed choices to reduce personal impacts on the environment and to share information with others in their community.
Live Lightly on the Earth - by making informed, eco-friendly choices in everyday life (e.g. biking, recycling, composting, energy use reduction).
• Action Awards • Community Events • NatureWILD
Sharing: encourage reaching out to others to share successes, stories and information through presentations to school classes and other youth groups, community events, web, social media, and digital story-telling.
Explorer Day Examples: tree planting, bike to school campaign, nest box cleaning, Youth-led Secret Bog Restoration Project, making mason bee boxes, ‘Only Rain Goes Down the Drain” YouTube video project, planning wildlife friendly gardens.
YNC Leaders’ Manual | Introduction 10
Key Components of the YNC Program Leader’s Core Responsibility Explorer Days Passport to Nature
Action Awards Quest
Club Membership
YNC
Citizen Science & Stewardship Action
NatureWILD Magazine
Website & Communications
Summary - Who does What and Who to Contact Program Area
Leader Responsibility
Office Responsibility
Explorer Days Field trips and other hands-on programs led by local naturalists provide experiences ‘in the field’ – e.g. ponding /insect study, bird identification/observation of behaviour, fungus/forest floor and other discoveries - plus opportunities for club members to learn skills and to meet likeminded peers.
• Organize and Schedule Explorer Days (using YNC Themes) & find Nature Mentors / Guest leaders
• Maintain 3rd party liability for leaders, member and nature mentors
• Register Explorer Days with office before events take place
• Post Explorer Days on Website on club page
• Inform members of events
• Provide leaders with monthly membership contact list
Explorer Days are held outdoors as much as possible.
Questions?
• Complete Informed Consent forms at each Explorer Day; submit forms to office • Share photos and stories General inquiries contact: coordinator@ync.ca Explorer Day listings on YNC website contact: info@ync.ca
• Develop Nature Mentor Database to help leaders find resource people in their community •
Develop/ raise awareness about Province-wide opportunities through Leader e-blasts e.g. Family Fishing Day, EarthRUN, Great Backyard Bird Count etc.
• Liaise with Leaders
YNC Leaders’ Manual | Components of the YNC Program 11
Program Area
Leader Responsibility
Office Responsibility
Club Membership Member families along with volunteer leaders are the core of YNC. YNC invites children ages 5-12 years to discover nature in their own neighbourhoods, explore local ecosystems on Explorer Days, learn about native wildlife and plants in NatureWILD magazine and take part in environmental actions to protect their habitat with the Action Awards Quest.
• Increase awareness about your YNC club and outreach to public
• Process new and renewed memberships and send out welcome packs
• Recruit members for your club at community events / via media and other methods using YNC tools e.g. club brochure, Explorer Day poster template, NatureWILD magazines at displays, YNC Guest Pass
• Notify leaders of new members; send out updated member list monthly
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• Maintain member database
Membership is $25/year for the entire family. There are two ways to sign up: a) Online with an online membership form and credit card payment b) Download and mail in a membership application
Maintain a current YNC Membership (renew annually) and request reimbursement (if desired) within 30 days of registration or renewal.
Questions? Membership contact: info@ync.ca Promotion contact: coordinator@ync.ca
• Produce and print customized club brochures • Facilitate new club set up and support • Respond to member inquiries • Pass on feedback from members to leaders • Fundraise to subsidize low, accessible membership fee • Process Leader Memberships and reimbursements quarterly
Leader Memberships- Leaders are required to be members in good standing (see page 23) Passport to Nature Passports are used to record the member’s participation in naturerelated programs, such as Explorer Days or other programming in their community. A Young Naturalist can earn a certificate of congratulations for every Participation Passport completed and a recognition prize for passports 2, 4 and 6.
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Remind members to bring Passports to Explorer Day events to be signed. Note: if a child forgets to bring the Passport, a parent may sign it later.
• Review rewards for sending in passports. • Whenever possible leaders present certificates/prizes to members at club events.
• Maintained and tracked by office • Certificates and prizes sent from office •
When new members join YNC, they are sent their first Passport to Nature in their welcome kit. Additional passports will be sent from the office and/or downloaded from the website.
Questions? Contact: info@ync.ca
YNC Leaders’ Manual | Components of the YNC Program 12
Program Area
Leader Responsibility
Office Responsibility
NatureWILD Magazine This YNC publication is BC’s only nature magazine for children, containing articles written by leading BC naturalists and scientists, projects, puzzles, games and competitions, and is mailed to family and school members quarterly. It is also available by subscription for schools, libraries, and individuals. YNC members are invited to contribute their field notes, observations, photos, drawings, etc.
• Encourage members to contribute to the magazine
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Two copies of NatureWILD are sent to leaders so that you can keep one and share one with others
• Members and leaders are sometimes profiled in, or write stories for, NatureWILD • Suggestions for topics, presentation, etc., always welcome.
NatureWILD editorial team responsible for production and printing of NatureWILD magazine four times per year.
• NatureWILD is distributed by the office to members and leaders. •
After each NatureWILD magazine is mailed to members, related Activity Pages are sent out electronically to members and leaders by the office.
• Previous copies can be used as part of a community display to promote your YNC club. Questions? Contact: info@ync.ca
Action Awards Quest Bronze, Silver & Gold levels The Action Awards Quest rewards members for their individual and community activities. The program encourages members to do all that they can to be wiser naturalists and energetic environmentalists! Awards are given for completing a selection of activities in four categories: Nature Detective, Helping Nature, Stepping Lightly and Leading Others.
• Raise awareness of Action Awards Quest Program with your club
• Action Awards Quest Program is developed, maintained and tracked at the office.
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• Action Awards Guides are available online
Where possible, Leaders present certificates /buttons to members at club events to help encourage participation
Questions? Contact: info@ync.ca
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YNC Leader is alerted when a club member completes one level and qualifies for a certificate and Award.
• The program is currently under redevelopment
YNC Leaders’ Manual | Components of the YNC Program 13
Program Area
Leader Responsibility
Office Responsibility
Website & Communications The YNC website, displays at community events, articles and local news releases are some of the ways that we get the word out about the YNC and attract new members and funders.
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Each Leader is responsible for local outreach to encourage club membership - you know what works best in your own community. YNC communication tools are available to assist you (see Leaders section of website).
• Register Explorer Days with office before events to post on the website •
If your club has an active relationship with the local BC Nature Club, ask them to consider including updates about YNC in their newsletter, these updates to be contributed by the YNC leader or members.
Questions? General inquiries contact: coordinator@ync.ca Explorer Day listings on YNC website / promotional materials contact: info@ync.ca
YNC Office maintains regular communication with leaders and members (e-news, phone, email, web)
• Develops tools and support for Club Leaders and provides promotional materials • Organizes and supports annual member drive • Provide local volunteers with materials to promote YNC at meetings and public events • Provides updates for BC Nature Magazine • Produces and distributes Annual Report and Strategic Plan • Organizes Annual General Meeting and two leader meetings / year • Writes articles to raise the profile of YNC • Works with volunteer YNC Board of Directors and other volunteers • Fosters positive relationship between BC Nature clubs and YNCs
Financial Management
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YNC Management provides financial and organizational management including compliance with Federal charity regulations and Provincial Society Act
• Manages donations designated for specific clubs • Develops, reports to, and maintains YNC funders
YNC Leaders’ Manual | Components of the YNC Program 14
The Details: What do Leaders and Clubs do? As the Leader of a Young Naturalists’ Family Club, your principal responsibilities will be: 1. Organizing Explorer Days 2. Recruiting members 3. Communicating with Clubs Coordinator and Membership & Office Coordinator Organizing Your Club Why Co-Leadership is a Good Idea. Share the Fun of Leadership! It is strongly recommended that YNC leaders recruit at least one other co-leader and work as a team. Although this is not mandatory, having a co-leader means you have someone to share the workload with especially when your personal life/work gets busy. It can also make the transition for new leaders easier. Explorer Days Discovering nature first hand is the core activity of YNC so your number one priority is organizing local Explorer Days Field trips - outdoors as much as possible. This encourages contact with the natural environment, which many children do not experience in their everyday life. Club activities can take a variety of forms--there is no strict protocol and clubs operate in many different ways. All activities are family oriented and are planned to meet one or more of the YNC Themes (see the Introduction) when developing your Explorer Days. Although a YNC club leader may choose to lead some Explorer Days personally, usually s/he finds local resource people to guide and provide the ‘expertise’. Explorer Day guest leaders (or Nature Mentors) provide variety for your club, take advantage of the wealth of expertise in your community, and take some of the pressure off you as a club leader. Local experts can be found through nearby adult naturalist clubs (often through BC Nature), local colleges and universities, facilities such as hatcheries, provincial and federal outreach personnel; chances are you already know many community experts (see Nature Mentors section for more information). Variety is Key Children respond in different ways, so fill your Explorer Day field trips with a variety of activities and changes in pace. If you intend to take children to see wildlife for example, play a game that involves running around and letting off some energy before expecting them to be quiet. “Whether it is exploring intertidal life, learning about fungus in the forest, birdwatching or cleaning up shorelines, the Young Naturalists enjoy a wide variety of nature discovery and conservation activities. Some of our long-term members are now passing on their knowledge and getting involved in conservation activities on their own initiative. For example, one member helped to start a Young Naturalist club in her school, which now has 30 members and a waiting list of eager Grade 3’s and 4’s. This individual has grown so passionate about nature that she attends environmental meetings in which she is the only child in the audience. Another long-term member is 14 now, but enjoys the YNC so much she wants to stay on as a Junior Leader. I believe that children like these have a “ripple effect”, stimulating others to enjoy and protect nature.” Anthea Farr, RPBio. Leader, Nicomekl YNC.
YNC Leaders’ Manual | The Details - What Leaders and Clubs do 15
Minimum Attendance The minimum number for a sanctioned YNC event is two adults and three children. For the protection of both adults and children YNC Leaders and/or Nature Mentors (Guest YNC Leaders) must not be alone with children at any time. Many leaders ask for an RSVP with a deadline to help confirm numbers prior to the Explorer Day. Note: Although children under 5 years are not yet members, they may attend events with parents and siblings (otherwise probably no-one could do so). However, on occasion, an event may be inappropriate for younger children. In this case, an age limit can be set and passed on to your club members when your Explorer Day announcement is sent out (i.e. “this event is for children 8 and up only”). Friends may be invited with the YNC leader’s permission to ‘try out’ the YNC program once but it is important to note that if they – however inadvertently – cause an accident during the program, they may not be covered under the YNC Liability Insurance. Only members, volunteers and staff are covered under the Liability Insurance (for more information see the Safety and Risk Management section). Planning your Club’s Explorer Days It is a good idea to plan your Explorer Days well in advance, at least a season at a time if possible. Explorer Days are generally offered once a month, but if this proves to be difficult, once every two or three months will be sufficient so long as you inform your member families so they know what to expect. Explorer Days don’t have to be on a specific regular weekend (although many clubs do follow this format); the day chosen can be one that is convenient to the resource person you invite. Many clubs operate from September to June, taking a break over July and August, while others continue to get together over the summer. A few clubs have held a camp for their members. Decide what timing works best for you and your co-leader. As you plan, make sure club activities dwell on the positive and on learning about this wonderful world of ours. Advice from a Seasoned YNC Leader “Running a club is not about being a “teacher” per se, it’s about being a good role model as an advocate for nature. When I first started out as the 10+ leader I made that mistake myself, by making events that were a little too structured and “school like”. Now, I see that it’s most important that the children simply spend happy time outdoors in nature—that they have very positive experiences associated with the outdoors and nature. Hopefully, when they grow up they will remember that nature provided an important foundation for who they became and they will encourage nature experiences for the children in their lives.” Elke Wind, YNC Nanaimo. Explorer Day Inspiration There is a large range of possible activities you might consider when planning your Explorer Days, from building nest boxes, to hiking, pond-dipping, or hands-on workshops on nature photography. See the Appendix for a list of ideas to get you started, along with an annual calendar of nature days, a handy checklist to help you organize and plan, and a sample of how one YNC leader sends out Explorer Day info to her club members. The Leaders’ area of the website (www.ync.ca, under ‘YNC Club Leaders’ on the menu) is an excellent place to find resources for Explorer Day planning. You will find a compilation of Explorer Days from years past where you can read about what other leaders and clubs have done. You can also contact leaders directly by finding their email address on the ‘My Club’ page.
YNC Leaders’ Manual | The Details - What Leaders and Clubs do 16
Environment Canada BioKit / YNC Guide to Using the BioKit In the leaders’ area of the website you will also find the Environment Canada BioKit resource and handy Guide to Using the BioKit that makes links to some typical YNC Explorer Days and some suggested pre and post explorer day activities you may want to incorporate into your field trips or as a follow up. Invite a Nature Mentor to Lead an Explorer Day Local Nature Mentors (guest field trip leaders) enrich and add variety to Explorer Days when they share their expertise, skills and knowledge with your members. Most invited mentors are only too happy to share their passion with young people so long as they know it will be only once a year or so. Potential nature mentors include professional biologists, geologists, naturalists and environmental educators, both active and retired. What if you don’t know any resource people in your community to ask to lead an Explorer Day? The YNC is building a Nature Mentor/ Explorer Day Guest Leader Database to help you locate local resource people and plan your Explorer Days. Information being collected includes the mentor’s area of expertise and availability to volunteer, and contact information. Local Nature Mentor information will be shared with Club Leaders. You can help us build this resource for leaders by referring any potential nature mentors to the Nature Mentor tab on the home page of the YNC website at www.ync.ca. Tips for Nature Mentors It is helpful if Nature Mentors are sent some basic information to guide them in their preparation for sharing their expertise with your members on the Explorer Day; this will make it a more enjoyable experience for them and the members. Check with your Nature Mentor to find out if s/he has experience speaking to/working with young children and is comfortable in this environment; some guest leaders will have limited experience. Let your guest Nature Mentor know: •
About the Young Naturalists’ Club of BC (YNC) YNC is an exciting nature discovery and environmental action program that invites young people across BC ages 5-12 years to discover nearby nature on Explorer Day field trips with local experts, learn about native wildlife and plants in NatureWILD magazine and take part in environmental actions to protect habitat with the Action Awards Quest and stewardship projects. YNC is a registered Canadian Charity powered by volunteers and generous donations. Read more at www.ync.ca.
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Typically Explorer Day field trips are held outdoors and are 1.5 - 2 hours in length.
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Emphasize that this a family club and the members are the children. At least one parent/guardian per family will always be in attendance and they are often eager to ask questions. However, the focus should always be on the children.
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There will be a range of ages attending (potentially 5-12 year olds) so a good rule of thumb is to aim at age 8, which will hit somewhere in the middle of the audience. (Unless your club members are predominately made up of a certain age, if so, advise the Nature Mentor).
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Suggest Nature Mentor shares his/her enthusiasm, how and why interest in topic began.
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Talking should be punctuated with physical activities that are as hands-on as much as possible. Suggest the Nature Mentor bring props and incorporate activities. If you notice that attention is fading, be prepared to intervene to assist the Nature Mentor to switch activities or wrap up.
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For the protection of both adults and children YNC Leaders and/or Nature Mentors (Guest YNC Leaders) must not be alone with children at any time.
YNC Leaders’ Manual | The Details - What Leaders and Clubs do 17
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Advise Nature Mentor that you will be conducting some ‘administration’ at the beginning of the Explorer Day (e.g. sign in, announcements, awards, etc.)
•
As the YNC Leader you are there to intervene if there are any behaviour issues and to assist in any other way that may be required.
Tell your Members about the Explorer Day The primary way your club members will hear about your Explorer Days is through you. YNC leaders prepare and send program information and registration details to members via email (and cc it to info@ync.ca and coordinator@ync.ca). As a leader you will be provided with up-to-date member email / contact information monthly by the YNC office. Please use your club Gmail email account to send out notices of Explorer Days and be sure to check this email regularly as it will be on your club brochures and on the YNC website. See the Appendix for a sample of one leader’s way of announcing upcoming Explorer Days to members. You will have to telephone the very few members who do not have e-mail. IMPORTANT NOTE Members and their families are responsible for their own transportation to and from Explorer Days. The YNC Insurance Policy does not cover transportation and as a leader you must never provide rides to any members. Although we support carpooling, it is up to the members to arrange that on their own. One way you can help your members is to provide bus/transit information, maps and other useful details. Inform the YNC Office and Register your Explorer Days Once you have your Explorer Day schedule planned, send a copy to the Club Coordinator (coordinator@ync.ca) and to the office (info@ync.ca). An easy way to remember to do this is to add these email addresses to your club membership email list (if not already done so by the office). Then please register your Explorer Days online with all the pertinent details including a description of the activity, the location, and the guest leader at http://www.ync.ca/p/find-club-near-you.html (www.ync.ca; on the menu select > ‘YNC Club Leaders’ > ‘Explorer Days’ Tab). This is important for a number of reasons:
i. we want to know about all the great Explorer Days you are organizing
ii. it helps get the word out about your events
iii. the information is used as a resource and source of inspiration for other leaders
iv. last but not least, it is an important condition of our Insurance Policy that your Explorer Day information be sent to the office prior to your outing. Event Day Details There are a few administrative details to complete before the Explorer Day program begins: gather the group before the event and be certain to have all participants and the guest leader sign the Informed Consent Form. See the Appendix for a handy ‘Explorer Day Checklist’ to assist you.
YNC Leaders’ Manual | The Details - What Leaders and Clubs do 18
All children must be accompanied by an adult guardian - parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, older sib, or friend of family (with appropriate permission from the parent). This is an absolute requirement for participation in Explorer Days. Before the Explorer Day program begins gather the group and be certain to have all guardians and the guest leader sign the Informed Consent Form. You may also want to sign any YNC Passports that members have brought with them, go over any particular safety information for the event, make any YNC- related announcements / present any awards and remind participants of the Explorer Day Etiquette. Review Explorer Day Etiquette (included in new member pack)
Hello, Young Naturalist! While enjoying your Explorer Day, remember to:
e Arrive on time
e Listen to leaders and follow instructions
e Show respect for all participants, guests and leaders
e When visiting natural spaces, practice respect and care:
Walk quietly, you will see more wildlife
Stay on designated trails at all times
Leave everything as you found it.
Communication and Outreach Publicizing YNC Events in the Community & Recruiting Members You may also want to advertise your Explorer Day events in the free community listings in your local paper / community website or post them in places around your city/town using the YNC Explorer Day poster template and your customized club brochures (see www.ync.ca; on the menu select > ‘YNC Club Leaders’ > ‘YNC Admin’ tab). Consider inviting a local reporter to attend an Explorer Day and/or send regular items to your paper. In smaller communities especially, local papers are usually very willing to cover YNC events or feature submitted descriptions and photos by you and the children, which may help generate new members. If you would like suggestions on approaching the local paper or wording an announcement, please contact the Clubs Coordinator at coordinator@ync.ca. If you do receive local press coverage, please forward it to the office – this publicity is an important factor when applying for grants. Member Activities - Passports & Action Awards Although these member activities are primarily administered by the office, as a Leader you should be aware of the Passport and Action Awards Quest programs and actively encourage participation with your club members. The purpose of the Action Awards in particular is to encourage children to undertake individual as well as group actions. See the Club Membership section for more information.
YNC Leaders’ Manual | The Details - What Leaders and Clubs do 19
Record your Volunteer Hours Fuelled by the work of over 100 volunteers YNC clubs would not exist without volunteer leaders like you! Help the YNC celebrate you and communicate how much you do to connect children with nature by recording the number of hours you volunteer each month. This information is very helpful in getting funding support for the organization. Please estimate the number of monthly hours that you contribute to YNC and complete the simple form found in the Leaders’ section of the YNC website (Admin Tab) http://yncleadersonly.blogspot.ca/p/ync-admin.html When recording your hours consider all the ways you spend your time volunteering with the YNC e.g. planning and prep for Explorer Days, arranging guest Nature Mentor leaders, email correspondence with members and office, Explorer Days attendance/delivery, Explorer Day follow up/event clean up, work with volunteers, contact with adult naturalist club, media etc. Safety and Risk Management Safety First! ‘Safety First’ is a good maxim, but at the same time appropriate risk taking is good for children’s healthy development and learning. Remind members that the natural world is full of surprises and paying attention is part of getting to know nature and learning how to be outdoors safely. Insurance and Informed Consent Forms The YNC, its members and volunteer leaders are covered by 3rd Party liability insurance. At every event the Informed Consent Form must be signed (this acts as a register and photo permission as well). This is the ONLY way that ensures coverage for members and guests. New regulations require that these Consent Forms be kept until the children are 18 years old. We do not expect YNC leaders to keep them! Please collect and send to YNC office twice a year January 31st and July 31st or more often if you prefer. Club First Aid Kits and First Aid Certification It is important and a good practice that YNC clubs and leaders are prepared to deal with injuries or accidents in the unlikely event that they occur on an Explorer Day event. To this end, the YNC highly recommends that leaders be certified with current Emergency First Aid. If your club has co-leaders, the priority should be for the leader who generally attends Explorer Days to be certified. Please contact the Clubs Coordinator if you need assistance with certification. In addition, each YNC club will be provided with a dedicated first aid kit that should be carried on each Explorer Day outing and should remain with the club when leaders change. Make sure everyone knows where it is when you set out on your Explorer Day. Some helpful websites to help locate an emergency first aid class near you: Canadian Red Cross http://www.redcross.ca/article.asp?id=000620&tid=021 St. John’s Ambulance http://www.sja.ca/BCYukon/Pages/default.aspx
YNC Leaders’ Manual | The Details - What Leaders and Clubs do 20
Reporting Incidents In the unlikely event that an accident or incident occurs during an Explorer Day or other Club event, please record the details on the YNC Incident Report as soon as possible while the event is still fresh in your mind. You can find the Incident Report and the Informed Consent form in the Appendix and in the Leaders’ section of the website. You may want to print a copy to carry with you (perhaps in your club First Aid kit) so that it is on hand and can be filled out on the spot. Final points Nature Clubs in Schools In 2007, acknowledging that there are far more children interested in nature than could ever be reached through family YNCs alone, a new program for elementary schools was initiated – Nature Clubs in Schools. A school nature club requires the support of the principal, a teacher and one or more parents. Funding comes from a variety of sources – the PAC, another support group such as the local BC Nature club, or the families themselves. The timing and frequency of the program that is offered varies from school to school. The YNC has developed a suite of program resources to support school-based nature clubs in addition to a NatureWILD subscription and access to the Action Awards Quest. If someone should express an interest in nature clubs in schools, please refer them to the Clubs Coordinator. Changing Club Leadership If you wish to step down as a leader please give the Clubs Coordinator and local adult club affiliate (if applicable) as much notice as possible; this will ensure the best opportunity to find a replacement and ensure a smooth transition of club leadership. We hope you will help us in finding that new leader~ there may be a YNC parent who can step up or a BC Nature Member from the adult naturalist club or even one of the Nature Mentors/guest leaders. The Clubs Coordinator will also schedule an exit interview and we welcome your feedback and suggestions. Note: a number of items must remain with the club and help maintain continuity for members - for example the Gmail account, first aid kit, any supplies purchased on behalf of the club by the office. When is a club no longer a club? There are two main reasons why a club may cease to exist: 1. The club has no members 2. A replacement leader cannot be found.
YNC Leaders’ Manual | The Details - What Leaders and Clubs do 21
Club Membership How does my club get members? You may be starting a new club or taking over the YNC Leader position in an established club. Either way you’ll want to increase awareness about the YNC in your area and recruit members locally. This can be done in any venue or in any way that the Leader feels is appropriate to the area. Club Brochures & Explorer Day Poster Template Your club will be provided with its own customized club brochure with contact information, which is updated annually. See sample in the Appendix. You will be given a package of 50 to start and a PDF digital file to run off more as required. Use the YNC Explorer Day Poster Template, or create one of your own, to spread the word in the community about upcoming Explorer Days. These can be distributed and posted through libraries, community centres and schools, or any other suitable venue. Ask your local adult BC Nature Club to distribute them at their meetings. (Your BCN club may also cover the cost of printing if requested as many local YNCs do not have funds of their own.) Outreach at Community Events A display table at community events is a great way to let people know about the club and gain new members. Invite local YNC members to help you. ‘Touch table’ items (rocks, shells, skulls, cones, in fact any item from nearby nature) are always an attraction. Put your club brochures out and some sample copies of NatureWILD. The office can send you some issues from previous years which you can give away (contact info@ync.ca to request). You may also want to print some YNC ‘Guest for a Day’ coupons to give out to those who would like to try an Explorer Day or when YNC holds its fall membership drive (see the Appendix for a sample). Local Newspapers & Community Websites – Articles and Club Photos Local papers, especially in smaller communities, are usually most cooperative in running a story or two about the YNC launch; some follow the activities regularly and/or have regular columns. Newspapers and community websites are often willing to print/post club photos from Explorer Days (refer to the Informed Consent form for photo permission). After the first few successful Explorer Days have been carried out, word of mouth by happy participants is often the most effective recruiting method. Annual YNC Membership Drive An Annual Membership Drive is held each fall when most clubs resume for the year; often with a promotion of some kind e.g. Bring a Friend Day. The YNC office will supply promotional tools and information in advance to help you recruit more members. How do families join the YNC? Membership applications are found in the YNC brochures, in YNC NatureWILD magazine or online at www.ync.ca. Memberships can be paid for by mailing in the application and cheque or can be completed and paid for online with a credit card using PayPal. In 2013 the membership fee is $25.00 for the family; all children between 5 and 12 will qualify for membership. Memberships run for one calendar year from date of joining.
YNC Leaders’ Manual | Membership 22
All memberships and renewals are processed at the office by the Member and Office Coordinator. Leaders will be notified of new members joining their club. Updated membership lists will be provided at regular intervals and will also indicate those members who have not renewed and thus should be removed from your club email list. If you have any questions about membership lists please contact info@ync.ca. What do members get when they sign up? When children join the YNC they become part of a local YNC community of children and families that share their love of nature. 1. New memberships are confirmed by email and sent a digital copy of NatureWILD and the Environment Canada BioKit to enjoy while they are waiting for their New Member Packs to arrive by Canada Post. 2. A Backyard Bird ID card and welcome letter will arrive along with a New Member Pack for each child in the family. Each child receives: a membership card, magnifier, parts-of-a-bird reference card and their own Passport to Nature to use on Explorer Days and at other community nature events. 3. The family is invited to attend Explorer Days with their local club. 4. The family is mailed one copy of NatureWILD magazine (four issues a year) followed by relevant Activity Pages (sent by email – these can be photocopied at home if there is more than one child). 5. Children are invited to participate in contests and citizen science opportunities, and to enroll in the YNC Action Awards Quest Program.
