Make Mishkoopitum Youth
Summer Camps A New Tradition
The Mishkoopitum Youth Summer Camps have made a remarkable impact in their first year, providing an opportunity for Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth to learn about Métis and First Nations culture, leadership, and environmental stewardship. Through programming created and presented by Indigenous community representatives, youth can acquire knowledge from diverse worldviews and cultures, learn valuable skills, and have fun in nature.
Thanks to the support of the REEL Earth Day 2022, the first ever Mishkoopitum Camps were a resounding success. With the overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants, we aim to build on this momentum and create a new tradition of summer camps for youth. With $15,000 in new REEL Earth Day funding, we can connect even more young people with their natural environment and each other.
Your support can help us make the Mishkoopitum Youth Summer Camps a permanent fixture in our communities, offering transformative experiences for generations to come. Join us in our efforts to empower young people and promote cross-cultural understanding through outdoor education and recreation.
Enhance Wildlife Habitat at Tynehead Regional Park
Join us in the global movement to halt and reverse the alarming loss of biodiversity worldwide. With $10,000 in REEL Earth Day funding, we can transform a former farming field into diverse habitats for pollinators, birds, and other wildlife at Tynehead Regional Park.
Buffer plantings of native trees and greenery between a Tynehead Regional Park trail and a major highway will contribute to a diverse habitat and enhance living conditions for the vast array of wildlife that calls this park home.
With your support, we can create a greener, cleaner, and quieter environment for the wildlife, promoting healthy ecosystems and preserving biodiversity for generations to come. Join us in our efforts to enhance the biodiversity and sustainability of Tynehead Regional Park, and make a positive impact on the environment and the wildlife that call it home.
Amplify First Nation Voices in Park Interpretation
First Nation stories and traditional knowledge have not always been included in park interpretation programs. These stories are best told by the keepers of this knowledge & First Nation voices. With $12,000 in funding from the REEL Earth Day Challenge, we can amplify the voices of First Nation performers and knowledge holders in regional parks.
By funding the participation of First Nation performers and knowledge holders in programs and events in regional parks, we can provide a platform for local First Nations to share their stories and culture with residents of the region. This initiative ensures that First Voices tell First Stories, promoting greater understanding and appreciation of First Nations culture and traditions.
Your support can help us promote a cultural resurgence in park interpretation, highlighting the important role of First Nations in our shared history and heritage. Join us in our efforts to amplify First Nation voices in park interpretation programs.
Revitalize Trails with Native Plants in Pacific Spirit Regional Park
Native plants have evolved alongside local insects, birds and animals. Invasive plant species pose a threat to the natural balance of ecosystems and the wildlife that depend on them. By removing invasive plants and replacing them with native species, the REEL Earth Day Challenge can help restore the ecological health of Pacific Spirit Regional Park.
For $15,000, we can clear a large area of invasive blackberry bushes along the headwaters of Musqueam Creek and replant with native species. This will enrich the supply of food and shelter for a diverse range of wildlife, including local insects, birds, and animals that depend on native plants for survival.
Moreover, this initiative will enhance the overall health of the regional park, benefitting its 3.6 million annual visitors by promoting the beauty and diversity of native plant species. Join us in our efforts to restore native plant species and enhance biodiversity in Pacific Spirit Regional Park.
Celebrate Indigenous Culture through Art
Indigenous art is a powerful way to share unique stories and histories. With $5,000 in funding from the REEL Earth Day Challenge, we can celebrate Indigenous culture and create a more inclusive environment in təmtəmíxʷtən / Belcarra Regional Park.
This project would provide a creative opportunity to display Indigenous culture in the regional park by hiring a Tsleil-Waututh artist to paint a mural on a blank canvas of a picnic area concession. By showcasing Indigenous art, we can help park visitors learn about and appreciate the rich cultural heritage of the local Indigenous communities.
Your support can help us paint a new picture of regional parks and promote greater understanding and respect for Indigenous culture. Join us in our efforts to celebrate Indigenous culture through art in təmtəmíxʷtən / Belcarra Regional Park.
Join Ecoblitz and Celebrate Regional Park Stewardship
Each autumn, thousands of volunteers take part in Ecoblitz events to protect and enhance our regional parks. With $10,000 in funding from the REEL Earth Day Challenge, we can support this vital work and celebrate the incredible dedication of these environmental stewards.
Ecoblitz events offer a range of stewardship activities, from planting native species and improving waterways to removing invasive species and protecting wildlife habitats. By joining the Ecoblitz, volunteers not only help to maintain the health and vitality of our parks, but also learn about the importance of environmental stewardship and the impact of their actions on our planet.
Your support can help us celebrate the incredible work of these volunteers and inspire even more people to take part in the Ecoblitz. Join us in our efforts to promote regional park stewardship and protect our precious natural environments.
Ours to Explore. Ours to Share. Ours to Protect.
Metro Vancouver Regional Parks Foundation is an independent registered charity committed to protecting and enhancing the region's parks and greenspaces. By donating to the Foundation, you're supporting the natural spaces that provide us with clean air, fresh water, and a healthy environment. Regional parks are where we relax, have adventures, and film productions featuring stunning Reginal Parks landscapes.
With the REEL Earth Day Challenge, the BC Film Industry community collaborates with the Foundation to fund projects that restore and enhance the ecological health of our regional parks, while also connecting people with nature.
When you donate through the REEL Earth Day Challenge, 100% of your contributions go directly to projects and programs, like those described here and others, that have a significant impact on the parks you love.
Join us in our efforts to make Metro Vancouver a greener, healthier, and more sustainable place to live. Thank you for supporting the Metro Vancouver Regional Parks Foundation.
This is REEL Impact:
This is More REEL Impact: