Monica Bradbury, a teacher at Parksville’s Ballenas Secondary School, recently invited me to speak to members of the newly formed “Eco-club” on campus.
Club members wanted to learn more about what local environmentally supportive organizations are doing in Oceanside and to see how they get involved.
I went there on April 10 to represent the Arrowsmith Naturalists and the North Island Wildlife Centre during the club’s lunch-hour meeting. I found the school, parked and began to carry in first of four large totes of display items and an awkward display board.
As I approached the main entrance with a tote a student came out, saw me and stopped to hold the door open. I went to the front desk where the staff were friendly and helpful. I told them I’d be right back as I had more totes to bring in.
As I set the first of the load down, a student sitting nearby offered to help — and help she did!
As we unloaded the rest, others held the doors for us and then she and another student helped me carry it all to the lovely classroom where the presentation would be held.
I was heartily greeted by the teacher and handed a couple of delicious, warm, just-baked cookies! Ms. Bradbury helped me set up the displays and the students arrived.
After the one-hour program for a small, attentive group and three teachers, everybody helped me re-pack the mounted birds, books, posters, a variety of dried local mushrooms, pamphlets and fliers back in the totes. Three students cheerfully helped me carry the loaded totes out in one trip to my vehicle.
The teachers and staff at Ballenas are doing something right and the youngsters I encountered were just wonderful. What a pleasure to go there!
Lynne Wood Brookes
Errington