YNC Welcome Pack! On renewal, children are sent a small gift. Membership for Leaders The YNC asks that all Family Club Leaders be current YNC Members. Being a member extends liability insurance to you during YNC activities and, along with completing the Informed Consent Forms at each Explorer Day, is an important part of meeting the requirements of liability insurance coverage. It is also helpful for you as a Leader to be a member so that you experience first-hand the benefits of membership and can speak to them directly when recruiting families for your Club. In addition, as a member you will have a voice in the decisions of the YNC by voting at the Annual General Meeting. In 2013 the Board of Directors passed a motion to offer reimbursement, by request, for the full cost of an annual individual or family membership for up to two co-leaders per club.The Leader Membership & Reimbursement Policy recognizes your critical contribution to achieving the YNC’s goal of connecting children with nature and at the same time makes it easier for you and your family to be YNC Members while also ensuring that as a Society the YNC conforms to our By-Laws pertaining to membership. Please make reimbursement requests to the office at info@ync.ca within 30 days of your membership registration or renewal. Please note: reimbursements are processed quarterly. If you have any questions please contact info@ync.ca
YNC Leaders’ Manual | Membership 23
Member Activities - Passports & Action Awards Although these member activities are primarily administered by the office, as a Leader you should be aware of the Passport to Nature and Action Awards Quest programs and actively encourage participation. The purpose of the Action Awards in particular is to encourage children to undertake individual as well as group actions. YNC Passport to Nature When a family takes out a membership every child is issued a pocket sized Passport to Nature with six event tickets together with their new member pack. The purpose of the Passport is to encourage participation in outdoor nature events, whether sponsored by YNC or some other group such as Cubs and Brownies, school field trips, park programs, community clean-up, etc. Please encourage all your members to use their passports by bringing them to Explorer Days and other outdoor nature events. This will help to encourage more outside time and nature exploration. Each event the child attends can be entered on one ticket in the passport and signed by the event leader. Note: Should the child forget to bring the Passport it can be signed later by a parent/guardian. A Young Naturalist can earn a certificate of congratulations for every Participation Passport completed and a recognition prize for passport 2, 4 and 6. Completed Passports
Recognition
1
Certificate
2
Certificate and YNC Cap
3
Certificate
4
Certificate and YNC T-Shirt *
6+
Surprise gift **
Members can take their passports to any bona fide community event which expands their understanding of one of YNC’s Themes and Principles: 1) In-Nature Experiences and Adventures, 2) Nature Study and Environmental Literacy, 3) Stepping up for Nature. A Young Naturalist can ask a responsible adult at such an event (or parent) to sign one passport ticket.
When all six tickets in a passport have been completed, the Young Naturalist mails the passport to the YNC office and a new one is sent, or one can be downloaded from the YNC website. * YNC caps cannot be purchased, but T-shirts are available for purchase through the office **according to what we have on hand and geographic area of the young naturalist
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YNC Leaders’ Manual | Membership
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Action Awards Quest The purpose of the Action Awards Quest is to build on the group learning opportunities provided by Explorer Days and NatureWILD, by encouraging our young members to become self-motivated naturalists and environmentalists. By promoting individual and independent action by members, taken on their own initiative, we hope studying nature and caring about the environment will become part of the way they live their lives. There are three levels of awards Bronze, Silver and Gold (these categories may be renamed). The Action Award Quest booklet is available for download from the YNC website (www.ync.ca; on menu select ‘Action Awards’). Each time a member completes a level, s/he will receive a certificate and pin / button plus a write up in NatureWILD magazine. The award certificate and pin can be mailed to the member or - preferably - sent to the leader for presentation on a suitable occasion during an Explorer Day to publicly congratulate the member and encourage others to participate. Members are invited to complete activities in four different categories as follows: Nature Detective - study, experiment, or research the natural world and report on it and your work. Discover new things by taking part in a nature-related field trip, program or community event. Helping Nature - protect, conserve, preserve, or restore a part of the natural environment around you, directly or indirectly. Participate in a Citizen Science Project by monitoring wildlife or plant life in your community and reporting back. Leading Others - share nature and environmental actions with your friends, family, school or community at large by giving a presentation, show & tell, making a poster or artwork, creating a blog or YouTube video, or drawing a comic book or graphic novel. You can also lead a nature walk, participate in invasive plants removal, raise funds, write an article for a newspaper or even start your own local chapter of YNC. Stepping Lightly - reduce your ecological footprint (your impact on the planet) by making some eco-friendly choices in your everyday life/style.
Andrew Mitchell, North Vancouver Island YNC receives his Gold Level Action Award from Leader Jackie Hildering
YNC Leaders’ Manual | Membership 25
Leaders’ Resources Leaders’ Area of the YNC website The Leaders’ section of the website is the place you should go to find resources, ideas and info to help you plan your Explorer Days, find any YNC forms you need, fill in your volunteer hours, order materials and chat with other leaders! Go to www.ync.ca and select ‘YNC Club Leaders’ on the menu. Features of the Leaders’ area (at the time of printing) include: Leader Blog We invite you to contribute to the blog, to share ideas and resources, post questions and offer words of wisdom to others’ questions. You will also find in the Leaders’ area: •
Leaders’ Manual
•
Explorer Day Poster Templates
•
Explorer Day Inspiration (list of past Explorer Days from clubs)
•
BioKit Resource and Guide (pre and post Explorer Day/ Family Stewardship activities)
•
Informed Consent Form
•
Volunteer Tracking Form
•
Incident Report Form
•
Request YNC Materials and Supplies
•
Customized YNC Club Brochures
•
YNC Thank you cards
•
Calendar of Nature Days and YNC Events
•
Info about available Club Funding /Leader training (e.g. Stewardship Activity Grant 2012-13, MEC-sponsored First Aid Training for Leader 2011-12)
Other resources available on the website: •
Regional Bird ID cards
•
SalmonWILD magazine
•
YNC Bird, bat boxes, bird feeders for purchase (No nails/no glue!)
•
Grandparents Day Brochure with Activities
•
Nature Mentors- link to database form
Leader E-Blasts Seasonal E-newsletters are sent informing you about upcoming events, announcements, awards etc. This is the primary tool the YNC uses to communicate to all leaders. Please take the time to read this newsletter and direct any follow-up questions to the Clubs Coordinator.
YNC Leaders’ Manual | Leaders’ Resources 26
Leader meetings/ YNC Annual Meeting The YNC is a registered charity and as such is required to hold an Annual General Meeting which it does each spring in May. As a member of the YNC you are able to vote at the Annual General Meeting. The YNC also has two Leaders’ meetings each year held in tandem with the BC Nature meetings. The meetings rotate to different parts of the province each time giving the YNC a chance - over time - to hold a regional Leaders’ Meeting close to most YNC Clubs. They are held in: •
May (Annual General Meeting & Leaders’ Meeting) and
•
September/October (Fall Leaders’ Meeting)
The host BC Nature Club often generously donates a meeting room and refreshments. YNC encourages leaders to attend whenever possible. The Leaders’ Meetings are a great chance to meet other leaders, share ideas, discuss emerging topics or matters of concern as well as meet YNC Board Members and Staff. If there is a particular topic you’d like discussed or training you feel would benefit leaders please contact the Clubs Coordinator. See the BC Nature website at http://www.bcnature.ca/ to find the location and date of upcoming meetings. The YNC Leaders’ Meetings are generally held on the Saturday morning. YNC and BC Nature Ever notice that on the front of many YNC Club brochures it states that club is “sponsored by XYZ Naturalist Club”? In this way YNC acknowledges and appreciates our special relationship with BC Nature (formerly the Federation of BC Naturalists). We benefit from sharing office space and working together at an organizational level but most importantly many of the BC Nature adult Clubs work closely with local YNCs. Local adult BC Nature Clubs are a wonderful source of knowledge and experience and are often staunch supporters of their local YNC Club. Some YNC Leaders are members of the adult naturalist club. Some BC Nature Clubs, such as Nature Vancouver, offer joint membership at a highly reduced rate for YNC families. Many contribute financially in support of local YNCs covering the cost of photocopying brochures or paying for meeting space or occasional interpreter fees. Adult Naturalist Clubs are an important resource and stepping stone for older children ‘aging out’ of the YNC. We encourage all leaders to reach out and develop good relationships with members of their local BC Nature Club.
