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Twice a year, the Central Okanagan Naturalist Club get out their bright reflective vests, trash pickers, and garbage bags and head down to city parks to clean up.
The group is made up of bird watchers, hikers and outdoor enthusiasts, which is why they do their part in keeping the beaches free from waste.
Club member Irmgard Ruckheim says they have volunteered for the last five years with the city’s adopt-a-stream program, designed to help conserve and protect urban watershed systems.
“We care about the environment and nature and we want to keep it clean for everybody, not just humans but wildlife also,” she explained.
On Monday, about 13 volunteers from the club of more than 200 took to tidying Maude Roxby Park.
While the club cleans up both in the fall and in the spring, this event took place during BC Water Week — a public awareness campaign organized by the BC Water and Waste Association.
The goal of the campaign is to raise awareness of the value of water and the need to protect, conserve and support water resources and systems.
Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran says the city’s goal during BC Water Week is to share with the public the many ways in which they can all help to preserve the essential resource.
“As well as recognize the people and processes involved in getting clean water to our taps and returning it safely to the environment. One example of how residents can get involved is through the Adopt-a-Stream program.”
Andrew Hunsberger, Urban Forest Health Technician, says groups of volunteers commit to a minimum of two years with adopt-a-stream program, receive training to host an Adopt-a-Stream cleanup, book cleanup kits through the city and schedule dates to "adopt" a local stream.
“Once the stream cleanup is completed, the city installs and maintains an Adopt-a-Stream sign on location, displaying the name of the active group volunteering in the area," said Hunsberger.
Meanwhile, Ruckheim says the busiest cleanup initiative takes place in the fall after many have camped out along the streams in the summer, and leave behind everything from suitcases to underwear.
