SCEP - Community Outreach 2004 - 2005

8/12/2019 SCEP - Community Outreach 2004 - 2005

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COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS

2004-2005

ACAP ST. CROIX

St. Croix Estuary Project Inc.


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COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS2004-2005

Report #2005-2March 2005

Arthur MacKay, Kim Reeder, Mary Gilmore

St. Croix Estuary Project Inc.

St. Stephen NB, Canada

Occasional Report No. 2005-2

Your Environmental Trust Fund at Work

Votre Fonds en ducie pour lenvironment au travail Atlantic Coastal Action Program

Environment Canada

Unilever Evergreen SWP IndustriesMarwoodRoyal Bank

Human Resources &

Skills Development

Canada

Canadian Tire

Department of Training and Employ-

ment Development SEED


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Table of Contents

Introduction 7

Funding& Support 9

Community & Committee Participation 12Ganong Nature Park Users & Development 15

Kids Nature Camp 16

Spring Greenwing Program 17

Boy Scouts & Girl Guides 18

Public Lectures 19

Guided Nature Interpretation 20

Storytelling and Astronomy 21

Caring for Your Share of the Shore 22

Crop Circle Daze 23

At the Crossroad - A History of Todds Point 24

Dont Be A Drip Campaign 25

Communications 26


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The St. Croix Estuary Project Inc. is the ACAP organisation of the St.

Croix Watershed and western Passamaquoddy Bay and is known as

ACAP St. Croix.

Since 1992, ACAP St. Croix (St. Croix Estuary Project Inc.) has been

involved in many environmental education and outreach programs

throughout Western Charlotte County and beyond. In recent years, the

acquisition of the Ganong Nature and Marine Park coupled with the

conclusion of baseline Health of the Estuary research has resulted

in a fundamental evolution of the organization into a proactive,

sustainable community-based organization that provides leadership

on environmental issues. The involvement of ACAP St. Croix staff in

the activities of the community has become an increasingly important

part of our mandate. This report covers our activities for the scal year2004-2005. This includes:

1. Community organizations.

2. Environmental Committees

3. Outreach Services

4. Annual Monitoring of the St. Croix Estuary

5. Outreach Stewardship Support and Presentations

6. Education programs

7. Town of St. Stephen liaison

8. Ganong Park Development

Our Outreach Program is a continuation, enhancement and

solidication of programs developed and tested with the support of the

Atlantic Coastal Action Program, the New Brunswick Environmental

Trust Fund and other funding agencies. A small core staff of three

oversees all projects and provides guidance to summer employees,

community volunteers, and term staff. A program coordinator is

responsible for delivering programs under the Executive Director.

Four university students were hired under Federal and Provincial

funding programs and two high school interns were hired with funds

provided by the RBC Foundation and the Ganong Nature and Marine

Park donor fund. Katimavik volunteers worked with us until August,

2004. A large body of volunteers assisted with research, education,

and outreach programs.

The delivery of environmental education, outreach, and research is

mandated by the Charter of the St. Croix Estuary Project Inc. and

its Comprehensive Environmental Management Plan (CEMP). Our

Outreach Program, as described in this document,fullls many ofthese requirements.

The environmental implications of the education and outreach

programs of ACAP St. Croix are great since there are many

environmental challenges that must be addressed including: unsound

coastal development , high levels of bacterial pollution and excessively

high industrial inputs of toxic chemicals into the Estuary and the air of

the St. Croix River Valley. In addition, economic challenges are such

that waterfront remediation and beautication and biota restoration

INTRODUCTION


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are now imperative. Our Outreach Program has brought these

issues to the attention of the community and is leading to positive

proactive actions in the area. The public is becoming educated on

issues of ecology, land use, wildlife conservation and appreciation,

environmental youth education, water quality improvement, water

conservation, air quality, and climate change.

ACAP St. Croix has been successful, particularly in the past few years,

in mobilizing public opinion and inuencing positive environmental

initiatives. We anticipate the community will continue to benet from

the activities of our Outreach Program. Some of the materials and

methodologies will, undoubtedly, be exportable to other locations

within the Province of New Brunswick and, in fact, other regions.

Evaluation of the Outreach Program is based on:

1.demand for project materials

2.successfully achieving stated objectives,

3.coverage given by the media,

4.feed-back from participants,

5.numbers of participants,

6.attendance at events and sessions,

7.invitations and registrations received,

8.the progression moving to actual remedial and restoration actions,

9.benecial changes in coastal land use practices by the community,

10.restoration of damaged coastal lands, and11.solicited evaluations.


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FUNDING & SUPPORT

ACAP St. Croixs Community Environmental Outreach is the essence

of the organization. Even a cursory review of this document reveals

the astouding contribution that is made by such a small staff with

limited resources.

At the heart of the success of our outreach initiatives is the generous

support we receive from members, donors, volunteers, and the fol-

lowing contributors:

ATLANTIC COASTAL ACTION PROGRAM

ENVIRONMENT CANADA

The Atlantic Coastal Action Program (ACAP) is

a unique community-based program initiated by

Environment Canada in 1991 to help Atlantic Ca-

nadians restore and sustain watersheds and adjacent

coastal areas. ACAP recognizes that local organiza-

tions are the most effective champions to achieve

sustainability in their communities. The ACAP fam-

ily is currently made up of 14 organizations in the

four Atlantic provinces. Each one of these non-prot organizations

operates independently, but is formally linked under the umbrella of

ACAP to represent a force stronger than the individual parts. Environ-

ment Canada and the ACAP organizations share the same goals andvision for the environment. Together they achieve much more than

any partner could on its own.

By empowering communities and taking on a holistic approach to-

wards protecting the environment, ACAP communities and their part-

ners have achieved great successes.

ACAP St. Croix ( St. Croix Estuary Project Inc) has been a participat-

ing member of this program since its creation. Each year Environment

Canada provides its member organizations with essential nancial

contributions towards their annual work plan and together with sup-

port from the New Brunswick Environmental Trust Fund, provides

the foundation for the work we do.

NEW BRUNSWICK ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST FUND

Generally referred to as ETF, this Provincial funding agency pro-

vides funding for environmental protection and restoration, promotessustainable development of natural resources, conservation of natural

resources within the Province, education on matters relating to envi-

ronmental issues and the sustainable development of natural resourc-

es, and maintenance and enhancment of the visual environment.

Within the Province of New Brunswick the Environmental Trust Fund

has evolved into a primary source of funds for the many organizations

that carry on essential environmental work within the province. In its

absence, New Brunswick would be hard pressed to maintain its cur-

rent excellent record of support.

ACAP St. Croix (St. Croix Estuary Project Inc.) has been fortunate to have

consistently received nancial support from ETF through the years. Their

contribution is one of the cornerposts that compliments the funds received

from the Atlantic Coastal Action Program. These two funding sources provide

the nancial foundation on which additional support can be sought for spe-

cic initiatives within the ACAP St. CroixOutreach Program.

Your Environmental Trust Fund at Work

Votre Fonds en ducie pour lenvironment au travail


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MARWOOD

A manufacturer of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)

wood products, Marwood helps to ensure that our

natural resources will be protected for future generations.

Through third-party certication, FSC ensures that

the end product comes from a well-managed forest.

Keenly aware of the environment and the role forests play in the

ecosystem, their focus is on maximizing the value of every tree that is

harvested. Even wood ber, dried and compressed, is used to produce

ecologically friendly fuel pellets, horse bedding and cat litter. As a

result there is very little wastage in their manufacturing process.

RBC FOUNDATION

The RBC Foundation, through their Atlantic Community

Investment Committee, was one of the original

institutional investors that contributed nancially to

the Ganong Nature Park initiative, providing funds

for operations. Their contribution continued and was

combined with general donor funds to create the Royal Bank

Internship. This fund has been used for three years to hire local high

school students (grades 10, 11, and 12), giving them access to jobs

that would normally be taken by University students. The Internship

has been highly successful.

SWP INDUSTRIES

SWP is a New Brunswick wood product company dedicated to

customer satisfaction, by providing quality products and on time

service. They support sustainable yield forests, while being leaders

in perimeter wood fencing, engineered building materials, and lawn

and garden leisure items.

CANADIAN TIRE COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD

In 1997, the Corporation launched the annual Canadian

Tire Community Environmental Award program to

support projects which improve the environment in

Canadian Tire communities across Canada. Canadian

Tire Associate Store employees are encouraged to

sponsor applications for environmental projects from local non-

prot organizations in which they participate. A judging panel of

environmental experts and Canadian Tire corporate staff selects the

winning projects. Special thanks to Dan LeRoux, Susan Gayton, and

Darcy Scott.

EVERGREENS COMMON GROUNDS PROGRAM

Evergreens Common Grounds Program, in partnershipwith Unilever Canada, launched a new grant program

in December 2003 to engage communities in the

stewardship of Canadas urban aquatic habitats. The

Unilever-Evergreen Aquatic Stewardship Grant provides

grants of between $2,000 and $15,000 to support small-

scale, community-driven, partnership projects including wetland,

riparian and littoral zone restoration, in-stream bioengineering, and

wildlife monitoring.

HUMAN RESOURCES AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENTCANADA (HRSDC)

HRSDC has had various programs throughout the years

and has been nancially supportive of the work carried out

by ACAP St. Croix, principally through the provision of

essential funding for summer student placement for our eld, ofce,

and park activities.

Evergreen

SWP Industries

Marwood

Royal Bank

Canadian Tire


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STUDENT EMPLOYMENT AND EXPERIENCE

DEVELOPMENT (SEED)

The New Brunswick Department of Training and

Employment Development provides employers

with seasonal funding for New Brunswick

students. ACAP St. Croix has been fortunate to have received funding

for several years running. Generally speaking, students hired under

the SEED program have acted as guides for the Ganong Nature and

Marine Park and have participated in eld programs as well.

UNILEVER

Unilever Canada is a diversied consumer products company that

produces a wide range of food, home and personal careproducts, and employs over 2,000 people across Canada.

Unilever supports organizations that are making

positive changes to restore and protect the ecological

integrity of river, lake and wetland ecosystems.

Evergreen is a national non-prot environmental organization with

a mandate to bring communities and nature together for the benet

of both. Its Common Grounds program helps communities conserve

natural landscapes, restore degraded environments and protect open

spaces in urban and urbanizing areas.

MEMBERS, DONORS, AND VOLUNTEERS

They come in all shapes and sizes, all ages, both sexes, and with

unequalled enthusiasum and drive. They cook hot dogs, clear trails,

type, collect samples and perform myriad other tasks and assignments.

They are the local foundation for ACAP St. Croix and we salute them

for their support.

Unilever


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ACAP St. Croix has been closely involved with many organizations

over the years and our staff continues to be actively involved in

community affairs. Principal activities currently include:

ART MACKAY,

Executive Director

1. Chamber of Commerce, St.

Stephen - Board of Directors,

Education Committee, Promotion

Committee.

2. BIA - Wharf Committee. Asingle wharf is all that remains of

the 40-odd wharves that blanketed

both sides of the River during its heyday. As such, it is the only

remaining Canadian access point apart from a boat ramp. Since one

of the stated objectives of ACAP St. Croix is to acquire and maintain

river access, involvement in this committee was seen as vital. To date

funds have been raised to do essentail work during 2004 and new

additional funds are now available that should see the repair of the

wharf to satisfactory standards.

3. Municipal Environment Committee.This new committee has met

once to date. It is composed of environmental groups and interested

Town staff. The purpose is to coordinate restoration and remediation

efforts through dialogue.

4. Van Horne Estate at Ministers Island Ltd.- Board of Directors.

This group was formed at the urging of the Provincial New Brunswick

Government with a view to establishing a business like approach to

repairing, maintaining, and developing this National Treasure. The

COMMUNITY & COMMITTEE PARTICIPATION

organization has passed the formative stage and is currently seeking non-

prot, charitble status. Funding is anticipated through the Province of New

Brunswick and ACOA for the development of a business plan and the group

has an MOU with the Province for operational and development money. It

is anticipated that an Executive Director will be hired at an early date. Our

involvement was sought because of our experience with the Ganong Nature

and Marine Park.