YNC Leaders’ Manual | Leaders’ Resources 27
Important Information about the YNC Where does YNC get its Funding? The YNC budget is approximately $100,000 each year and those monies are raised through a range of activities including grants, donations, membership fees and fee-for service activities. In addition we estimate that volunteers contribute in excess of $50,000 worth of their time each year. The YNC has intentionally kept the costs to members low, only recovering 15% of the operating budget through the $25 annual family membership fees. We know this is important to ensure access to families with lower incomes. Sometimes we get designated donations from individuals to support memberships for those who can’t afford even this modest fee or to support work in inner city schools. Donations Because YNC is a registered charity we can issue tax receipts for donations. It also means we need to be vigilant in reporting any donations to Revenue Canada in our annual filing. Any funds received using the YNC charitable number must be processed through the office. The YNC is able to receive donations online through credit card (using the trusted CharityHelps tool at www. charityhelps.org where tax receipts are issued instantly) and by cash or cheque at the YNC office. One of the most effective ways by far to raise funds is through our monthly donor program. Monthly donations lower fundraising costs, save a huge amount of time in grant writing and reporting and make the YNC more stable by ensuring a steady cash flow throughout the year. Even a small regular donation of just $5 a month makes a big difference! Leader Volunteer Hours Volunteer hours are valued as ‘in-kind donations’ and are given a dollar value. They are an essential component when applying for grants, as the YNC needs to show that it is contributing (as far as possible) as much as the granting agency to the work for which support has been requested. For more information about recording your volunteer hours see the ‘What do Leaders and Clubs Do’ section. Long Term Planning In 2012 the YNC started a “Forever Fund” with a $1000 donation by YNC Founder and Honorary President Daphne Solecki. The purpose of this fund is to accumulate donations in a special account and thus set aside resources for the future. It is hoped that eventually this fund will form a large endowment that can cover the administrative costs of the YNC.
YNC Leaders’ Manual | Important Information about YNC 28
Other Ways to Raise Funds There are many ways you and your club can help the YNC raise the funds to keep connecting children with nature far into the future: •
Writing letters of support for use in grant applications
•
Holding a mini-fundraiser such as a bottle drive, penny drive, or sale
•
Participating in the EarthRUN to raise funds for the YNC
•
Becoming a monthly donor
•
Spreading the word about the YNC to others to encourage membership and support.
Thank you to the many leaders who are monthly and annual donors! Finances Each year the YNC undergoes a financial review and the financial statements are presented at the Annual General Meeting and later posted on the website. A graphic summary of the finances are included in the annual report as is a list of the many donors. You can view a list of the current funders in NatureWILD magazine or on the website. Funders are also updated annually on the Club brochures. The YNC Model In the 1970’s, some fantastic local nature clubs were organized in BC, notably in Vancouver and Victoria. However, after a period of time the club folded, usually when the founding leader stepped down. The YNC was developed with the idea that by organizing a province wide network of clubs and providing leaders with management support to take care of matters such as funding, membership records and other paperwork, leaders would be able to commit their time and energy directly to their clubs. Management would also be responsible for program elements such as NatureWILD, Action Awards, Passport to Nature, Province-wide citizen science and stewardship activities. By linking leaders and providing them with resources, a more resilient and thriving network of clubs could exist and grow into the future. And it seems to be working! Thus, your primary responsibility is for Explorer Day delivery and interaction with your club members, whilst the part time YNC Management Team - consisting of the Executive Director, Nature Club Coordinator, Membership and Office Coordinator, volunteer Board of Directors and office volunteers - takes care of everything else. For more detailed information and who to contact if you have questions, please see the ‘YNC Key Components’ section.
YNC Leaders’ Manual | Important Information about YNC 29
YNC History - How it began Background In common with most naturalist organizations in Canada, the BC naturalist community became concerned with the fact that their members were aging and younger and more vigorous members were not being recruited. Yet the environmental movement in this province originated in the naturalist clubs, many of which were started as long ago as the early 1900s and had a strong conservation ethic. At that time, with a smaller population, there was a close relationship between naturalists, academia and government. In the 70’s the population grew and with this growth, threats to natural habitat increased. This spurred the emergence of more activist groups. A split seems to have developed between the knowledge-based naturalist clubs and the action-based environmental groups. The aim of the YNC is to develop a younger generation of naturalists who are both knowledgeable in natural history and ecology and prepared to take action on behalf of the environment. Perhaps the biggest change between then and now is that early naturalists were surrounded by nature – they just stepped outside and there it was. Nowadays, the great majority of the population is urban and the natural world is hard to find without some guidance. Action In 1993, Rob Butler proposed that the Federation of BC Naturalists create a young naturalist program based on the youth program of Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, UK (Europe’s largest conservation organization with one million members). Their youth program, the Young Ornithologists’ Club (now known as RSPB Wildlife Explorers), has been in existence for 60 years. The Vancouver Natural History (VNHS, now Nature Vancouver) decided to act on behalf of all FBCN clubs to develop a program for young people. As a run up to starting the YNC, a local family program called ‘Step into Nature’ was started in 1997. YNC BC was launched in spring 2000 by a working group of VNHS members - Karen Buschert, Carole Grupe, Diane Lepawsky, Muren Schachter and Daphne Solecki (chair). Monica Belko joined us through the BC government’s E-Team initiative and from 2000 to the present, she has been the production editor for NatureWILD magazine. As it happens, the delay in getting the YNC off the ground - though frustrating at the time - was actually fortuitous, because the launch coincided with the growth of electronic communication. Without the ability to communicate with leaders and members by email and to make the YNC known via the website, the organization would never have grown as quickly as it has. Progress In 1995, Daphne Solecki visited the RSPB HQ at Sandy, UK. The RSPB was very generous with help, advice and materials and an invitation to make use of everything that can be adapted to our local conditions without further permission. We have made full use of this generosity starting with adapting their logo. Our logo was created by Claudette Poirier originally in black and white.
RSBP Wildlife Explorers
YNC BC
Young Naturalists’ Club of BC
YNC BC www.ync.ca
YNC Leaders’ Manual | Important Information about YNC 30
We also adapted the main elements of their program – outdoor explorations and activities, action awards and a magazine - which evolved into (1) monthly Explorer Days Field trips; (2) Action Awards (Bronze, Silver and Gold) for activities involving nature study, sharing knowledge, outdoor exploration and community action; (3) NatureWILD, the only quarterly publication for children with a focus on BC nature and environment. Developing the membership The first local YNC for families with children 5 – 14 years was inaugurated in the spring of 2000 at a children’s event at Van Dusen Gardens. The first YNC on Vancouver Island was launched in Nanaimo. In 2007, acknowledging that there are far more children in BC than could ever be reached through family YNCs, a new program for elementary schools was initiated – Nature Clubs in Schools. Through the web-based Virtual Clubhouse, schools were guided through the process of beginning a club and provided with resources and support for activities. Today There are over 30 regional family-based clubs throughout BC, with more on the way, serving over 1000 children and their parents. Full insurance coverage is provided. In addition, there is a large group of children involved through the nature clubs in schools programs. Organization In 2006, the Young Naturalists’ Club of BC had achieved province wide coverage. The decision was made to become a separate Society and a registered charity. Part of the reason was economic – YNC could hamper either Nature Vancouver or BC Nature in their own fund-raising efforts through internal competition. The first Directors were Rob Butler, George Bangham, Eva Nagy, Jeremy McCall, Anne Murray, and Daphne Solecki. Until recently the YNC was coordinated by a volunteer, with the help of a part-time assistant. Originally operating out of Daphne’s dining room, in recent years office space has generously been provided by BC Nature. In 2010, the part-time positions of Executive Director and Clubs Coordinator were created to oversee the running of the organization, supervising YNC membership services and finances, assisting YNC leaders and maintaining the website, as a step toward ensuring a stable future for YNC and a smooth transition as the current volunteer Coordinator retires from actively running the organization. FUNDING This will always be something to be concerned with but the Board of Directors has devised a Strategic Plan to make the YNC more self-sufficient and less dependent on grants. We are always looking to the future and for ways to grow and improve the program, without “empire building” and any great demand for further funding. FUTURE The YNC is unique in Canada in having initiated the first province-wide network of young naturalists clubs. By providing support to local club leaders we hope that the clubs will continue and not fade away when a current leader leaves, as happened in the past. Alberta, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick have adapted the BC program to their regions and interest has been shown by Saskatchewan and Ontario. Nature Canada is currently interested in working on a young naturalist program and has cited the YNC of British Columbia as a good model. We are looking forward to the establishment of a young naturalists’ network from coast to coast.
