January 15, 2015
False Creek Flats
I found it very interesting how reading about the False Creek flats changed my experience walking through False Creek in the way I was able to look at the area differently. Though some of the streets were familiar to me, it felt like I was getting to know the area much better, but also felt a bit like a tourist. I think visiting Williams Lake will have a similar feel of the combination of experiencing a place differently because of the preexisting knowledge. By working with a community partner for the term, I will have a much deeper understanding of Williams Lake by the time of the visit. While I was on exchange in Scotland last term, I was experiencing many different places for the first time without much background knowledge on it, which shaped my experience of the place on mainly first impressions, and the feel from walking through the streets. For Williams Lake, it will be both experiencing a place for the first time, and seeing how it compares and differs with how Williams Lake currently exists in my mind.
Experiential Learning
When Madeleine from UBC’s Centre for Community Engaged Learning came as a guest lecture to talk about experiential learning, I really realized how this class is the type of class I have been looking for. I really enjoy more hands-on learning that ends in results. I have only experienced this outside of the class through co-op terms, volunteering etc., but I wanted to take part in a class where I will be able to do environmental work in the “real world”, rather than simply writing an essay and a final exam for a class.
First Meeting with our Community Partner
After our first skype meeting with Cathy from the Alex Fraser Research Forest, I am very excited about our future involvement with the Community Forest Management Plan. One of our tasks will be working on an access plan, and helping the AFRF prioritize different stakeholder interests, such as recreation and economic activities. From the weekly activity on positionality, I realized that my group’s individual experiences and environmental will come into play when prioritizing interests, and we will need to make sure we are making recommendations objectively based on the situation at Williams Lake, and what would best benefit them.
hey I am not sure what your project proposal is because the page is blank. but I have one comment and one offer. its a lame thing to comment on, but your forest picture is of a temperate rainforest that looks like its on Vancouver island, the woods around Williams lake and the caribou region are very dry and hot. maybe change the picture to a different forest that’s reminiscent of the forest in that area? my second comment is- since Im assuming you guys have not figured out a project idea yet? what if you proposed a trail building program that involved youth in the area. or invasive specie removal? I am sure a handful of highschoolers in the Williams Lake area would want volunteer hours and setting up a program in which they oet together with a community leader and removed out invasive plants, or to build hiking trails (removing invasive plants is simple and easy, building hiking trails takes a lot of know how and a bit of funding-but if there are not hiking trails in the forest people could hike and enjoy them, schools could take trips there, etc)? I have worked for and led groups and programs like this for many years. if you want I could tell you a bit about ones I have worked for and how they operate. let me know!
peace
-Wiley
Hey Wiley,
Sorry for the late reply. Thanks for your suggestion and project idea! We’re going to be working on an access management plan for the Williams Lake Community Forest, but that sounds like a cool experience you’ve had! There are actually tons of trails in the forest, which is actually one of the things we’ll be working on — trying to solve conflicts between different trail users.
Thanks again for your comment!
-Alison