The BC Wildlife Federation’s Wetlands Institute\u00a0is an intensive\u00a07 day hands-on workshop\u00a0 that educates participants about wetland stewardship, restoration and construction skills. Participants\u00a0often come to the Wetlands\u00a0Institute\u00a0with a wetland project they wish to implement in their\u00a0home communities.\u00a0 During the workshop,\u00a0participants receive\u00a0support from knowledgable experts and\u00a0obtain hands-on\u00a0training in order to\u00a0successfully\u00a0implement their wetland projects upon\u00a0returning home.<\/p>\n
Since 1998, the Institute has been held bi-annually in selected communities across British Columbia. Participants spend most of the week in the field learning about the importance and diversity of wetlands, practicing up to date field techniques to inventory wetlands vegetation mapping, water quality, soils, birds, amphibians, and fish. In addition, participants discuss ways to contact and communicate with landowners and developers and to raise public awareness and influence conservation policies. Within the selected host community(ies), several different wetland sites are visited during the week to highlight different restoration, conservation and education methods. Upon completion of the Institute, participants from all types of backgrounds are fully trained to begin wetland projects in their home communities!<\/p>\n