Earth Day activities held at Bryerswood Youth Camp

Abby, Charlotte and mom Brianne Gouin learn about composting from volunteer Joanne Pelat.

Tree planting, birdhouse building and more came to the Bryerswood Youth Camp last weekend.

Earth Day events were held as part of a busy weekend at the youth camp, with four hours of environmentally-friendly activities being held last Saturday. In addition to planting trees and building birdhouses, people who turned out had the opportunity to take and plant seeds, bring out their batteries and aluminum cans for recycling, to take a look at electric vehicles, work with composting worms, and take part in a nesting box workshop.

Ethan Ruper helps dig a hole for a tree (right). It was part of Bryerswood’s Earth Day event.

A solar cooking demonstration had to be shelved due to the overcast weather.

Cathy Robertson, vice president of the Bryerswood Youth Camp Optimist Club (BYCOC), said there were 40 trees planted. Plants were also replaced in the pollinator garden.

“We worked with ERCA for that.

Robertson added Desjardins, Green Sun Rising and the Trans Canada Trail also helped with sponsorships and helping provide additional trees.

This was the fifth year that Earth Day activities were presented at the Bryerswood Youth Camp, and Robertson joked that it didn’t snow April 25 as it has the last two Earth Days. While it was wet, she added it was fine for planting trees.

“We believe we only have one Earth and we have to take care of it,” said Robertson. “As individuals, there are lots of little things we can do to help the Earth. If we all work together, we can all make a difference.”

Also as part of the weekend at Bryerswood was an open house last Sunday, which was a way to let the public find out about programming, as well as to take tour the property.

An indoor yard sale was both days, with some of the items being found with the property when the BYCOC purchased it while others were donated.

“It may not be good to you anymore but it could be good for someone else,” said Robertson. “It’s not of use to us anymore so let’s see if it’s of use to other people.”

The camp was also seeking donations for a new mailbox and post. Robertson said when they arrived at the camp midway through last week, they discovered the mailbox and post were destroyed in an apparent act of vandalism.

The Bryerswood Youth Camp is located at 6480 Texas Road in Amherstburg. For more information or to donate, visit www.bryerswood.com, e-mail info@bryerswood.com or call 519-726-6266. 

Earth Day activities held at Bryerswood Youth Camp

By Ron Giofu