YNC Leaders’ Manual | Important Information about YNC 31
Young Naturalists’ Club of BC
Young Naturalists’www.ync.ca Club of British Columbia CONSTITUTION 1. NAME The name of the Society shall be “Young Naturalists’ Club of British Columbia Society”. 2. PURPOSE The purpose of the Society is to encourage and assist young people to develop a love of nature and a feeling of respect and responsibility for the unique ecosystems, flora and fauna of British Columbia. 3. RELATIONSHIP to Federation of BC Naturalists The Young Naturalists’ Club of BC Society is affiliated with the Federation of BC Naturalists and is committed to supporting the objectives of the Federation. This section is unalterable in accordance with the Society Act of British Columbia. 4. LOCATION The operations of the Society are to be carried out throughout the province of British Columbia. This section is unalterable in accordance with the Society Act of British Columbia. 5. DISSOLUTION Upon the winding up or dissolution of the Society, funds or assets remaining after all debts have been paid shall be transferred to a charitable institution with purposes similar to those of the Society, or, if this cannot be done, to another charitable institution recognized by Revenue Canada as qualified under the provisions of the Income Tax Act of Canada. This section is unalterable in accordance with the Society Act of British Columbia. 6. NON-PROFIT STATUS The purposes of the Society shall be carried out without purpose of gain for its members and any profits or other accretions to the Society shall be used for promoting its purposes. This section is unalterable in accordance with the Society Act of British Columbia.
May 28, 2006
YNC Leaders’ Manual | Important Information about YNC 32
Special Relationship Between BC Nature and the Young Naturalists’ Club of BC The special relationship between BC Nature and the YNC is recognized in our Constitution as follows: “The Young Naturalists’ Club of BC Society is affiliated with the Federation of BC Naturalists [BC Nature] and is committed to supporting the objectives of the Federation. This section is unalterable in accordance with the Society Act of British Columbia.” And by BC Nature in a Policy Statement: BC Nature Support for Young Naturalists’ Club of BC (2012) 1. BC Nature recognizes the Young Naturalists’ Club of BC as the youth arm of BC Nature and engages to support and strengthen the YNC by all mutually agreed methods. 2. BC Nature will appoint an Executive Committee member as liaison to YNC to ensure good communication and invites YNC to do the same. 3. BC Nature recognizes YNC financially with a line item in the budget. 4. BC Nature encourages its member clubs to assist their local YNC in whatever ways are possible.
YNC Leaders’ Manual | Important Information about YNC 33
Appendix 1. YNC Volunteer Leader Agreement - Role and Responsibilities 2. What YNC Provides to Clubs 3. Explorer Day Field Trip Ideas 4. Calendar of Nature Days and YNC Events 5. Explorer Day Checklist (Planning / Trip Day Details) 6. Forms:
i. Informed Consent
ii. Incident Report
iii. Reporting Volunteer Hours (see www.ync.ca; on the menu select > ‘YNC Club Leaders’ > ‘YNC Admin Tab’). This is extremely important for fundraising. 7. Samples:
i. Table of Explorer Day info for Club Members
ii. Customized YNC Club Brochure
iii. YNC Explorer Day Poster Template
iv. YNC ‘Guest for the Day’ Coupon
v. YNC Passport to Nature Certificate of Recognition
8. Some of our Favourite References on the Benefits of Time Spent In Nature 9. YNC Family Clubs across BC
YNC Leaders’ Manual | Appendix 34
Young Naturalists’ Club of BC
Young Naturalists’www.ync.ca Club of British Columbia
e e e e e e e
YNC Volunteer Leader Agreement Role and Responsibilities Fulfil YNC Leader responsibilities as outlined in this manual and updated from time to time by the YNC Create a supportive, welcoming club atmosphere for children and their families to explore nearby nature Organize and run Explorer Day field trips that meet the YNC Themes Share your enthusiasm for nature Model being a naturalist; demonstrate appropriate, respectful behaviour in the outdoors Help promote the YNC in your community and actively recruit new members
Raise awareness and promote other YNC activities and opportunities with your members i.e. Passport to Nature, Action Awards Quest, Citizen Science and Stewardship projects
Foster positive relationships with nature mentors in your community (e.g. BC Nature Members, biologists and others)
e
I have read and understand the above and am in agreement with the Roles and Responsibilities as outlined
Volunteer Leader Name (please print)
Date
Signature
Club
Received by
Please return this form to the office (scanned and emailed, fax, or mail). Thank you!
YNC Leaders’ Manual | Appendix 35
The YNC will Provide Clubs with the Following Tools e
Club Gmail Account (email)
YNC Customized Club Brochure (see www.ync.ca; on the menu select > ‘YNC Club Leaders’ > ‘YNC Admin Tab’)
e e e e e
Club Page on YNC Website (see website; on menu > ‘My Club’) Monthly membership list for your club YNC Membership for Leaders (renewed annually)
Leaders’ Manual and Welcome Package (website > ‘YNC Club Leaders’ > ‘YNC Admin Tab’)
Leader Resources and Support (website > ‘YNC Club Leaders’ and seasonal E-newsletter)
e e e
Club First Aid Kit Support for First Aid Training (funds permitting)
YNC Leaders’ Manual | Appendix 36
Explorer Day Field trip Ideas OUTDOORS Bird watching
Fungus search
Forest walks: bark, wildlife trees, leaf types
Nature journaling
Looking at nests
Tidal pools - intertidal with seine net
Tracking
Hunting for fossils
Astronomy - evening outing
Night Hike – Owling
Orienteering
Wetland explore/ Ponding, dragonflies, frogs
Overnight Camp
Geocaching
Survival in wilderness - building snow caves
Looking for bees & butterflies
Day camp
Looking for snow fleas - other snow explores
Why worms are important
Invasive plant removal
Local geology - rocks - minerals
Great Backyard Bird Count Low tide day (June) (February)
Great Canadian Shoreline clean-up (September)
Butterfly gardens
Spiders and webs (fall)
What our Oceans have hidden from us
Visit local Bug Factory
Caving
Learning to sketch; nature note book
Environmental Games
Nature photography
Local wildlife rescue centre
Adopt-a-Raptor program
Adopt a stream program
Fish Hatchery - salmon dissection
INDOORS Fossil or Mineral Museum Mammals in winter
Build bird boxes, bat boxes, bird feeders, mason bee homes, turtle/ water fowl resting platforms
Snakes, salamanders, Inside a Beaver Lodge fish etc (local society or fish hatchery)
Visit local college or university biology/ invertebrate/ botany lab
Hug-a-Tree (Search & Videos or slide shows Rescue presentation)
Presentations on bears, coyotes....... talk & activities about bears, their habits, tracks, scats and habitat
YNC Leaders’ Manual | Appendix 37
Annual Calendar of Nature Days and YNC Events MONTH
NATURE DAY OR EVENT
YNC EVENT
September
Rivers’ Day, International Coastal/Great Canadian Shoreline Clean-Up Day, Arbour Day, National Forest Week (last full week)
Grandparents’ Day, YNC Fall Leaders’ Meeting
October
World Habitat Day (for humans-1st), International Walk to School (3rd & month), World Animal Day (4th), World Food Day (6th), Waste Reduction Week
YNC Annual Membership Drive
November
World Fisheries Day, International Day of Action on Climate Change
YNC Annual Membership Drive
December
Winter Solstice, Christmas Bird Count, CBC4Kids
Christmas Bird Count
February
Great Backyard Bird Count, World Wetlands Day (2nd)
Great Backyard Bird Count
March
Earth Hour (31st), World Forestry Day (21st), World Water Day (22nd), BC Green Games
April
National Wildlife Week, Earth Day (22nd), Globe at Night, Pitch In Canada week
Volunteer Awareness Week
May
Compost Awareness Month, International Migratory Bird Day (14/15th), Endangered Species Day, Biodiversity Day (22nd), World Health Day
YNC AGM & Leaders’ Meeting
June
Nature Play Day, Canadian Environment Week, Clean Air Day, World Environment Day (5th), World Oceans Day, Mud Day, Family Fishing Weekend, Summer Solstice
EarthRUN–YNC fundraiser in Vancouver and other locations
July/August
Canada’s Parks Day (July), National Moth Week (July)
YNC summer office closure
YNC Leaders’ Manual | Appendix 38
Explorer Day Checklist A) Planning and Preparation
o Plan and organize Explorer Days for the season or year (for assistance see www.ync.ca; on the menu
select ‘YNC Club Leaders’)
o Confirm Nature Mentors (NM) and dates; send Nature Mentor Tips o Encourage Nature Mentor’s participation in the YNC Nature Mentor Database for future Explorer Days;
direct them to the YNC home page to complete the form (www.ync.ca)
o Email Explorer Day info and RVSP date (optional) to club members using Club Gmail account
(or telephone where applicable)
o Email Explorer Day info to office prior to events for insurance purposes and to post online on your
Club page (send to: info@ync.ca and coordinator@ync.ca)
o Register your upcoming Explorer Days in the Leader’s section of the website at
http://yncleadersonly.blogspot.ca/p/explorer-day-registration.html
o Use the YNC Explorer Day poster template to advertise in your community / send info to community
listings in local paper/website (see Leaders’ section of website – Admin Tab)
o Confirm member participants/ minimum numbers for the Explorer Day; answer any inquiries o Print the rest of the Explorer Day Checklist to take with you o Consider making permanent name tags with your members that they bring to each Explorer Day.
