Meet Sheri, one of our amazing NatureKids BC volunteers that helps provide meaningful moments in nature for families in the Parksville area!
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you experience nature around you?
Nature fills me with a sense of wonder and curiosity. I am happiest when I am hiking in the local forest or playing in the waves at the beach. Nature is my “go to” place when I am feeling low. While my professions, first as a school psychologist and then as an elementary school principal took me to the Kootenays and later the Fraser Valley, I chose to move to Vancouver Island upon retirement. Here my partner Bill and I devote much of our time to caring for our coastal ecosystems. For many years, I have managed an active environmental organization called Communities Protecting Our Coast. Nature nurtures me, I need to reciprocate!
What do you like about volunteering?
Volunteering enables me to build a sense of belonging in my community. It is rewarding to see how different parents and kids relate so well with each other. Personally, I feel a sense of pride when “our kids” connect with others, like a Conservation officer, a museum curator and most recently, biologists at the Deep Bay Marine Field Station at our Explorer Days. The kind of families that choose to join us already feel committed to nature and their children reflect this.
Do you have a favourite NatureKids BC moment that you can share with us?
I like being a kid too! To pass the time walking back to the cars at our hatchery Explorer Day, we made up new words to goofy songs” I know an old lady who swallowed a bat “. At the beach by the Deep Bay Marine Field Station, we listened to the sea lions bark, then the kids and I gathered to call back to them. After some hesitation, even some parents joined in!
Become a member today and discover Explorer Days in your community!