5. Health Sciences Corporation District 2- Board of Directors. Served on

this Board until March 2004 at which time our ED resigned.

6. Huntsman Aquarium Committee - HMSC is currently launching a

development plan to upgrade the popular aquarium at Brandy Cove.

7. GOM Restoration Committee - Makes recommendations with regard to

habitat restoration. Duties have included participation in consultant selection

and meeting attendance when possible.

8. GOM Sustainable Tourism Group - A primary initiative of the Gulf


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of Maine Council and the Maine State Planning Ofce, this initiative was

launched at the 2004 Gulf of Maine Summit.

9. Sunbury Shores Arts & Nature Centre, St. Andrews - Served on the

Board of Directors for the year 2004.

MARY GILMORE,

Administrative Assistant

1. Town of St. Stephen - Councillor. Mary

ran and successfully won a seat on the Town

Council of St. Stephen. She is a diligent and

effective member. Her Council roles include:

Planning Advisory Committee, Chair of

Finance & Administration, and Beautication

Committee for St. Stephen WastewaterTreatment Facility

2. Chocolate Museum- Board of Directors. St. Stephens principal

tourist attraction, the Chocolate museum, is a vital part of future

development in St. Stephen.

3. St. Croix Public Library- Board of Directors

KIM REEDER

Environmental Program Coordinator

1. Scoodic Fish and Game - Board of

Directors. The Scoodic Fish and Game has

a long-standing record of conservation in

Charlotte County. Kims participation is

forging a working relationship between

this organization and ACAP St. Croix.

2. Charlotte County Search and Rescue- Board of Directors. One

of the vital organizations in our area. Whatever the time of year, or

time of day, this group of volunteers is always ready to respond to any

emergency call.

3. NB Ground Search and Rescue Association - The Provincial

Association under which the local search and rescue group operates.

4. NB Wildlife Federation, VP Southwest NB.

BILL MCALISTER

Board Chair and Volunteer

1. CANUSLANT - Participants in

CANUSLANT include the Canadian andUS Coast Guards; Environment Canada,

and the US Environmental Protection

Agency; other federal, state, and

provincial agencies with environmentally-

related mandates; and industry, non-

governmental, and citizens organizations. CANUSLANT is a joint

response plan for dealing with cross-border pollution and crisis

incidents. Bill has been a long-term member of this team representing

the local area through ACAP St. Croix.

2. NB Provincial Shellsh Working Group.This group manages the

shellsh resources of the Bay of Fundy. ACAP St. Croix represents

Western Charlotte County on this Committee through Bill and the

Executive Director.

3. ACAP Advisory Council. This is a group of senior board members

from ACAP groups throughout Atlantic Canada. Their purpose is to

provide recommendations to ACAP staff of Environment Canada and

provide policy support for Executive Directors.


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4. Town of St. Andrews Wharf Board - This group administers the

Public Wharf for the Town of St. Andrews. This wharf supports local

recreational trafc, tourism operators, aquaculturists, shermen and

visitors from around the world. It is a management challenge and Bill

has been instrumental in the success of this group

5. Regional Advisory Council for Canadian Coast Guard- As along-time associate through CANUSLANT, Bill was recently offered,

and accepted, a position on the Regional Advisory Council.


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GANONG NATURE PARK USERS & DEVELOPMENT

Assessing public use of the Ganong Nature and Marine Park has

always been difcult. A mechanical counter was installed that

indicated 10,000 visitors used the Park during the last year. These

visitors participated in activities such as hiking, running, walking their

dogs and kids, trail bike riding, as well as attending various planned

events. For many, the Park has become part of a personal routine.

Groups that partnered with the Nature Park to use the Park for their

particular activities included: the Charlotte County Boys and Girls

Club, Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, and the local Mountain Biking group.

Many of these activities are illustrated in this document.

Others have booked time for family picnics, reunions, weddings,

church picnics, and many other activities.

In addition to the staff funded by HRDSC, SEED, and the Royal Bank

Foundation, other youth from national groups participated at the Park

operation including:

Katimavik, Canadas leading youth leadership training program.

