Listen to live bluegrass, learn what you can do to prevent invasive species, eat a barbecue lunch, learn about species at risk, go to a planting party, learn what you can do to protect Kootenay Lake, get your face painted, and hang out in the park.
That’s the program for the Environmental Expo at Lakeside Park on Saturday starting at 11 a.m., organized by the Central Kootenay Invasive Species Society.
Organizer Laurie Frankcom says the event is not just about invasive species but is designed to highlight the work of a number of like-minded and local organizations including Friends of Kootenay Lake, EcoSociety, Kootenay Community Bat Project, WildSafe BC, Kootenay Native Plant Society, Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program, BC Invasive Mussel Defence Program, as well as the invasive species society.
All of those organizations will have booths at the event, and their message will be about small things we can all do as individuals.
“We want people to educate themselves on some behavior changes they can make to help protect our environment,” says Frankcom. For invasive species for example, if you are a water craft enthusiast, making sure you are cleaning your boat between water bodies, and if you are mountain biker, cleaning your bike tires.”
“Other organizations will have other ideas about what people can do to protect the environment, very simple behaviour changes that can make a difference if a lot of people are doing it.”
Nursing students from Selkirk College’s annual field work project in Guatemala will flip burgers at the by-donation barbecue. The proceeds will help to fund next year’s Guatemala trip.
Frankcom said the horticultural industry could be a big contributor to stopping the spread of invasive species, so the Expo will include a planting party.
“We will be planting some native shrubs in the park, so we invite people to help and get their hands in the dirt. We have some dogwoods and some wild rose that the City of Nelson donated.”