July 7, 2017
An estimated 600 seedlings were planted over two weekends in the Prelude and Reid Lake Territorial campgrounds with the help of the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment’s Park Officers and their young tree planting assistants.
Parks Officers led the youth-targeted activity (although adults drove out to participate also) as a way to increase awareness and appreciation for the natural environment in NWT parks.
Each session began with a discussion on tree health and how campers and residents can protect and care for the trees that populate the NWT’s many campgrounds. A hands-on demonstration was provided by ITI’s Parks Officer Wylie Rudkevitch on how and where to plant trees to ensure their best chance of survival.
The (predominantly) pint-sized planting teams then went to work planting spruce and birch trees in various areas of the parks. Each young planter was given a shovel and several trees to plant with the option to take some back to plant in their own campsites.
Tree planters were also given a full supply of coloured popsicle sticks to color and personalize with names, dates and drawings that mark the new planted seedlings. Specific seedlings were planted in the names of Mary, Al, Lisa and Bruce – ITI’s Parks Operators from the North Slave campgrounds and the friendly faces that greet local and visiting campers when they arrive at the parks.
Ongoing investments in the NWT’s parks system support the GNWT’s commitment to provide high quality public tourism facilities; and to enhance the quality of life and enjoyment that these facilities also offer to NWT residents.