Summer Work Student Exchange For 6 weeks we provided an

opportunity for a Francophone student from Quebec to work, and

socialize in a predominantly Anglophone community.

Park Development continues at the time of this report. A development

plan and application was sent to ACOA for consideration some

months ago and is currently in the nal stages of assessment. ACAP

St. Croix is hopeful that funding will become available during the

forthcoming scal year.


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KIDS NATURE CAMP

Staff and Summer staff organized and delivered a 5 day summer camp

at the Ganong Nature and Marine Park. Kids 6-11 years old learned

by exploring elds, forests, streams & the ocean. For the past 3 years,

children have tracked hidden inhabitants & experimented with the

power of nature. Science activities, games, creative crafts are all partof this week-long adventure


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SPRING GREENWING PROGRAM

The Ganong Nature Park was chosen for a trial site for the rst

springtime partnership between Ducks Unlimited Canada and ACAP

St Croix. The Greenwing Program is Ducks Unlimiteds environmental

and wetland education and outreach program for youth. We hosted 14

classes from schools all over Charlotte County.By participating in theGreenwing program, the young people had a lot of fun and learned

about wetland conservation and wildlife.

By learning about wetlands in a hands-on manner, the Greenwings

developed an appreciation for local habitats and species. We are

helping to ensure these students are conservation-minded into the

future.


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BOY SCOUTS & GIRL GUIDES

Historically Todds Point was used by Boy Scouts for camping and jam-

borees and ACAP St Croix is continuing this special relationship.The

local youth involved with Boy Scouts and Girl Guides utilize the area

for many events. The staff help to conduct nature tours and crafts as

well as set up orienteering courses and overnight camping.


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PUBLIC LECTURES

Since 1992, ACAP St. Croix has been a leader in providing environ-

mental education and resources to schools, adults, and organizations

in Charlotte and Washington Counties. Our public access centre is

utilized on a continual basis and our staff is providing lectures regu-

larly to fulll requests. Topics range widely and are tailored to audi-ence size and age.

This year, in response to requests from the public, over 30 public ad-

dresses were given on the St. Croix Estuary/Passamaquoddy Bay and

Head Harbour Passage areas. The purpose of these lectures was to

inform the public about the real value of this ecosystem and the losses

that could occur if heavy industrial development should move into the

Passamaquoddy Bay area, resulting in increased controlled ship traf-

c moving through the vitally productive ecosystem of Head Harbour

Passage and Passamaquoddy Bay. A review of the natural biodiversity

and resource-based industries was presented at these lectures and re-

lated to proposed developments.

ACAP St. Croixs ED was a speaker at a sustainable tourism confer-

ence held in St. Andrews and at the Gulf of Maine Summit in St.

Andrews. Staff gave talks to a variety of groups the following topics:

Development of the Ganong Nature and Marine Park

Eco-history of the St. Croix Estuary

Maine Rivers - Alewives and River RestorationHealth of the St. Croix Estuary

Pollution data for the St. Stephen Waterfront

Air Pollution in the St. Croix Valley


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GUIDED NATURE INTERPRETATION

Our focus is on helping the public to see more and understand more

during their time outdoors. Not only do we help to discover plants,

animals and processes that would have otherwise been missed, we

help to explain the big picture - how they work together and why they

are important. We conduct history and nature tours, environment andecology tours, and pollution tours, tailored to any age group or level

of expertise. Groups included many local educational groups and

visting groups such as the Professional Writers Association of Canada

and a group from a Moncton University geographers conference.


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STORY TELLING & ASTRONOMY ACCESS CENTRE - LIBRARY

Storyteller David Goss performed as the ghost of a local sherman,

telling local tales that he has gleaned throughout the years. Subsequent

to the storytelling and a torch light walk, participants were treated to

views of our universe courtesy of Night Sky Tours.

The ACAP St. Croix Access Centre is located within the ofce com-

plex at 49 King St. in St. Stephen. The services provided include re-

ferrals, responding to environmental questions and concerns, and pro-

viding researchers with resources from the ACAP St. Croix Library

which contains more than 2,000 volumes that have specic referenceto the St. Croix and Passamaquoddy Bay areas. Requests are handled

from around North America.


