What do animal tracks, trail cameras and fencing have in common? A lot! This was the focus of our first Youth Program Workshop, which looked at barriers wildlife face on the landscape and what we can do to help.
We kicked off the first 2024 event of the Angela Rehhorn Commemorative Project with a workshop titled “Trail Cams & Tracks.” Students from Patrick Fogarty Catholic high school were briefed on the impact of various landscape barriers, specifically focusing on the implications of agricultural fencing on wildlife movement. Later that day, the group set out on an educational expedition to Turnbull Ranch Nature Reserve, situated within the Carden Alvar—a notably rare and ecologically significant ecosystem.
While at the reserve, students actively engaged in wildlife tracking and identification, with particular attention to areas where animals attempted to traverse existing fencing. An essential element of the workshop included providing information on the ideal configuration of trail cameras for monitoring these particular fence locations.
The recorded footage from this initiative will undergo thorough analysis by student volunteers. Their objective is to understand how wildlife navigate through these fencing obstacles. Ultimately, the acquired insights will contribute to refining the design choices for fences within our nature reserves, ensuring a more effective and considerate approach in their future implementation.
Sarah, a grade 11 student who participated in the workshop commented, “I think it was a really good learning experience. It was a good way to apply what we learned about animal tracking by going out into the field. We could see how the trail cameras could be used to develop better fencing practices for wildlife.”
Fencing is occasionally necessary in conservation areas, particularly when utilized to restrict unauthorized vehicles or prevent encroachment by neighbouring farm animals. However, fences can be designed in a way where they uphold their purpose, all while remaining permeable to wildlife.
As the Youth Stewardship Coordinator and lead of the program, I had an amazing time with the students during our first youth workshop of the year. Their curiosity and engagement reaffirmed my belief in the power of youth in conservation. I’m excited to continue empowering them through the Angela Rehhorn Commemorative Project.
The Angela Rehhorn Commemorative Project is focused on engaging youth to actively contribute to conservation science, reduce barriers for wildlife and introduce career options in conservation. This project commemorates the victims of the 2019 Ethiopian Airlines crash.
The program features three seasonal workshops: Trail Cameras (Winter), Release the Wild (Spring), and Wildlife on Roads (Summer). Each workshop is a one-day event, with an in-class component followed by a field trip to apply knowledge learned in class. Transportation from Grant Wood’s office to the selected Nature Reserve for that workshop, safety training, and equipment are included. These workshops are open to youth, (15- 30 years old), perfect for those who are in high school, post-secondary school, taking a gap year, or wanting to learn about conservation. You can learn more about the project here.
Alysha Henry is the Youth Stewardship Coordinator for The Couchiching Conservancy.