NOTE:
o At the end of January and July mail the office your Informed Consent forms or more frequently
if you prefer
YNC Leaders’ Manual | Appendix 39
Explorer Day Checklist B) Before Leaving Home
o Print and fill out a copy of the Informed Consent Form for the day of the field trip (see Leaders’
section of website-YNC Admin Tab); pack pens
o Place YNC Club First Aid Kit in your pack for the day; include a copy of the Incident Report should
it be needed
o Prepare YNC thank you card for the Nature Mentor (see Leaders’ section of website-YNC Admin Tab) o Bring plain stick-on address labels and marker to make name tag for Nature Mentor and others as needed C) Before Starting
o Get mandatory signatures of all participants and Nature Mentor on the Informed Consent Form
for liability insurance, record of attendance, and photo release (attach any ‘Guest for a Day’ coupons if applicable)
o Sign any Passports; encourage members to bring them to Explorer Days and use at other environmentally
focused community events (parents can sign if forgotten / attend other events)
o Make any YNC announcements / present any awards o Review any safety info for the day/ announce where the Club First Aid Kit can be found / review
Explorer Day Etiquette
o Welcome and introduce Nature Mentor (Optional: child members introduce themselves - they can
introduce their accompanying adult ~ this helps to reinforce that the focus is on the children)
D) During / Wrap Up
o Assist Nature Mentor as needed; take photos; remind members of appropriate behaviour as needed.
Have fun and share your enthusiasm for nature!
o Thank Nature Mentor and give YNC thank you card (Optional: get one of the members to present) E) Back at Home
o Fill in your monthly estimate of YNC volunteer hours by completing the Volunteer Tracking form
(see www.ync.ca; on the menu select > ‘YNC Club Leaders’ > ‘YNC Admin Tab’). This is extremely important for fundraising ~ thank you!
o If applicable, complete the online Incident Report (see Leader’s section of website > ‘YNC Club Leaders’ >
‘YNC Admin Tab’) or fax, scan and email a copy to coordinator@ync.ca
o Follow up to confirm Nature Mentor has completed the form for the YNC Nature Mentor Database for
future Explorer Days if applicable (www.ync.ca on the home page)
o Send the office any photos of the Explorer Day for your Club page / awards presented for use in NatureWILD magazine (*check photo permission on Informed Consent form).
YNC Leaders’ Manual | Appendix 40
Young Naturalists’ Club of BC
www.ync.ca
YOUNG NATURALISTS’ CLUB OF BRITISH COLUMBIA 1620 Mt. Seymour Rd., North Vancouver, B.C. V7G 2R9 INFORMED CONSENT AGREEMENT (Please read carefully) This Agreement must be signed by each person participating in the field trip named below, operated by the Young Naturalists’ Club of British Columbia (YNC). For participants under age 19 years, the parent/guardian of the Minor must complete and sign the Informed Consent Agreement. No changes may be made to the content of this Agreement. Explorer Day Title: Location:
Explorer Day Date:
Name of YNC Club Leader / Organiser: Name of Nature Mentor / Explorer Day Guest:
Guest Signature:
ASSUMPTION OF RISK I am aware that there are physical risks associated with my child’s participation in the above noted event offered through the Young Naturalists’ Club of BC, which include but are not limited to: a) injuries such as possible scrapes, broken bones, soft tissue injuries, sun or wind burns resulting from participation in above noted event and all related activities; b) allergic reactions to food, plants, soils, and animal life; c) insect bites; d) confrontation with domestic and wild animals resulting in death or severe physical injury; e) injuries or death resulting from travel to and from locations to be visited. I understand and agree I am solely responsible for my child’s behaviour and that my child will obey all the rules and regulations pertaining to the above noted event and all related activities. I understand that the Young Naturalists’ Club and its officers, directors and employees are not responsible for any injury, loss or damage of any kind sustained by my child or other participants. Behaviour guidelines: participants are expected to treat other participants and volunteer leaders/guides with respect. Parents/guardians should supervise their children closely at all times and address disruptive behaviour immediately. I acknowledge that I have read the above agreement and I understand, appreciate and accept the risks associated with the above noted event and consent to my child’s participation in the above noted event and all related activities. Signed documents must be filed with the club and be kept for further five years after the minor reaches the age of 18. Date this Agreement was completed:
YNC Club Leader: (or Organiser)
PLEASE COMPLETE THE OTHER SIDE THIS INFORMED CONSENT MUST BE SIGNED BEFORE PARTICIPATION IN FIELD TRIP. WOULD-BE PARTICIPANTS WITHOUT SIGNED CONSENT FORMS WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO TAKE PART IN THE FIELD TRIP. 41
PARENT/GUARDIAN AGREEMENT FOR MINORS (under 19 years)
YNC Leader Signature:
Signature of Parent/ Guardian
As the parent/guardian of the Minor named below I certify that I have read the Agreement and understood that it is an informed consent agreement and release from any claims for loss or damage that I or the Minor may suffer during the field trip. I certify that the Minor is fully capable of participating in this YNC field trip. I consent to the Minor’s participation in the field trip and approve of all the terms of this Agreement on behalf of the Minor. I agree to indemnify the YNC, its agents, directors, officers, successors and assigns from any and all claims that may be made against them by or on behalf of the Minor or as a result of actions on the part of the Minor. Date: Printed Name of YNC Leader as Witness:
Printed Name of Name of Minor Age Photo Phone# Emergency Contact Parent/Guardian Consent (Name/Ph#) (Y/N)
Updated: October, 2013
THIS INFORMED CONSENT MUST BE SIGNED BEFORE PARTICIPATION IN FIELD TRIP. WOULD-BE PARTICIPANTS WITHOUT SIGNED CONSENT FORMS WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO TAKE PART IN THE FIELD TRIP.
42
Young Naturalists’ Club of BC
www.ync.ca Report YNC Incident
Complete and submit this form to report when 1) a volunteer, leader, member or program participant is injured or involved in an accident on an Explorer Day or YNC Club event; 2) an issue, disagreement or unresolved complaint that arises during an Explorer Day or YNC Club event. Keep a copy of this form in your First Aid Kit, then transfer the info to the online form (see below) or scan and email, or fax. Please complete and submit a.s.a.p following the incident.
YNC Club Details Club Name: Your Name:
When did this incident take place?
Date:
Time:
Where did the incident take place? Location:
Describe the weather conditions:
Who was present when the incident occurred?
Provide a detailed account of the incident:
continued on next page
YNC Leaders’ Manual | Appendix 43
detailed account continued
Describe all emergency procedures or equipment that was used
Yes
No
Did you contact Police?
o o o o
o o o o
o
o
Did you contact Ambulance Service? Did you contact Fire Service? Did you administer First Aid (if yes make sure you’ve detailed above) Was an Informed Consent Form signed by the member involved?
Fill out this info in the online form on the YNC website (www.ync.ca; on menu > ‘YNC Club Leaders’ > ‘YNC Admin’ > ‘Incident Report’). Thank you for reporting this incident. The YNC Clubs Coordinator will contact you to follow up.
YNC Leaders’ Manual | Appendix 44
Sample Explorer Day Communication to Members The chart below is one example of the many ways to organize and share Explorer Day information with your members. Thank you to Jackie Hildering former North Vancouver Island Leader for permission to share her work. Please confirm participation by dates indicated Date
Explorer Day
September Foresttea! 22nd
“Host”
Time & Location
Further Details
Confirm by
Tracey is the DFO education coordinator Tracey Moss Quatse Nature Trail for our area, she is senior interpreter for the Port Hardy Pacific Rim National Park Reserve and – she’s a YNC parent. She will walk us through the Details of trail and teach us about berries, edible plants, where and medicinal plants, and more. Bring your own mug! We will be drinking tea from the forest when to meet soon at the end of the walk and snacking on some crackers and forest berry jam. to come
September 15th
We’ll be drawing too and having fun making up “nicknames” for plants. Date to be Where determined does it go when it goes “away”?
Patrick Donaghy (Regional District) and Paul Getman
Tours of 7-mile landfill and a water & waste treatment plants. The tour addresses some of the key questions in understanding our connectedness to nature and how we can create positive change with our daily behaviours. The main idea to be strived for with this outing is – that there is no “away”; that we must be responsible for our waste. Key questions: - Where does our drinking water come from? - What happens to our wastewater when we flush it away? - What happens when you throw something away? Things to bring: YNC passport; lunch and snacks; outdoor, waterproof clothes; camera.
December 12th
Winter Bird Count
Malcolm Island Bird Count
December 5th
Please ensure your membership is up-to-date! Participation is contingent on having current registration. Things to bring on Explorer Days: • Don’t forget your Passport to Nature! • Remember to wear weather-appropriate clothing/footwear • You may also want to bring: binoculars, camera, field guides and sketchbooks.