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CARING FOR YOUR SHARE OF THE SHORE

Many coastal landowners along the St. Croix Estuary and

Passamaquoddy Bay are managing their properties in inappropriate

and environmentally unsound ways. Further, with the promise of

coastal properties legislation in the works, landowners in general,

needed to be informed about their obligations under law.

In 2003-2004, a series of lectures was held throughout the winter

covering many different topics including forthcoming legislation,

coastal sewage impacts, bank stabilization, guidelines for planting and

remediation, and other topics. Participants of this course indicated a

need for a demonstration site where they could learn about techniques

and plants used to stabilize shorelines. As a result, this project was

extended to include a demonstration shoreline plot or plots. The

Board of Directors of ACAP St. Croix was approched regarding theuse of the Ganong Nature and Marine Park. This was approved and

the Model Shoreline Demonstration Plots were initiated during the

summer and fall of 2004.

Proposed designs were prepared, materials were sourced and

volunteers from Canadian Tire and Unilever were engaged. The basic

plots were roughed out by fall with initial plantings. Signage will be

added in the spring of 2005.


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CROP CIRCLE DAZE

Since crop circles appeared mysteriously at the Ganong Nature and

Marine Park in 2003, ACAP St. Croix Chair Bill McAlister, sug-

gested the possibility of a crop circle contest. Crop Circle Daze grew

from this initial thought. Running for a week in the summer of 2004,

local organizations were invited to build, construct, or otherwise cre-ate their own crop circle. The result was every eld was lled with

crop circles. A yover was arranged and a panel of judges selected the

winners. Contest were held for various categories as well as an Alien

Look-Alike Contest a BBQ, games and special events including a

rocket launching. The park was specially decorated by staff. While the

weather was bad on the day of the picnic, attendance and participation

was good and the event garnered wide attention, including a lengthy

presentation on CBC national news.

Currently, Crop Daze is being considered as a unique signature

event for the Park.


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AT THE CROSSROAD - A HISTORY OF TODDS POINT

This new book chronicles the history of Todds Point, the location of

the Ganong Nature and Marine Park. Written by local historian Doug

Dougherty and published by St. Croix Estuary Project, the book will

serve as a promotional tool for the Park and ACAP St. Croix.

At the time of this report, the book was in the hands of the printer

and is expected to available for distribution by June, 2005.


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COMMUNICATIONS

ACAP St. Croix has been busy revamping its communication struc-

ture. To this end, three new Vice Presidencies were created: VP En-

vironmental Studies, VP Ganong Nature Park, and VP Fundraising

& Development. Communications will come under the mandate of

Fundraising & Development Group. This will allow greater focus on

the communication needs of the organisation.

Name and Style - For many years, there has been concern about the

name of the organization. The word project suggests a short life

and, after 13 years, this seems inappropriate. ACAP St. Croix has

been in trial for the last year. This designation shows our connection

to the 14 other Atlantic Coastal Action Program organizations in At-

lantic Canada. The name seems to be gaining acceptance and recogni-

tion. The name will be reviewed in the coming year

Press Releases and Photo Ops - Staff have become more actively in-

volved in issuing press releases on events and activities. These have

been generally accepted and are adding measurably to the public pro-

le of the organization.

Web Sites - With the advent of personal privacy legislation, there have

been many new challenges to presenting the organization to the pub-

lic. For example, in the past we would list donors and contributors on

our web site. Board members names and addresses were included as

well and there were names of the folks who appeared in many of ourprograms.

We still remain somewhat mystied about this entry into a darker

world. Nevertheless we have created the following new or modied

web sites:

www.scep.org - This is the St. Croix Estuary Project Inc. web site.

www.ganongnaturepark.org - The ofcial Ganong Nature and Marine

Park web site. Currently being revamped to include current report

materials.www.schoodicsquirts.com - A kids site that is still under develop-

ment

www.dontbeadrip.com - The water conservation web site. The site is

up, but not fully developed at the time of this report.

Documents

SCEP - Community Outreach 2004 - 2005