A Vernon high school student has used the opportunity presented by her capstone project to protect Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park from the threat of wildfires.
Maggie Wiltse is a 16-year-old Grade 11 student at Kalamalka Secondary School. When considering what to do for her capstone project, Wiltse91裸聊视频檚 mind went back to previous wildfire seasons, including one that put her home on evacuation alert.
91裸聊视频淚 know people who have lost their houses (to wildfires),91裸聊视频� she told The Morning Star. 91裸聊视频淢y thing that I wanted to focus on was reducing the fire risk in Kal Park, because last year it was the worst I91裸聊视频檇 ever seen it.91裸聊视频�
Wiltse partnered with BC Parks to create a volunteer event focused on removing a pine tree ingrowth around the Cosens Bay area, in an effort to reduce flammable materials in Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park.
The two-day event took place June 9 and 10. Students at Kalamalka Secondary, school district employees and members of the public put on gloves and took up pruners and got to work removing the little pine growths that had popped up throughout the park.
91裸聊视频�(The pine growths) are hidden in the tall grass right now, but if you see them you start to pick them up almost everywhere,91裸聊视频� Wiltse said.
In addition to removing flammable material from the park, she said her project will also make more room for native plant species to grow and thrive.
Her project went over well among her teachers, especially her careers teacher.
91裸聊视频淧eople come to him with these ideas for their capstone that are big and he tells them to make it smaller, and he didn91裸聊视频檛 do that with mine, which I91裸聊视频檓 actually really happy about, because I91裸聊视频檓 happy that it91裸聊视频檚 such a big thing.91裸聊视频�
Wiltse thanked Vernon Home Depot for providing brand new gear for the pine growth removal, gear that will come in handy next year when Wiltse hopes to repeat the forest clean-up event. Home Depot also brought food and water to volunteers at the event.
Wiltse also thanked BADA Bathrooms and Kitchens, RBC Hymers Private Wealth, the School District 22 maintenance crew, Elephant Premium Bin Rentals and BC Parks for helping out with her project.
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