• Parent/guardian to accompany children. • Bring snacks and water
YNC Leaders’ Manual | Appendix 45
Nature Vancouver
Get
Outdoors! The YNC is a registered charity that encourages and assists young people in developing a love of nature and a feeling of respect and responsibility for the unique ecosystems, flora and fauna of BC. We do this through our network of family and school nature clubs located around the province. Thank you to our many sponsors and donors who enable us to connect children and their families with nature!
with
YNC Kelowna
supported by the Central Okanagan Naturalist Club
We acknowledge the financial assistance of the Province of British Columbia
Your local YNC Kelowna Leaders Pat Westheuser 250-769-6605 hughwest@shaw.ca Fiona Flook 250-8609751 donaldandfiona@shaw.ca
nature clubs
for families since 2000
Young Naturalists’ Club of British Columbia
www.ync.ca
46
The Young Naturalists’ Club of British Columbia invites YOU to JOIN the FUN!
A one-year family or individual membership is $25. Membership includes a welcome pack for each child 5 years or older, an annual NatureWILD subscription (4 issues) and enrollment in your local Young Naturalists’ Club.
$25 Annual Family/ Individual Membership
Yes! I’d like to Donate
$25
$50
Parent/ Guardian (2)
Parent/ Guardian (1)
Youth’s first and last name
age/ birthdate
Youth’s first and last name
Youth’s first and last name
age/ birthdate
Youth’s first and last name
Street Address
$75
Other_________
age/ birthdate age/ birthdate
Telephone
Town
How did you hear about us? Is this a gift?
Province
Postal Code
What are your nature interests?
From
Please make cheque or money order payable to: Young Naturalists’ Club and send to: 1620 Mt. Seymour Rd. North Vancouver, BC V7G 2R9
What is the Young Naturalists’ Club? YNC is an exciting nature discovery and environmental action program that invites young people ages 5-14 years to discover nature in their own neighbourhoods, explore local ecosystems, learn about native wildlife and plants and take part in environmental actions to protect their habitat. There are YNCs throughout British Columbia: in the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, Gulf Islands, Thompson Okanagan, Kootenays and the North. There are also YNCs for Home Learners.
Join the Club When you join the Young Naturalists’ Club you become a member of your local club and can meet others who share your interest in nature. You’ll also: • • • •
Receive A Welcome Pack; Be able to attend Explorer Days; Receive NatureWILD Magazine; Be enrolled in the YNC Action Awards program.
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hard NatureWILD is Orc The on Bee Mas BC’s only homegrown nature magazine for .ca .ync www children, it is produced by the YNC with contributions from some of BC’s leading naturalists and biologists. In it you will find fascinating articles on BC’s wildlife and ecosystems, stories about children taking action for the environment, along with activities, games and contests! NatureWILD is mailed to members quarterly.
Handy bird and insect I.D. card; Bird checklist for your area; Magnifying glass for examining mini-wildlife; Your participation passport to record nature activities!
Welcome Pack includes: • • •
•
Get Outdoors & Explore
Pond-net for aquatic insects; Hunt for fossils; Discover life in a tide pool; Go bird watching; Explore a forest or a marsh; Find creatures which live in a river.
Join other YNC Members for Explorer Days local experts help you to discover nature in your neighbourhood. • • • • • •
Have Fun! Make Friends! Explore nearby Nature!
Take Action!
Action Awards are earned in four categories: • Nature Detective- study or research birds, bugs, plants, fish, mammals; • Environmental Action- protect, conserve, preserve, or restore the natural environment; • Leading Others- share nature and environmental actions by presentations, posters, etc; • Community Participations- take part in community events like shoreline cleanups. “I have met so many new friends since I’ve joined the YNC. I now share the knowledge that I’ve learned with my friends to not litter, respect nature and keep a cleaner place for all of us to live in.” Jaylon age 9.
“I learned that nature is in places you wouldn’t expect it.” Mike age 10.
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48
Memberfor-a-Day!
s
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G u es t P
Guest Name:
Young Naturalists’ Club of BC
Email/Phone:
www.ync.ca
This coupon entitles the bearer to be a YNC Guest Member-for-a-day to try out a local Young Naturalists’ Club by attending an Explorer Day Event if space permits, preregistration required please contact the local club leader to confirm. This is a one-time offer and to attend subsequent Explorer Days you must become a member in good standing by joining the YNC (join online at www.ync.ca). Children must be accompanied by an adult who signs the informed consent form and who is responsible for the safety and behaviour of the child while attending the YNC event. This coupon is to be attached to the informed consent form by the YNC Club Leader.
YNC Leaders’ Manual | Appendix 49
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50
Some of our Favourite References on the Benefits of Time Spent In Nature Louv, Richard. Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature -Deficit Disorder. Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill. 2006 Balmford, A., Clegg, L., Coulson, T., & Taylor, J. “Why Conservationists Should Heed Pokémon.” Science, 295(5564), 23672367, 2002. BBC Wildlife Magazine: Environment at risk if children don’t play ‘wild’ www.bbcwildlifemagazine.com/newsread.asp?id=45018 July 2008 Chawla, Louise. “Learning to Love the Natural World Enough to Protect It,” in Barn nr. Norsk senter for barneforskning. 2 2006:57 -58. © 2006 http://www.cnaturenet.org/02_rsrch_studies/PDFs/Chawla_LearningtoLove.pdf Wells, N. M., & Lekies, K. S. “Nature and the life course: Pathways from childhood nature experiences to adult environmentalism.” Children, Youth and Environments, 16(1). 2 2006:57 -58. © 2006 This study is available online at: http://www.colorado.edu/journals/cye/16_1/16_1_01_NatureAndLifeCourse.pdf Pergams, O. R. W., & Zaradic, P. A. (2008). “Evidence for a fundamental and pervasive shift away from nature-based recreation.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 105(7), 2295 -2300. (2008) www.videophilia.org/uploads Zaradic, P. A., & Pergams, O. R. W. Videophilia: Implications for childhood development and conservation. The Journal of Developmental Processes, 2(1), 130-147. (2007). http://www.videophilia.org/origins.html Gov’t of Canada Report: Parks Canada Attendance 2004-2005 to 2008-2009 www.pc.gc.ca/eng/docs/pc/attend/table1.aspx?m=1 Roberts, D. F., Foehr, U., & Rideout, V. Generation M: Media in the Lives of 8 to 18 Year Olds. Kaiser Family Foundation (2005) http://www.kff.org/entmedia/entmedia030905pkg.cfm Tandy, C. “Children’s Diminishing Play Space: A Study of Intergenerational Change in Children’s Use of Their Neighborhoods.” Australian Geographical Studies, 37(2), 154 -164, (1999). (Institute of Australian Geographers) www.iag.org.au/index.html#IAGPubs Pilgrim, S. E., Cullen, L. C., Smith, D. J., & Pretty, J. “Ecological knowledge is lost in wealthier communities and countries.” Environmental Science & Technology, 42(4), 1004-1009. (2008). http://pubs.acs.org/ Wells, N.M. “At Home with Nature: Effects of ‘Greenness’ on Children’s Cognitive Functioning.” Environment and Behavior. Vol. 32, No. 6, 775-795. http://eab.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/32/6/775 Maller, C., Townsend, M., St.Leger, L., Henderson-Wilson, C., Pryor, A., Prosser, L., and Moore, M. “The health benefits of contact with nature in a park context: A review of relevant literature.” Deakin University and Parks Victoria. (2008). Also see Children and Nature Network (US) www.childrenandnature.org/research Child and Nature Alliance (Canada) http://childnature.ca/
YNC Leaders’ Manual | Appendix 51
Family-Based Young Naturalists’ Clubs In BC At the time of writing, there are 30+ Family Clubs… and GROWING! To see a current listing of active YN Clubs in BC and to learn what each club is up to or to contact the leader visit: ww.ync.ca
Lower Mainland - Vancouver, Vancouver- Stanley Park, Burke Mountain, TriCities, North Vancouver- Lynn Valley, Nicomekl (Surrey area), Eastern Fraser Valley, Vancouver Home Learners Gulf Islands YNC Denman Island, Quadra Island, Mayne Island Vancouver Island - Comox Valley (Courtenay area), Cowichan Valley, Cowichan Home Learners (Duncan), Nanaimo, Nanaimo YNC 10+ Club (ages 10 – 14), Victoria, Victoria Home Learners, Oceanside (Parksville/Qualicum), North Vancouver Island, Port Alberni Thompson/Okanagan - Kamloops, Salmon Arm, North Okanagan (Vernon area), Kelowna Kootenays - Nelson, Rocky Mountain (Cranbrook) North - Prince George, Williams Lake, Denny Island , Fort St. John Homelearners
YNC Leaders’ Manual | Appendix 52
Young Naturalists’ Club of BC
www.ync.ca YOUNG NATURALISTS’ CLUB OF BRITISH COLUMBIA 1620 Mt. Seymour Road, North Vancouver, BC V7G 2R9
Phone: 604.985.3059 Email: info@ync.ca • www.ync.ca