Just over 30 years ago, a group of people attended a symposium called "Where the Wild Things Are," hosted by the Friends of Strathcona Park.
One of the results of that event was the creation of the Strathcona Wilderness Institute, which officially registered in 1995. Now, they are inviting people to celebrate their 30th anniversary on July 19.
The institute has sent out an invitation to "the public and all those from the past who have been a big part of the success of this organization to a special 30th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday July 19 from 1-4 p.m. at the Strathcona Wilderness Information Centre beside the Paradise Meadows Trailhead."
The event will involve a short presentation, refreshments and an anniversary cake, as well as the unveiling of a new 3D wall map of the entire Strathcona Provincial Park.
The Strathcona Wilderness Institute is a non-profit organization whose mission is to inspire awareness, appreciation and stewardship of the natural world through research, education and participation. The Institute works through a cooperative agreement with BC Parks at two locations in Strathcona Park: the Wilderness Centre at Paradise Meadows and the Buttle Lake Information Hut. They offer a range of program and publications for visitors to the park.
The wilderness hut came to be through the donations of many people and organizations. It first opened in 2009/2010 and is now the focal centre for nature walks, hikes, presentations and workshops in addition to general visitor information in the Forbidden Plateau area.
All activities are conducted by volunteers, with some help from the Canada Summer Jobs for Students program. Before the pandemic, the centre saw over 10,000 visitors, about 70 per cent were from beyond the Valley, including 7 per cent from overseas.
"We are approaching these numbers of visitors again," a release from the organization says.
Another project of note is the TrailRider Program that involves a special wheelchair that allows people with significant challenges physically to access trails beyond the Boardwalk.
The institute also undertakes scientific initiatives. Over the past 6 years, students hired through the CSJ program, along with the SWI Research Director, have been responsible for documenting the biodiversity of almost 2300 species to date in the backcountry of Strathcona Park.
"The celebration will honour the founding directors whose inspiration and planning gave birth to the Institute, and all those who have volunteered countless hours over the years to fulfill the Institute鈥檚 mission to foster wilderness values in those who visit B.C.鈥檚 first provincial Park: Strathcona," the release says.
For more information, please email strathconawilderness@gmail.com.
