Kelowna Social Media Takeover Wrap-up

Kelowna's Youth Climate Corps has had a fantastic first season that has absolutely flown by. While the team will be wrapping up operations this month, we are happy to share what they've been up to these past few months through their recent social media takeover. See what they shared on YCCBC's Instagram below.

In early January, the Kelowna team was at Habitat for Humanity, sorting through abandoned storage units to identify items that could be saved and sold through Restore. Giving these items a second life keeps usable goods out of the landfill and reduces harmful emissions!

In the U-Haul at Habitat for Humanity.

Also in January, the Kelowna has been working with Interior Wildlife Rehabilitation Society to help build a beaver enclosure. IWRS provides critical care and rehabilitation for injured and orphaned wildlife, with the goal of returning animals to the wild. Supporting wildlife recovery is a part of climate action because healthy ecosystems help strengthen local biodiversity and resilience as our environment changes.

You can see the beavers in action through IWRS's BeaverCam. 

Building a beaver habitat.

Additionally, this month, YCCBC helped the City of Kelowna’s Fire Department! In the photo below, the team is seen setting up grids across Quail Ridge to help plan prescribed fires in the coming season. Prescribed fires are essential to the Okanagan Region, helping to decrease fuel loads, prevent wildfires, restore ecosystems, and cycle nutrients.

In December, YCC Kelowna Climate Action Mobilizer Sasha helped bring the community together by organizing a Holiday Toy Swap that welcomed over 200 participants and facilitated the exchange of an estimated 6,000 toys and other presents. Sasha shared about this experience during her takeover and in a separate blog post.

The Kelowna team at the toy swap.

In November, the team visited Helen's Acres community farm as part of their efforts to enhance community food security.

Helen's Acres addresses food insecurity in the central Okanagan region by offering fresh produce to those in need. The YCCBC team assisted with farm work, including trimming back raspberry bushes and harvesting produce.

Showing off the harvest.

Also, that month, the team worked closely with the Okanagan Fruit Tree Project. This work included getting their hands dirty, completing farming duties like planting garlic and composting.

This social media takeover has been a success due to the hard work of the YCC Kelowna team. Thank you to Natalee, Gus, Isaac, Sasha, and Caity for their involvement.